Pardee School Honors Ambassador Mark Storella with Gitner Prize for Faculty Excellence
Ambassador Mark C. Storella, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, has been awarded the 2024 Gerald and Deanne Gitner Family Prize for Faculty Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes faculty members who exemplify the school’s mission to advance human progress through outstanding teaching and mentorship.
The Gitner Prize, established in 2014 through the generosity of alumnus and Trustee Emeritus Gerald L. Gitner and his wife Deanne, aims to celebrate and encourage faculty excellence at the Pardee School. Mr. Gitner, who has had a distinguished career in the airline industry, including roles as CEO of Trans World Airlines and President of Texas Air Corporation, emphasized that “faculty excellence lies at the heart of all aspects of excellence at a university.”
In presenting the award, Professor Noora Lori highlighted Storella’s exceptional impact on students: “Ambassador Storella’s diplomatic skills shine through in every facet of his work: his unwavering commitment to education, his exceptional mentorship, and his profound impact on the lives of his students.”
Students who nominated Storella praised his ability to integrate real-world experiences into the classroom. One student noted, “What sets Professor Storella apart is his commitment to go beyond conventional teaching methodologies. He seamlessly integrates his wealth of real-world experiences into his classroom, bridging the gap between theory and practice.”
In accepting the award, Storella expressed his delight at joining esteemed colleagues like Jack Weinstein and Vesko Garčević as recipients. He views the prize as “a recognition of the value that Pardee places on instructing our students to give them the skills and the knowledge they need to succeed in what is going to be a very challenging world.”
In his acceptance speech, Storella emphasized the global nature of the Pardee School’s mission: “At Pardee, we are unabashedly global. And I love that. We seek to prepare students to tackle global challenges, challenges that our students know well because you have lived them.”
Storella’s approach to teaching international affairs seamlessly blends theory with practical application. In a recent interview, he elaborated on his teaching philosophy, which focuses on nurturing students’ ideals, honing their skills, and broadening their horizons. “I learned from another diplomat that in world affairs, you have to be idealistic enough for your objectives to be worth pursuing, but you have to be realistic enough to have any chance of achieving them,” Storella explained.
On nurturing ideals, Storella said, “You must be idealistic, or your goals will not be worth pursuing. As your instructors, we do not seek to impose our ideals on you. Rather we try to assist you in your personal journeys of discovery to find out what matters most to you.”
Storella’s teaching methods emphasize bridging the gap between academic theory and practical experience. He incorporates exercises such as writing memos to high-level officials, conducting presentations simulating United Nations meetings, and engaging in role-playing scenarios. “We have students write memos that would be used, for instance, to address the Secretary-General of the United Nations on a pressing issue, or a foreign minister, or perhaps the leader of an NGO,” he shared.
To keep his curriculum current, Storella incorporates recent global events and materials. “In class, we’re going to be reading resolutions about Gaza and what the U.N. Security Council is trying to do on Gaza,” he noted. “That brings things right up to date for the students and gives them an opportunity to see how the things that they’re working on applies today in the real world, and problems they really care about.”
Mentorship is a key aspect of Storella’s work. He helps students navigate the vast possibilities in the field of international affairs, connecting them with professionals and opportunities that align with their interests. “A big part of what we do is really showing them that there’s a universe of possibilities,” he explained. “What we try to do with mentorship is open up the world of possibilities for students, and then try to connect them with people in that world who can give them opportunities to start.”
With over three decades of experience as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, including roles as Ambassador to Zambia and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Storella brings a wealth of real-world knowledge to the classroom. He also addresses common challenges faced by aspiring professionals, such as imposter syndrome, sharing his own experiences to encourage and motivate students.
In discussing critical skills for international affairs professionals, Storella emphasized the importance of effective communication and moral leadership. “What really separates people who are highly effective in international affairs is the ability not only to formulate important ideas but to communicate them effectively,” he noted. He added, “I find also that an incredibly important aspect of leadership is the moral aspect of leadership… People will follow you if they believe that you are morally committed to them, to the team, and to ideals that they care about.”
Storella’s advice to students aspiring to make a positive impact on the world reflects his pragmatic approach: “The most important thing is to get your foot in the door, develop skills, show what you can do, and then move ahead.” He encourages students to value every opportunity, even if it’s not their ideal job, as a chance to learn and grow.
Ambassador Storella’s reception of the Gitner Prize highlights his significant contributions to the Pardee School and his dedication to preparing the next generation of global leaders. His blend of diplomatic experience, commitment to education, and impactful mentorship embodies the values celebrated by the Gitner Prize and the Pardee School’s mission to advance human progress.
Ambassador Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards. Learn more about Ambassador Storella on his faculty profile.