In 2007, Tulane suspended its Diplomat in Residence program due to a lack of funding, but has recently revived it. Kali Jones is the current diplomat being housed at Tulane, although her duties span to the rest of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Ms. Jones has worked in Brazil, Haiti, Madagascar, and Vietnam and is now responsible for promoting the Foreign Service at schools and universities. She is a New Orleans native, Tulane grad, yoga-lover, “House of Cards” binge watcher, and a member of the Badass Women Brunch Club. She is also currently planning world domination. Just kidding.
What inspired you to join the Foreign Service?
“When I was a Peace Corps volunteer, I decided that I wanted a career that allowed me to work abroad and also do something that was public service oriented. Having met Foreign Service officers as a Peace Corps volunteer, I pursued that career. That’s the short version.”
Why did you choose to be a Peace Corps volunteer?
“I graduated from Tulane with a joint degree in law and public health and I practiced law for a while, but it didn’t really resonate with me. So I turned more towards using my public health degree and, since I didn’t have professional experience, it was challenging to get a job. I ended up joining the Peace Corps as a health volunteer so that I could gain that experience.”
What is the hardest part of your job?
“The most challenging part of being a diplomat is really the fact that every two to three years, you’re moving. That means you are leaving friends, also living away from your family, and maintaining that communication. Every post, I’m making close friends and leaving them, and at the same time I’m not really returning to family. For me, that’s the most challenging thing.”
Where was your favorite post and why?
“My favorite post was Port Au Prince, Haiti, just after the earthquake. I served there twice, once before and then once after. After the earthquake, there was a sense of urgency both from the Haitian government and all of the other governments that had a relationship with Haiti…everything was so important. The government didn’t have a building to work in. We moved rubble, put in trailers, and I know that’s odd to think of a congressman in trailers, but it finally allowed them to get back to work and try to make a difference and you could see it. We were giving medical care, putting people back in houses, moving rubble in the streets. For me, it felt like we were making a difference every single day. It was really something to see.”
What advice do you have for people considering the Foreign Service?
“The Foreign Service is a career that you can go to at anytime. You don’t have to pursue it right after graduation and as long as you are less than 60 years old, you can do it. My advice is before you decide to join the Foreign Service, do something fun with your life. The Peace Corps was that fun for me. I would find a country, or a topic, or a language that you’re passionate about and pursue that. The best way to make yourself a global citizen is by meeting students on this campus who come from a different place from you, learning about it and understanding who they are. That sets you apart and makes you the kind of person that the Foreign Service is looking for.”
Do you have any advice for women in particular?
“I am part of a brunch group that is all women and we promote each other. I would create that network that is small enough that each of you has each other’s back. When something becomes available, you come together as a group to promote that one person to do it, and then the next time you’re promoting someone else. It’s really important to create that support network that allows you to bounce ideas off of and be stronger. That is why it’s been particularly easy for me because I’ve had that all women’s brunch group that understand my profession, they understand the career, and we promote each other. They’re all pretty awesome. I call them my badass women – that’s my badass women brunch.”