News

Moises Mendoza received the 2026 Lesley Dorman award for his work as AAFSW's SOSA program chair, which honors exceptional volunteer service by those under Chief of Mission authority at U.S. diplomatic and consular posts overseas. As an AAFSW Board member from 2022-2026, Moises was deeply committed to honoring the many Foreign Service professionals who devote their lives to advancing American values and stewardship around the world. 

Moises received a master’s degree from Columbia University and the Hertie School of Governance, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. He was the recipient of the 2019 W. Averell Harriman Award for constructive dissent by an entry-level Foreign Service Officer. His service included assignments in Matamoros; Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as a political officer; Washington, D.C., as a country desk officer and watch officer in the State Department’s Operations Center; and most recently as a special assistant in the Executive Office of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Art at the Edge of the World: Common Grounds 

Curated by Dr. Erich Keel at the Arts Club of Washington 

Opening Reception: November 6, 5–7 p.m.

On View: November 6–28

By Celine Ford, President Emerita, AAFSW 

AAFSW is proud to present Art at the Edge of the World: Common Grounds as part of its 2026 Art and Diplomacy Series, reaffirming the organization’s longstanding commitment to supporting visual artists within the American foreign affairs community. This year’s exhibition celebrates the creativity of Foreign Service employees, spouses, and partners, whose global journeys shape distinctive artistic voices and compelling visual narratives. The show reflects the perspectives, experiences, and imaginative pathways formed through life and service abroad.

Common Grounds offers a vivid encounter with creativity born at the intersection of culture, geography, and diplomacy. The exhibition highlights works shaped by global service, canvases informed by lives lived in motion and by the continual crossing of borders, both literally and figurative. The title speaks to a dual identity: these artists are not only practitioners of their craft but interpreters of culture, witnesses to conflict and beauty, and storytellers of the unseen. Common Grounds evokes shared humanity and the spaces where connection transcends language, borders, and tradition.

The Arts Club of Washington is a cultural landmark housed in the historic Monroe House. Built in 1802 and once home to James Monroe during his tenure as Secretary of State, the residence has long been a patron of the city’s artistic and intellectual life. Since 1916, when Washington artists established the Arts Club within its walls, the institution has cultivated an inclusive environment devoted to painting, sculpture, photography, music, drama, and the preservation of cultural heritage. 

Curator Dr. Erich Keel brings a dynamic, worldly sensibility to Common Grounds. A respected museum educator and former Head of Education at the Kreeger Museum, Dr. Keel is known for illuminating the cultural crossings and personal histories embedded in works of art. His interpretive approach, rooted in accessibility, curiosity, and the belief that art speaks across borders, makes him an inspired match for an exhibition shaped by diplomatic life. At the Arts Club, he approaches each show as a conversation between artists and audiences, inviting viewers to engage with the deeper stories that inform creative expression.

The artists selected for this exhibition, Elizabeth Deng, Marina DiCarlo, Randa Fakes Logerfo, Jamie Hurst, Irina Lawton, Vincent Moore, Janet Olson, and Andrea Salzman, share a sensibility shaped by movement across cultures and continents. Their work emerges from immersion in diverse environments: bustling capitals, remote postings, countries in transition, and places rich in artistic tradition. Working across painting, photography, mixed media, fiber arts, and layered acrylics, they translate lived experience into visual form, capturing the emotional undercurrents of diplomatic life, shifting identities, cultural encounters, and the continual negotiation between worlds. Together, they offer a compelling cross‑cultural narrative that reflects how global service shapes artistic voice, material choices, and the stories they choose to tell.

Common Grounds stands at the intersection of AAFSW’s mission to uplift foreign affairs artists, the Arts Club of Washington’s dedication to fostering artistic community and preserving cultural heritage, and Dr. Keel’s belief in art as a powerful interpretive lens. 

AAFSW is deeply grateful to Christina Jin, Gallery Manager, Dr. Erich Keel, and the Arts Club of Washington for their generous partnership, guidance, and support in bringing this exhibition to life.

We look forward to your support.

