About this event
When you successfully complete the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship and the State Department requirements, you’ll receive an appointment as an Information Management Specialist (IMS), and launch an exciting career traveling the world and supporting diplomacy through technology.
Four IMSs who have served in the Foreign Service all around the world come together for this panel discussion to share their experiences. This is a great opportunity for you to hear what it’s really like working in the Foreign Service. Discover how these IMSs launched their careers, what their most memorable experiences have been, what a “typical” day is like in the life of an IMS, and much more.
Patricia Boerner, program manager for the FAIT Fellowship, U.S. Department of State, will also join us to answer any questions you may have about the fellowship.
Our panelists:
Stella Bulimo, Tradecraft Branch Chief at the School of Applied Information Technology, Foreign Service Institute, has been with the Department of state for more than 20 years as an Information Management Specialist. She has served a various embassies overseas and has earned numerous meritorious honor awards and a Superior Honor award for her contributions to the advance of IT in the Department and for promoting diversity and inclusion.
Breonna Claude joined the State Department as Foreign Service IMS in 2015. She spent her first two tours in Monrovia, Liberia and Wellington, New Zealand. She previously served 15 years in the U.S. Army in Maryland and Belgium. Breonna earned her dual bachelor’s degree in political science and information systems management from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing graduate certificates in project management and data analytics from East Carolina University. She is currently an Information Systems Officer at the U.S. Embassy Tashkent in Uzbekistan.
Laura Williams joined the State Department in 2001 as a Foreign Service Information Management Specialist and is currently the deputy director of IT Customer Support at the U.S. Department of State.
Ernesto Pizarro joined the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist in 1999, and he is currently the Information Management Officer at the American Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras. His previous tours include Spain, Germany, Haiti, and several U.S. locations, including Florida, Kansas and the District of Columbia. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and worked in the private sector before joining the Foreign Service.
Patti Boerner is the Program Manager for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship. She has been with the Department of State for more than nine years, previously serving as an Employment Program Officer in the Family Liaison Office where she advocated for and provided guidance on family member employment. Prior to working for the Department of State domestically, she served as the Community Liaison Office Coordinator for several years at the U.S. Embassy in London. Her work experience outside of the Department of State includes teaching overseas in Frankfurt, Germany and at public schools in the United States.
Hosted by
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Guest speaker
Stella Bulimo Tradecraft Branch Chief, School of Applied Information Technology @ Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of StateG
Stella Bulimo has been with the U.S. Department of State as an Information Management Specialist for more than 20 years. She is assigned to serve as the Branch Chief for the Tradecraft Program at the Foreign Service Institute. She has served at various embassies overseas and has earned numerous meritorious honor awards and a Superior Honor award for her contributions to the advancement of IT in the Department and for promoting diversity and inclusion.
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Guest speaker
Ernesto Pizarro Division Chief @ U.S. Department of StateG
Ernesto Pizarro joined the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist in 1999, and he is currently the Information Management Officer at the American Embassy Tegucigalpa, Honduras. His previous tours include Spain, Germany, Haiti, and several U.S. locations, including Florida, Kansas and the District of Columbia. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and worked in the private sector before joining the Foreign Service.
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Guest speaker
Breonna Claude Information Systems Officer, U.S. Embassy Tashkent @ U.S. Department of StateG
Breonna Claude joined the State Department as Foreign Services IMS in 2016, and has served in Liberia, New Zealand and Uzbekistan. She previously served as a civilian for 15 years with the U.S. Army in Maryland and Belgium. She is currently posted as an Information Systems Officer in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
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Team member
Heidi Ramaeker Marketing and Outreach Manager @ The Washington CenterT
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Guest speaker
Patricia Boerner FAIT Fellowship Program Manager @ U.S. Department of StateG
Patti Boerner is the Program Manager for the FAIT Fellowship program, which is now entering its seventh year. She has worked for the Department of State for 10 years – 6 years in Washington, DC and 4 years overseas as an Eligible Family Member in London.
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Guest speaker
Laura Williams Director of Analytics, Center for Analytics @ U.S. Department of StateG
Laura Williams joined the U.S. Department of State in 2001 as a Foreign Service Information Management Specialist, and has served in American embassies in Nicosia, Algiers, Rome and Mexico City. As an IMS, she has managed the full suite of information technology platforms that connect U.S. embassies with Washington D.C. and the world. Laura is currently the Director of Analytics in the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions' Center for Analytics.
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Team member
Foreign Affairs Information Technology FellowshipT
