Good afternoon!
Congratulations to you, the 2023 graduates of the School of International Service! I can feel the energy and excitement and I know that you all have worked tremendously hard for this moment.
Thank you, President Burwell, Dean Hader, distinguished faculty, parents, family members, and guests for inviting me to join you this afternoon. As your neighbor, I have a deep fondness for American University…I have studied in your library. I have enjoyed your gardens. And yes, I have even run laps around your track. So, it is a great honor be here and to celebrate with you.
In 1957, just steps from where I am standing, President Eisenhower challenged his audience to “wage peace.” A peace, he argued, that should be based on justice and what is right. Indeed, this noble notion has been instilled in the School of International Service since day one. It is embedded in your DNA.
Six years after Eisenhower – in fact, almost 60 years ago to the day - President Kennedy took this concept a step further as he stood before a class of bright, hopeful, AU graduates on June 10, 1963. He described how peace is not just about the absence of war. It is about more…It is about making life worth living, building a better future for our children, and enabling people and nations to thrive.
For JFK, waging peace stretched well beyond the four corners of the United States and extended to our allies, our partners, and every man, woman, and child on, as he called it, this “small planet,” to ensure they can live with dignity and respect.
While JFK’s message rings just as true today as it did 60 years ago, the world has changed profoundly since that memorable AU commencement speech. We have seen fundamental shifts in power and partnerships, coupled with unimaginable levels of interconnectedness. (I’m not quite sure what JFK would think of TikTok…but, I digress.)
The global development landscape has changed dramatically even since the early 2000s. COVID and conflict have erased hard-won gains and poverty is on the rise for the first time in years. Global challenges loom large – climate change, food insecurity, the rise of autocracies, constrained fiscal space, and geopolitics, to name but a few. These challenges are compounding, leading to increased fragility, and undermining the prospects for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
But don’t worry, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. In fact, the principles that guide our work have evolved, even improved. We now emphasize equity, and not just equality. We pursue durable systems and market-based approaches in addition to both human capital and physical investments. We no longer think of international development as a one-way street between donors and beneficiaries, but instead about country ownership and co-creation.
Indeed, we know that for democracies to thrive, they must deliver for their people. And we see that countries that govern justly and invest in their citizens, ultimately lay the groundwork for inclusive long-term prosperity.
Another shift since the 1960’s has been a greater understanding of intersectionality and the value of bringing different perspectives to the table. We no longer think of climate change and social justice as separate, but simply as climate justice. Just look at how the MDGs became the SDGs as we set our sights higher and recognized that these challenges belong to all of us.
If you are a single mother living in Tanzania or Timor Leste, trust me, you are not thinking about whether your basic needs fall neatly under health or education policy in Washington, or which SDG matters most to you. The silos, in practice, are artificial.
Importantly, if we approach the challenges of development from only one angle, we miss opportunities. In part, that’s why I got into this line of work. In 2001, I was working in private equity, following over a decade in banking. The hours and spreadsheets were long, and at a certain point I realized I wanted something more. I craved mission-driven work – and a sense of service that is the hallmark of this school’s name. At the time, a friend flagged an opportunity at a new organization called The Vaccine Fund, the predecessor to GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance.
That night, I remember sitting down and writing a cover letter for my resume, making the strongest possible argument I could for why my finance background would transition seamlessly to this new health-focused development organization. In fact, at the time, I had been studying for my CFA in the AU library just over there. As it turns out, The Vaccine Fund bought my argument and made me an offer. It was an “aha moment” that changed my career ever since – and I still have the cover letter today!
Over the last 60 years, the United States has waged peace in various ways, putting many of these evolving principles into practice. We have witnessed tremendous innovation and successful collective action. President Burwell can attest first-hand the U.S. Government’s resolve and ingenuity in fighting Ebola and Zika and for the expansion of healthcare.
We have empowered women, increasing their access to education and economic opportunity, while removing legal, regulatory, and societal barriers that get in the way. We have partnered in unprecedented ways to rapidly develop and deploy a vaccine to tackle a global pandemic.
We have also set up strong, impactful institutions. In 1961, in a matter of months, JFK launched a new era of international development by establishing the Peace Corps, signing landmark foreign assistance legislation, and creating USAID. More recently, President Bush set up PEPFAR, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and has saved 25 million lives.
My current home, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, was created in 2004, also by President Bush. Our work is based on self-determination, meeting partners where they are, and accountability, and so far we have improved the lives of 270 million people.
MCC not only responds to immediate needs, but reinforces a network of partner countries - both nascent and thriving democracies - that share our belief that ruling justly, investing in people, and upholding human rights create durable pathways to prosperity. So, as you can see, the ways to wage peace, as JFK described it, are endless.
Regardless of the practice…and yes, even the inevitable trial and error, the United States has, and must continue, to wage peace by remaining engaged and working hand in hand with our partners to ensure democracies can deliver and afford their people the chance to live with the dignity that JFK advocated for.
Despite progress over the decades, we know change can seem incremental minute by minute.
Solutions, though, are often shaped by a series of crises and opportunities. Europe will be stronger following the war in Ukraine. Sierra Leone has made tremendous strides since its civil war. Kosovo continues to flourish following its independence. The climate crisis has strengthened our drive for innovation.
Sometimes we stumble upon solutions. And sometimes they are entirely different from what we expected. That’s OK. President Kennedy recognized this 60 years ago when he encouraged American University students to experiment to meet the moment. In his commencement address, he was not referring to some “infinite concept of peace.” If our rose-colored glasses are too thick, it can lead to discouragement and doubt. He stressed the importance of practical and attainable actions – not some “magic formula” – but those that evolve to “meet the challenge of each new generation.” So, in short, waging peace is a process, not a destination.
So, how can you continue to wage peace as graduates of SIS?
Well, step one is complete. Congratulations! You’ve chosen a fantastic school that places a premium on service minded leadership. And you’ve managed to make it through to the other side! Check! Done! I bet some of you are wondering now what?
Don’t be daunted by the enormity of the challenge ahead. As President Kennedy reminds us, “our problems are manmade – therefore, they can be solved by man.” \[and, I’m going to add women…]
Waging peace is not about some overnight revolution, but about getting the basics right. It’s about doing the small things each and every day that make a difference. And so, you’ve taken classes in economics, foreign policy, health, and intercultural communication. You’re hard-working, persistent, and creative.
Almost every single one of you has pursued at least one internship. More than half of you have taken-on four semesters of experiential learning. AU graduates are known for their action and their activism, whether you are vocal and out front or effecting change quietly from the inside. And I have seen AU alumni drive innovation and change from multiple vantage points, often working in different sectors and roles throughout their careers.
So, just get started. Experiment. Don’t shy away from trying different paths as they are not always linear, and always, always, always maintain that healthy dose of restlessness to make a difference. Your foundation is strong, and you will pick up additional knowledge and practice as you go.
My parting advice to you is this – As you seek to wage peace focus on the “how” and the “why” and less on the “what” And success will surely follow.
Thank you.