February 19, 2024
Oakland University has joined the United States Department of State’s Diplomacy Lab, a public-private partnership between the Department of State and a network of U.S. academic institutions that harnesses research and innovation of students and faculty to solve global challenges.
Faculty and students participating in Diplomacy Lab explore real-world challenges identified by the State Department. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, work under the guidance of faculty members who are experts in their fields. Collaborative research projects will allow students to contribute directly to the policymaking process while expanding the State Department’s ability to respond to global challenges.
Even though this program is through the State Department, it is for faculty and students across the institution, not just political science and international relations. Topics in this year's menu of projects include: advertising, anthropology, behavioral economics, climate change, communications, computer science, criminal justice/law enforcement, environmental studies, human rights, marketing, psychology, public health, religious studies, sociology and more.
In addition to working with a faculty mentor, students engage directly with State Department officials in a series of video or teleconferences. During the final conference, students present their results and receive feedback from State Department officials.
Dr. David Dulio, distinguished professor of political science and director of OU’s Center for Civic Engagement, and Dr. Peter Trumbore, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, worked with State Department officials and OU leaders to facilitate the university’s involvement in the Diplomacy Lab.
“When I heard about the opportunity to apply to be a part of the Diplomacy Lab, I immediately contacted university leadership, including the President and Provost, and they were incredibly supportive,” said Dulio. “They saw, as Pete and I did, that this is a great opportunity. It’s a great example of the sweet spot in our community engagement work in that our community partner – the State Department – is assisted by OU, and faculty and students at OU are benefited through the exploration of an important question posed by the State Department.”
Diplomacy lab consists of over 40 university partners across the United States, including Tufts, Northeastern, Purdue, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, Syracuse, and Georgia Tech. OU is only the second Michigan university to partner with Diplomacy Lab, joining the University of Michigan in the program.
“We’re very excited about this new partnership between OU and the State Department,” said Dr. Trumbore. “Participation in Diplomacy Lab will open the door for students and faculty across the university, not just in Political Science and international relations, to bring their skills and expertise to the table in support of the State Department’s global mission. It’s an opportunity for our students to make a concrete contribution to addressing real-world problems and challenges.”
To learn more about OU’s partnership with Diplomacy Lab, including opportunities for faculty and student involvement, contact Peter Trumbore at [email protected] or David Dulio at [email protected].