Mark Minton Named Diplomat-in-Residence at CCNY

Taking a sabbatical from the realm of international diplomacy, where negotiating peace talks in Asian trouble spots and representing the U.S. at the UN Security Council were the order of the day, Mark Minton, former Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the UN, has accepted a new posting with a strong diplomatic flavor to it in the halls of academia.

The foreign service veteran has been named the State Department’s “Diplomat-in-Residence” (DIR) at City College, charged with encouraging CCNY’s uniquely diverse student body to pursue careers in the service.

During his one-year tenure that will end August 2003, Mr. Minton will run a writing workshop for the intensely rigorous Foreign Service exam, mentor prospective candidates and provide students with general information on the Foreign Service.

As a member of CCNY’s International Studies program faculty, he will also teach an undergraduate course in International Studies next Spring.

Mr. Minton is the State Department’s only Diplomat-in-Residence in the Northeastern United States.

“My presence here is intended to support CCNY’s efforts in getting the program initiated for students who are interested in diplomatic careers, particularly underrepresented minorities,” said Mr. Minton.

The CCNY program is also open to other City University (CUNY) institutions. CCNY expects to develop a model that can be used in other inner-city universities.

Typically, the State Department rotates its DIR in New York, and the DIR is generally placed in the CUNY system for recruitment purposes.#