Sen. Murphy's Diplomacy Earns Recognition; World Affairs Council Receives Grant Funds

United States Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut’s junior senator, has received the George Washington University’s Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication’s (IPDGC) annual Walter Roberts Award for Congressional Leadership in Public Diplomacy.

William Youmans, director of GW's Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, also announced a $5,000 grant from the Walter Roberts Endowment to the World Affairs Council of Connecticut to support a program that will highlight the benefits of public diplomacy to the local community.

Senior Official for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Jennifer Hall Godfrey, U.S. Agency for Global Media Acting CEO Kelu Chao, and World Affairs Council of Connecticut CEO Megan Torrey also joined Youmans and spoke during the recent event, highlighting the importance of American public diplomacy.

“The array of challenges the world faces today are often immune to military hegemony. Misinformation campaigns, creeping corruption, pandemic disease, and climate change cannot be combatted by tanks and planes. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, my priority is making sure we invest in smart power and lift up diplomacy to help us tackle the challenges we face in the 21st century,” Murphy said.

He added “I’m grateful and honored to accept this award from the George Washington University Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication and am pleased the World Affairs Council of Connecticut will receive a $5,000 grant to support their important work.”

"The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication created this award for congressional leadership in public diplomacy because we want to celebrate support for this country's efforts to communicate with the rest of world," Youmans said. "Sen. Murphy has been a leader in strengthening U.S. public diplomacy's engagement with foreign audiences through times of challenge and opportunity. He has consistently provided a Congressional vision for the amplification of America's story overseas."

Murphy has been a strong voice in the Senate fighting for job creation, affordable health care, education, sensible gun laws, and a forward-looking foreign policy. First elected to the Senate in 2012, he serves on several committees in the 117th Congress, including Appropriations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Foreign Relations; and Democratic Steering and Outreach.

The grant to the World Affairs Council of Connecticut (CTWA) will be used to highlight the importance of public diplomacy to American communities. CTWAC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes greater awareness and dialogue on important global issues. With an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration, the Council creates experiences that explore critical global issues and promote a greater understanding of the world.

The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) is a leading organization in the field of public diplomacy and global communication. Based at The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs and jointly administered out of the Elliott School of International Affairs.