Young Diplomats Summer Institute

This week-long program introduces high school students to essential concepts in diplomacy, leadership, and international affairs.

Over the course of five half-day sessions, students will engage in interactive workshops, group activities, and discussions led by local professionals and international experts. Together, they’ll explore current global challenges, practice cross-cultural communication, and build foundational skills for future leadership in international spaces.

Participants will learn in a collaborative and dynamic environment, connecting with peers who share a passion for global issues and civic engagement.

Meet the Young Diplomats Summer Institute Team

Rachel moved to Arizona in 2003 after graduating from Georgetown University and joined Teach For America, teaching 8th grade in the Roosevelt School District. She went on to found Phoenix Collegiate Academy, a charter school that grew to serve over 650 students across three campuses. Rachel later led Achieve60AZ, the statewide goal to increase postsecondary attainment. With experience spanning early childhood to workforce readiness, she now supports education initiatives that benefit Arizona students and families. She and her husband Joe have three elementary-aged children who keep them on their toes.

Rachel Yanof, Program Director

Victoria Dowers, Community Engagement Coordinator

Victoria is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Brazil with a passion for international relations and cross-cultural exchange. She brings her marketing background and global perspective to her work with Global Ties Arizona, where she supports programs like the Young Diplomats Summer Institute. Committed to citizen diplomacy, Victoria values creating spaces where youth can explore global leadership and build meaningful international connections.

Tino Mavunga, Programs Assistant Intern

Program Dates:

Monday, June 9th to Friday, June 13th

Program Times:

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Friday: 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Tino Mavunga is a Global Management Master’s Candidate at Thunderbird School of Global Management, specializing in Digital transformation. With a proven background in Project and Program management she brings a cross-cultural perspective and a results-driven approach to operations. As a Summer 2025 Programs Assistant Intern at Global Ties Arizona, Tino is excited to support international exchanges and contribute to Arizona’s growing role as a global technology hub and future of work center.

Location:

Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU

401 N 1st St, Phoenix, AZ 85004 | Room 301

Upon entering the school, take the elevator to the third floor. There will be a volunteer and signage to direct you.

Parking Information:

If any student plans to drive themselves to the program, please notify us by replying to this email so we can arrange for validated parking. Students that require daily parking will use the 200 EVB Garage (Taylor Street Garage) located at 460N N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Also indicated on the map below.

Program Curriculum

During the program, students will enhance and expand their:

Knowledge of global issues & how they impact Arizona
Cross-cultural communication & collaboration skills
Critical thinking and problem-solving in global contexts
Understanding of diplomacy and international career pathways
Ability to engage with and learn from global leaders

Discover how cultural identity, diversity, and international collaboration shape diplomatic relations and global communities.
Learn about conflict resolution, negotiation strategies, and the role of diplomacy in maintaining peace.
Examine global environmental challenges and explore solutions for a more sustainable future.
Understand the impact of public health on international relations and how global cooperation addresses health crises.
Gain insight into international trade, economic policies, and how financial systems connect the world.

Program Speakers & Guests

As Director of Global Conservation & Sustainability Learning Initiatives at ASU’s Learning Enterprise, Orlando leads the development of innovative, accessible educational programs and strategic partnerships that advance global conservation and sustainability efforts. His work supports ASU’s Global Futures Laboratory by creating scalable learning opportunities designed to inspire and equip diverse learners worldwide. This role focuses on expanding ASU’s impact through learner-centered solutions, global collaboration, and thought leadership in conservation and sustainability education.

A U.S. Army veteran and community leader, Orlando has held leadership roles in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, including IBM and the Center for the Future of Arizona. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and Thunderbird School of Global Management. Orlando serves on various sustainability and conservation boards and lives in Laveen, Arizona, with his family. He’s also the creative force behind @CarverMountainShop, a recycled-material art venture.

Orlando Cazarez, Director of Global Conservation & Sustainability Learning Initiatives, Arizona State University Learning Enterprise

Charla Griffy-Brown is the Director General, Dean, and Professor of Global Digital Transformation at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. A Harvard graduate and former Fulbright Scholar with a doctorate in technology management, she has over 25 years of international experience in academia, government, and industry. Her work spans Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Australia, Europe, and the U.S., including leadership roles at Pepperdine and research and consulting with NASA, the United Nations, and the European Commission. She is Editor-in-Chief of Technology in Society and has published over 100 scholarly works. Known for her cross-sectoral leadership and global engagement, she has advised government leaders, spoken for the U.S. State Department, and worked with Fortune 500 companies to address cyber risk, digital innovation, and strategic transformation.

Charla Griffy-Brown, Director General, Dean, and Professor of Global Digital Transformation

Suzanne Lawrence retired from the U.S. Department of State following 32 years as a Foreign Service Officer ending her career as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Prior to that assignment, she led the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands. Previously Ms. Lawrence served as the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues. In that role, she resolved emerging problems related to intercountry adoptions and international parental child abduction. Prior to her position as Special Advisor, she served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece.