AAFSW organized a tour of the Art of Japan at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, on September 25. Our tour guide for the event was Smithsonian docent and retired FSO, John Brennan, who served in both China and Japan. His deep knowledge of Japanese culture, history, and language made for a very engaging tour. He showed us Japanese pottery, sculpture, scrolls and screens from various periods of Japanese history. Guests enjoyed it so much, that they stayed after the tour to continue the discussion with the docent. 

Special thanks to our Programs Chair, Sheila Switzer, for her work making the event a success. 

Katharine (Kat) Ravetz knows firsthand what meaningful employment means to Foreign Service families. She spent 10 years as an eligible family member (EFM), including service as an EFM consular adjudicator in Rangoon, Burma, before joining the Foreign Service as a consular-coned officer. Today, she draws on that experience as the Consular Affairs Appointment Eligible Family Member (CA-AEFM) program coordinator and career development officer.  Kat guides participants through every stage of the program, from recruitment and hiring to matching them with positions at their onward posts. 

She champions the program across bureaus, posts, and offices and provides personalized guidance to participants and overseas posts.  The CA-AEFM program provides valuable, long-term employment opportunities for EFMs while meeting critical overseas consular staffing needs by hiring family members to serve in entry-level consular officer positions at their sponsoring employee's post. For more information about the CA-AEFM program, please see the GCLO CA-AEFM page.

Dear AAFSW Community,

This past month was very busy for our entire community, including the families still evacuated from the Middle East who are facing difficult decisions, especially regarding school-aged children. Our hearts go out to these families and the enormous resilience required to navigate this uncertainty.

To boost morale, our Happy Hour at Il Canale in DC was very well attended with many new faces; AAFSW presented our services and resources at the FS Orientation Class Benefits and Resources Forum at NFATC; our energetic past president and health coach, Patricia Linderman, shared fitness moves at the Community Coffee; and our tireless Marina led a group on a docent-guided tour of the Art of Japan at the National Museum of Asian Art.

Beyond events, you can always count on the AAFSW Evacuation Support Network (ESN). Following a surge of activity during the spring, the ESN continues to assist evacuated families, many of whom have not yet been able to return to their posts in the Middle East. Challenges can reinforce or strain families; when spouses experience separation or divorce, AAFSW Spouses in Transition is available to help through its emergency/crisis fund. In this area, we would warmly welcome any members who could step in as senior advisors on legal matters.

While we had to pause the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) in 2026, we are preparing an award ceremony, together with DACOR leadership, to recognize community members for exceptional volunteer service that strengthens our communities:

• The Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award (CCE-EFM) honors individuals who make extraordinary efforts to advance employment and career development for Foreign Service family members. Created in 2014, AAFSW boosted its prize award to $2,500 in 2025. The 2026 award goes to Katherine Ravetz.
• The Lesley Dorman Award recognizes an AAFSW spouse or partner member whose outstanding service across the organization reflects the leadership and dedication of former AAFSW President Lesley Dorman. The 2026 award goes to the late Moises Mendoza.
• The https://www.dacorbacon.org/dacor_awards.phpEleanor Dodson Tragen Award, sponsored and administered by DACOR, recognizes a spouse, family member, or domestic partner of a U.S. Foreign Service member who has gone above and beyond to advocate for and promote programs, rights, and career benefits for Foreign Service families.

We will also honor the 2025 award winners, as last year's award ceremony had to be canceled due to the government shutdown.

Finally, we look forward to seeing you all at the flagship Art & BookFair, taking place October 9–19 for badge holders (and escorted guests), with weekend access open to the general public. Be sure to plan enough time to explore our significantly larger venue, and plan to visit more than once as our team replenishes shelves daily with incredible new finds!

Kind regards,

Catherine Pierce

President, Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW)

Dear AAFSW Community,

I am deeply honored and humbled to address you for the first time as your President. Thank you to our members for entrusting me with the privilege of leading this extraordinary organization. This election brought a record number of candidates, demonstrating immense vibrancy, energy, and commitment to renewal within our community. Seeing so many talented, dedicated individuals step forward to serve was truly inspiring, and our Board is looking forward to engaging these leaders across our committees and initiatives.

