Clint Branam ’03 | HONDURAS
LESSONS
IN DIPLOMACY Clint Branam ’03 oversees operations for a USAID mission focusing on improving living standards in Honduras, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world. He explains how his time at AUP has influenced his diplomatic approach.
If I had to choose one main takeaway from my time at AUP, it would be that the world is a complex, interconnected place: events that happen in one country reverberate in faroff corners of the globe. For me, this lesson emphasizes the importance of diplomacy and, in particular, of foreign-aid programs; by investing time and resources in unstable areas of the world, we not only improve the lives of people living in those regions, but we also create a safer environment for our citizens at home. Since I graduated from AUP in 2003, my career has taken me to more than 80 countries. I currently work 55
AU P M AGAZ I N E
as Director of the Executive Office for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Honduras. The organization reports to the Secretary of State and is charged with improving living standards in the developing world in a way that simultaneously promotes US interests. We do this by aligning foreign aid programming in areas like health, economic development, education, crisis response, democracy and governance with the overarching goal of promoting a safe, stable, free and prosperous world. In my view, it’s a real win-win.