Other assignments include Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Senior Level Division Director in the Office of Career Development and Assignments, Director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs, and Country Consular Coordinator for Australia. Ms. Lawrence also served in Sydney, Jerusalem, Dublin, and Caracas. Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Her graduate studies include a master’s degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management (“Thunderbird”) and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the National War College at the National Defense University.

Suzanne Lawrence, Former U.S. Diplomat. U.S. Department of State

Roy C. Nelson is the Senior Associate Dean of Thunderbird Undergraduate Programs and a tenured Associate Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he is widely respected by students and has received multiple Outstanding Professor awards. He is an expert in Latin America, international business, government relations, and global political economy, with a rich background that includes academic leadership, industry experience at Pharmacia & Upjohn in Brazil, and consulting work for organizations like the World Bank and Chile’s CORFO. Nelson has authored two books—Harnessing Globalization and Industrialization and Political Affinity—based on extensive field research, and has published numerous academic articles and business case studies. He has taught executive education for major global firms and co-directs a Thunderbird–Tec de Monterrey joint program on Latin American ventures. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Nelson earned degrees from Stanford, Yale, and Cornell, and has led international field seminars across Latin America, as well as held visiting faculty positions in the U.S. and UAE.

Roy Nelson, Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs

Michael Lee Zirulnik, PhD specializes in working with high-stakes, high-risk industries, including healthcare and aviation. He serves as Assistant Vice President of University Relations for Creighton University Health Sciences Phoenix Regional Campus, and Associate Professor of Medical Humanities in the School of Medicine. His work and research spans intersecting industries of higher education, healthcare, aviation, and the arts. His writing has appeared in numerous publications including The Hill, VICE, The Howard Journal of Communications, and Curator. Zirulnik's art and design has been exhibited on the runways of South Africa Fashion Week, the lobbies of public buildings, and museums. Among his prior posts, Dr. Zirulnik served as Sr. Fellow at The Center for Nuclear Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, D.C., and the Consortium for Science, Policy, & Outcomes at Arizona State University.

Michael L. Zirulnik, Ph.D. Assistant Vice President for Phoenix Development | Associate Professor of Medical Humanities, Creighton University Health Sciences Campus

Closing Luncheon Special Speakers

The Honorable Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix

Since her early days serving Phoenix on the City Council, Kate has been focused on creating the Phoenix of the future: a welcoming, thriving city with ample high-wage jobs and opportunities for all.

As mayor, Kate spends every day focused on getting things done for Phoenix families. The results speak for themselves: Kate brought a historic $65 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant to Phoenix that’s creating thousands of great-paying career paths; she built coalitions to deliver critical improvements to parks, public safety, and city infrastructure; and she is partnering with ASU to build a brand-new medical school in downtown Phoenix.

Kate is the second elected woman mayor in Phoenix history and one of the youngest big city mayors in the nation. She graduated from Harvard and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. Though serving Phoenicians keeps her days busy and her heart full, her favorite job is being Michael’s mom.

Dr. Lily McElwee, President & CEO, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations

Dr. Lily McElwee serves as President and CEO of the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations. With historic family ties to Arizona, she is passionate about subnational diplomacy and elevating the state’s role on the global stage.

Lily was previously deputy director and fellow in the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, and is a recognized expert in China’s foreign policy and relations with the United States, European Union, and the Global South. She has completed fellowships with the American Council on Germany, the CSIS-USC U.S.-Korea NextGen scholar program, the QUAD Task Force on China’s Strategic Futures organized by ORF America and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Lily has spent significant time living in the United Kingdom, China, and Germany.

Lily concurrently serves as an Adjunct Fellow at CSIS, and is publishing a book on the history of U.S. investment gatekeeping amid the rise of China as a Strategy and Policy Fellow with the Smith Richardson Foundation. She holds a DPhil in China studies and an MSc from the University of Oxford, and a BA with honors in political science from Stanford University.

Christina Mercado-Gonzalez, Chair of the Board, Global Ties Arizona

Mrs. Mercado-González currently serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) Foundation’s American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) Project NABEDC. Christina is responsible for the overall success of the program, and she and her team assist businesses with building scale and capacity, increasing revenue, creating and retaining jobs through regional, national, and international expansion and direct assistance services.

Before rejoining the AZHCC in 2024 in her current capacity, Christina served as Comerica Bank’s Vice President, External Affairs Market Manager for Arizona, where she stewarded the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act program and worked to spread the bank’s financial literacy message in partnership with Comerica’s community partners.

Christina has a history of serving the community in her professional career and has held several roles at the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As the AZHCC’s Director of Operations & Marketing as well as their Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, she worked to advance the chamber’s mission to promote the success of Hispanic and minority small businesses in Arizona. She also has over twenty years of experience as a results-oriented multicultural marketing and advertising professional, specializing in the U.S. Hispanic market.

Christina is an Arizona native and received her Master’s degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and her BS in Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

She is actively involved in the local community and has served in leadership positions in a variety of local organizations. She currently serves on the Arizona Diamondbacks Los D-Backs Hispanic Advisory Council, is the Chair of the Board of Global Ties Arizona, and is a new board member of the Arizona Animal Welfare League.