Since joining the Foreign Affairs community in 2006, I have continually volunteered during seven overseas tours across as many regions to benefit our foreign affairs community. Over the past several years—serving as First Vice President, chairing the EFM Employment Committee, and co-creating FSHub.org and FSBizHub—my goal has always been to deliver practical solutions, strong advocacy, and a welcoming home for our community. As President, I intend to build on this momentum, expanding and renewing our programs, creating opportunities for EFMs to grow, and ensuring AAFSW serves as a true "CLO in D.C." for us all.

We owe tremendous gratitude to our immediate past President, Celine Ford, for her four years of steadfast leadership. Just in the past year, the Art & BookFair (ABF) recorded a historic success; the AAFSW Evacuee Support Network (ESN) stood strong in support of families returning from the Middle East during difficult transitions, and Celine published an extraordinary SOSA Legacy Report highlighting the remarkable impact of our volunteers overseas.

Looking ahead, we are kicking off the new term with great momentum! We started by a very well attended Coffee Morning just before school started, and we are hosting our August Happy Hour at Il Canale in DC. We are thrilled to launch this year’s Ambassador Speaker Series with Her Excellency Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador of the European Union, and a guided tour of the Art of Japan at the National Museum of Asian Art.

Finally, please mark your calendars for our flagship event: the Art & BookFair, taking place October 9–19 for badge holders (and escorted guests), with weekend access open to the general public. Be sure to visit more than once, as our team replenishes shelves daily with incredible new finds!

Because we are hosting the ABF in a significantly larger venue this year, we urgently need volunteers to join our team. Whether you are looking to get your 10,000 daily steps in or prefer a seated position, we have a spot for you. If you can lend a hand, please sign up to volunteer, and reach out to us at office@aafsw.org with any questions or call (703) 820-5420.

Thank you again for your trust, your enthusiasm, and your continued support. I look forward to serving you and working alongside each of you to make this an extraordinary year for AAFSW.

Kind regards,

Catherine Pierce

AAFSW hosted a Welcome Coffee on August 20, 2026 to welcome newly PCS'd community members. We had a great turnout with many familiar faces and new arrivals!   AAFSW would like to thank our guest speaker, Deepa Ramesh, the Foreign Service Youth Foundation's (FSYF) new Youth Engagement Coordinator. She told our group about upcoming FSYF programs such as the FS Family Picnic on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Nottoway Park, Vienna, VA. We look forward to collaborating with Deepa and FSYF in the near future. We hope to see you at more AAFSW events! If you have ideas for future gatherings, please let us know at office@aafsw.org. Our next Community Coffee will be on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 10am-12pm and will feature Wellness Coach (and fellow EFM) Patricia Linderman who will give a class on Functional Fitness Anywhere. We hope to see you there!

2026 AAFSW Merit Scholarship Winners

Kiara Fenn

Kiara Fenn is a rising senior at Cornell University studying biomedical engineering with a minor in Spanish. For the past three years, she has worked in a research laboratory — an experience that has inspired her to pursue a PhD in the biomedical field after graduation. When she is not in class or in the lab, she loves to run and dance — whether it's contra dance, swing dance, or sevillanas, a style of flamenco she learned while studying abroad in Seville, Spain this past spring

Thomas Benson

Thomas attended high school at the American International School Chennai and volunteered at Blue Cross of India, a veterinary NGO. Working alongside Regional Manager Vinod Kumar, he administered a J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust grant to purchase antiparasitic medicines — an experience that deepened his passion for veterinary science. He now attends the University of Florida, where heI volunteers as a veterinary technician and conducts research on heat stress in cattle. He hopes to enter veterinary school after graduation. 

2026 AAFSW Twice Exceptional Merit Scholarship Winners

Rya Anderson

This fall, Rya will attend Brigham Young University to pursue a degree in Nursing — the first step toward her long-term goal of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist. During high school, she had the honor of being invited to join the Aztec Chapter of the National Honor Society and co-founded a local chapter of Create for Kids (the first chapter ever opened in Mexico). Among her proudest achievements are maintaining Honor Roll every semester throughout high school, remaining actively involved in my church and school communities, and becoming a proficient pianist. 

