A French major who’d spent a Fulbright year in Burkino Faso, Joey Hood seemed destined for west Africa upon entry into the foreign service. But not all roads lead where you expect them to. Find out how taking things as they come, but making the most of every moment once you get to the destination, is a winning strategy when your career bounces you all over the world.
Guest Joey Hood, Dartmouth '96, had originally thought he’d spend a life in government service or maybe in politics, but after he realized government majors were mostly really passionate, argumentative lawyers in training, he concentrated in his beloved French. Taking opportunities that presented themselves and ones he concocted on his own, he did every foreign study program in France available, taught English and studied west African literature in Senegal, and pursued a Fulbright Fellowship in Burkino Faso, investigating the colonial roots of the current educational system and policies there.
So when he landed a spot in the U.S. foreign service, it might make sense that his language and cultural skills would send him back to West Africa. Instead, this generalist diplomat has spent more than two decades chiefly in the middle east. Every new assignment has been a graduate seminar on a new culture and geopolitical chess game and he considers the best job out there, the hardship posts and difficulties in leaving somewhere just when it’s starting to grow on you, notwithstanding.
In this episode, find out from Joey taking things as they come, but making the most of every moment once you’ve reached your destination, is a winning strategy when your career bounces you all over the world…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley
About This Episode's Guest
Joey Hood, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, has spent over two decades in the foreign service. A generalist diplomat who has been assigned chiefly in the middle east, he has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Iraq and Kuwait and Consul General in Dharan, Saudi Arabia. His current role keeps him in Washington, D.C. but who knows where the next assignment will take him.
Mentioned in this episode is the book Our Kids by Robert Putnam.
Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley
Music: Brian Burrows