UMD hosts Former Ambassador to Australia during International Education Week

Students from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland (UMD) joined former Ambassador to Australia and UMD alumnus John Berry for a luncheon conversation about how diplomacy fosters U.S. business overseas with a particular focus on Australia. The event, which took place on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, kicked off International Education Week, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education to celebrate international education and exchange in the U.S. and throughout the world.

The Honorable John Berry, now president of the American Australian Association, first shared recommendations on how to have a successful career and examples of his own experience in public service. Berry advised students to not be afraid to dream, to do good in any job, and learn by making mistakes. The discussion began with an introduction from managing director of the newly renamed Center for Global Business (CGB), Rebecca L. Bellinger, and associate director of UMD’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), Joseph Scholten, as they were two of the three units on campus to sponsor the event. The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Undergraduate Studies also co-sponsored the event.

During the discussion, Berry emphasized that government policies cannot succeed without considering the impact on business, and that the most impactful government policies consider civil society as well, by saying “government is the most powerful tool for making positive change in our world, but only when it works in concert with both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.” Scholten of OIA reinforced the sentiment by adding, that “no one has a monopoly on good ideas, and when all are at the table and trust in each other's good faith, incredible things can happen.”

As a UMD alumnus of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, class of 1980, Berry is committed to developing a strong community at the University of Maryland and continues to seek opportunities to visit campus and talk with students. “We at Maryland are proud of the success that our alumni, such as Mr. Berry, have found in their global careers and are happy to welcome them back to campus. Their stories are often inspirations for our current students,” stated Bellinger.

The luncheon conversation with Berry was a part of the Distinguished Speakers Series in International Business, a speaker series provided by the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). CIBER, the only Title VI center in the state of Maryland higher education system, is a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Education which aims to promote U.S. business in a global marketplace and encourage international understanding.

- Marina Augoustidis, Center for Global Business