Tamar Levy-Gedacht

Tamar is a senior at Cooperative Arts and Humanities Magnet High School with a strong interest in visual arts, languages, and international experiences. As a Third Culture Kid who has lived in multiple countries — including South Korea and Israel — she has developed a deep appreciation for cultural exchange and global perspectives. Her academic and extracurricular involvement includes ceramics, playwriting, show choir, taekwondo instruction, and studying Korean through the Yale Center for Language Study. She has earned a 4.0 GPA, received the ACTFL Seal of Biliteracy in Hebrew, and been inducted into the National Arts Honor Society. In the future, she hopes to continue studying language and the arts while pursuing opportunities to engage with different cultures around the world. 

2026 Judy Felt Memorial Volunteerism Scholarship - Alexander Flashberg 

Alex Flashberg is studying Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, with minors in Naval Science and Leadership Studies. Inspired by the Foreign Service personnel and Marines he met serving in U.S. embassies overseas, he joined the Corps of Cadets and Naval ROTC program at Virginia Tech. Upon graduation, he plans to commission as an officer in the United States Navy, with an interest in flying helicopters. 

2026 AAFSW Best Essay Scholarship Winner - Lillian Jafari

Lillian graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in June 2026. Outside of the United States, she has lived in Kenya, Cambodia, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and Uganda. For the past two years, she has interned at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, an experience that inspired her to study art history and education in college. This fall, she will attend Connecticut College, with the goal of pursuing a career in museum education.

Honoring 250 Years Together   

June 2026

Dear AAFSW Community,

 As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation, AAFSW is proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our global Foreign Affairs community. It is a moment to reflect on the values that have shaped us, service, resilience, creativity, and the commitment to supporting one another wherever we are in the world. We are deeply grateful to our members, partners, and supporters who make this work possible.

 I am pleased to share the SOSA Legacy Report, which highlights the contributions recognized through the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA). SOSA awardees showed how creativity, compassion, and civic engagement could strengthen the U.S. presence overseas and enrich the communities in which they served. Their work continues to reflect the spirit of service that defines our global community.

AAFSW also looks forward to announcing the new AAFSW Board of Directors. I am grateful for the dedication and collaboration of our Board members, past and present, whose leadership sustains our mission.

This year has once again shown the strength of our community. Whether through our cultural programs, fundraisers, or the support we provide to evacuees, RIFed employees, and spouses in crisis, the response from our members has been remarkable. The generosity, solidarity, and friendships that define AAFSW continue to inspire me.

 I extend my sincere appreciation to the Board and our colleagues for their dedicated support for AAFSW’s shared purpose. I am also grateful to our members and volunteers for their engagement and encouragement across our programs. It has been a privilege to serve this community and see the strength and kindness that define it.

Warm regards,

Celine Ford

President, AAFSW

AAFSW’s Arts and Diplomacy program was delighted to support our AAFSW artists and friends during a vibrant Happy Hour and Artists’ Talk held on May 28, 2026, at Café Zevian and Falls Church Arts. The evening brought together five remarkable artists, Andrea Salzman (EFM), Ann Phann, Dave Curtis, John Valenti, and Mareen Minard, whose works offered thoughtful perspectives on American life across the 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Their artwork reflected deep thought and a willingness to engage with America as throughout its evolving history. Each artist approached this milestone with a distinct voice, exploring themes of identity, community, memory, and the ever‑shifting landscape of the American experience. The result was a rich and inspiring conversation that invited guests to reflect, question, and imagine.

Café Zevian added a meaningful cultural dimension to the gathering. Rooted in Turkish culinary traditions and enriched by flavors from Greece and Lebanon, the café embodies the spirit of exchange and connection. Together with Falls Church Arts, the setting created a welcoming space for dialogue, creativity, and community.

We look forward to seeing you at future Arts & Diplomacy events.

Warmly,

Celine Ford