Course
Communicating for a Better World:
Strategic Communications in International Organizations

Communications is key for international organizations (IOs) to achieve their mission. They need to convey their impact to member states to receive funding, they need to contribute to raising awareness for global challenges such as climate change, and they need to respond to the spread of misinformation by communicating with the wider public. The importance of communications for the success of IOs was highlighted by United Nations Secretary-General (UN SG) António Guterres when he addressed the UN’s Security Council in its first high-level debate on this issue: “strategic communications is central to the success of all our work.” IO staff members also contribute to this success in various communications-related functions: the UN’s Department for Global Communications tells “the UN story across multiple platforms … to build support for the aims and work of the United Nations”; UNICEF has a dedicated brand office to support the organization in its fundraising; and NATO has a Public Diplomacy Division that is tasked with overall communications for its member states.

This class equips students with foundational knowledge for analysis and action to support IOs in achieving their mission through effective communications. Achieving this requires expertise in disciplines from various areas that are not usually taught in one class—this class brings them together. The first area is that of international organizations. International organizations are driven by specific mandates, have distinct structures, and face different constraints than NGOs or for- profit companies. We examine IOs and why, where, and how they engage in communications- related activities. The second area encompasses communications-related fields, including public diplomacy, digital diplomacy, and branding and brand management. A third area relates to IO-specific communication approaches, including celebrity diplomacy, communications in peacekeeping missions, and communication for development (C4D).

By learning about these disciplines and how they relate to IOs, students will develop interdisciplinary expertise on strategic communications in IOs. They will understand the challenges of IOs and how communication strategies may help overcome those; they will know about disciplines, concepts and principles that are part of these strategies; and they will be able to apply principles and concepts in the context of IOs.

Related Teaching, Research, and Professional Experience

• Communicating for a Better World:
  Strategic Communications in International Organizations
  Adjunct Assistant Professor, Columbia University (SIPA)
• Arts of Communication
  Teaching Assistant, The Fletcher School
• Dissertation “Branding and Performance of International Organizations in the United Nations System” (2024)
• Video Case Study “Brand Management and Application: The United Nations Brand Challenge” for The Fletcher School Master of Global Business Administration (2019)
• Master’s Thesis “Strategic Communication and Branding in International Organizations: The Case of the United Nations” (2017)
• Master’s Thesis “Designing a Social Media Communication Process for International Organizations: The Case of the United Nations” (2014)

Course
International Relations,
Global Governance,
and the United Nations

This is a time when people across the globe face tremendous challenges. Lives and livelihoods of civilians in many countries of the world, such as Ukraine, Sudan, and Yemen, are threatened by conflict. The health of individuals in every country is also at risk due to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. In addition, our environment and our planet are threatened by the consequences of climate change, as highlighted recently by flooding in Libya and wildfires in the US. The challenges that threaten peace, violate human rights of individuals, and endanger our planet and thus humankind’s future are many, which begs the question: how can global society address these global challenges?

One possible solution may lie in what is called “global governance,” i.e., the arrangements that have been set up to collectively address global problems. A central part in these arrangements is the international organization called the “United Nations” (UN). In the aftermath of World War II, States created the United Nations with the explicit goal to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. Furthermore, in designing the UN, the founders anticipated many global challenges that this organization should address, including the protection of human rights and social development. Over the last 75 years, the United Nations has become the center of global efforts to address these challenges.

This class sheds light on how the UN engages in the task of addressing these challenges and examines its successes and limitations. The class also introduces theories of international relations that explain State behavior, and why States create and act through international organizations. Finally, we learn about selected key issues the UN tackles: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development and climate action. In short: this class is an introduction to how the UN tries to save the planet—and the challenges that it faces in doing so.

Related Teaching, Research, and Professional Experience

• International Relations, Global Governance, and the UN
  Instructor, Harvard Summer School
• International Conflict and Cooperation
  Teaching Fellow, Harvard Extension School
• International Relations and Diplomacy
  Teaching Fellow, Harvard Summer School
• International Affairs Cornerstone
  Teaching Fellow, Elliott School of International Affairs
• Introduction to International Relations
  Teaching Assistant, Tufts University
• United Nations Alliance of Civilization
  Media and Information Literacy Intern
  

Course
Branding and Graphic Design:
Principles & Tools for Creating Your Personal Brand

Brands, branding, and brand-related ideas are ubiquitous. Apple is the most valuable brand in the world; NGOs such as Amnesty International rely on their logo to be recognized by donors; and even agencies of the United Nations such as UNICEF have a dedicated brand office. Increasingly, career consultants advise students to develop their own “personal brand” to land their dream job. Indeed, projecting a professional approach, standing out among many applicants, and being recognized can be crucial for professional success. In branding, practitioners ensure this by creating and maintaining a consistent “visual brand identity.”

This class looks behind the buzzwords surrounding branding and enables students to use concrete principles to their advantage. The aim of the class is to familiarize students with key concepts of branding and graphic design. Building on these concepts, students, using standard software, learn the technical skills to create elements of visual brand identity: a resume, a letter-style document for application letters, a slide show, and a business card.

Students will be equipped with two things crucial for their careers: first, a set of ready-to-use, “on-brand” documents that they can use throughout their careers; and second, insights and skills to further develop these assets for themselves and any organization they work for.

Related Teaching, Research, and Professional Experience

• Branding and Graphic Design: Principles & Tools for Creating Your Personal Brand
  Instructor, Brown Summer School
• Design for Non-Designers
  Instructor, Tufts University
• Design for Non-Designers: Creating a Professional Résumé
  Workshop, Harvard Summer School
• Visual Brand Identity Assets Consultant
  I create on-brand letter, report, and presentation templates for MS Word and PowerPoint
• Project Manager for branding and design projects
  Brainds / Buero 16, Corporate Branding and Graphic Design (2006–2013)
  

Workshop
Tools and Methods for Personal Knowledge Management

“More successful students are usually very adept at managing their own personal knowledge” (Garner, 2010). But what is personal knowledge management (PKM) and what are its components? This workshop reviews some PKM principles, reviews various information management tools, and suggests practical techniques you can apply to become a more efficient and effective knowledge worker.

Workshop
Scrivener for Scholars: A Philosophy and Software for Your Personal Knowledge Management

“What is the best way to collect and retain information and build knowledge during one’s academic career and life?” This is a quintessential question and challenge for anyone whose work relies on creating, organizing, and using vast amounts of information (such as reading notes, research ideas, and drafts for presentations, research papers, and dissertations). This workshop suggests a philosophy and a technical implementation using the software “Scrivener.” This workshop will review how to use it to manage information in a way that allows researchers to focus on what matters most: creating new insights and knowledge for others.

Related Teaching, Research, and Professional Experience

• Workshop: Note-Taking and Research with Scrivener
  Harvard Summer School, The Fletcher School
• Workshop: Tools and Methods for Personal Knowledge Management
  The Fletcher School
• Workshop: Scrivener for Scholars: A Philosophy and Software for Your Personal Knowledge Management
  International Studies Association
• Workshop Managing Time in College
  Tufts University
• Workshop and Talks: Getting Things Done
  Brainds, Koç University, The Fletcher School
• Academic Skills Consultant
  Tufts University (2021–22)
• IT and Workflow Manager
  Brainds / Buero 16, Corporate Branding and Graphic Design (2006–2013)