Storella Reflects on Bringing Real‑World Diplomatic Practice into the Classroom
“Students want to know how the diplomatic sausage is made,” wrote Professor of the practice of diplomacy Mark Storella, in a new article for the Foreign Service Journal entitled Life After the Foreign Service: Diplomacy in Demand: University Students Are Eager to Learn from Practitioners. Reflecting on his transition from a 30‑year Foreign Service career to academia, Storella describes a growing student appetite for both the theory and the real‑world practice of diplomacy.
Six years into teaching at Pardee, Storella says it is clear that diplomacy, and the insights of former practitioners, is in high demand. Students, he explains, are “intellectually curious about” what diplomats actually do: how international coalitions are built, how crises are managed, and what diplomatic immunity looks like “in the wild.”
They are equally eager to acquire the practical skills that define the profession. Storella designs his courses around decision memos, policy briefings, and negotiation simulations modeled on State Department formats. He recounts a former student, now working in her prime minister’s office, who relied on those same tools: “She found her practice conducting ‘elevator briefings’ invaluable… ‘That is what they actually do, and I knew how.’”
At a time of global uncertainty, Storella sees students looking toward the future of foreign affairs careers. They are, he writes, “laser‑focused on getting their first job” and eager for guidance on networking, connecting with alumni, and understanding how the field works from the inside.
Storella also emphasizes the value of bringing experienced diplomats into the classroom. Guest speakers, from senior UN officials to former ambassadors, remain a highlight for students: giving them an opportunity to engage directly with practitioners who have worked on the front lines of global crises.
He concludes with advice for recently retired or current Foreign Service Officers considering academia. Prepare to teach practical skills, shape courses around real experiences, and think creatively about how to connect students with career opportunities. As one student wrote in nominating him for Pardee’s Gitner Family Prize for Faculty Excellence, Storella’s strength lies in connecting “real‑world experiences” with academic learning; “bridging the gap between theory and practice.”
Despite the turbulence in world affairs, Storella finds students are more motivated than ever. “Students want to learn what we know,” he writes, “and they hope to do what we did.”
The full reflection can be read here.
Mark C. Storella is the professor of the practice of diplomacy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. He served as a United States Foreign Service Officer for more than three decades. Besides being an ambassador to Zambia, he was a deputy assistant secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration and dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella has several honors and awards to his name, including the Presidential Rank Award and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award. To learn more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.