Jeffry R. Olesen
Each year, the U.S. Department of State assigns Senior Foreign Service Officers to the position of Diplomat in Residence (DIR) at certain colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The DIR program is central to the effort to recruit for the Foreign Service, Civil Service and Student Programs the best and brightest to represent America's rich diversity to the world. DIRs disseminate information about career opportunities not only at their home universities but throughout the region where they are located.
Mr. Jeffry R. Olesen, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the U. S. Department of State Diplomat in Residence at Miami-Dade College and Florida International University. Before assuming this position, Mr. Olesen served from July 2007 until July 2010 as Minister-Counselor for Management Affairs for the three U.S. Missions in Vienna, Austria; the U.S. Mission to Austria, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Vienna (US UNVIE) and the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (USOSCE).
Mr. Olesen entered the Foreign Service in 1987 and has served seven overseas postings and two tours at the State Department headquarters in Washington. In addition to his tour in Vienna, his overseas service includes tours in Athens, Greece; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Budapest, Hungary; Lahore, Pakistan; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Prior to joining the State Department Mr. Olesen spent 17 years in the private sector working for a large retail firm for nearly seven years, and in the financial services industry for ten years with a couple of major firms and as co-owner of his own firm.
Mr. Olesen holds an undergraduate degree (AB) in history and government from Cornell University (1970), and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from West Virginia University´s College of Graduate Studies (1978).
Mr. Olesen maintains a Facebook page with current information on his activities and other Dept of State information. Access it at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DOS-Diplomat-in-Residence-South-Florida/193731287309583.
Careers and Internships Info
Some of the most interesting work in the world is done by U.S. Department of State employees overseas and in Washington, D.C.
Becoming a Foreign Service Officer, Foreign Service Specialist or Civil Service employee for the U.S. Department of State gives you the opportunity to make a difference.
The people of the State Department are at work every day around the world and in Washington, D.C. on matters of vital importance. You could be involved in providing background information needed to develop foreign policy, implementing established policies, assisting American citizens in need, managing budgets and resources that support diplomacy or representing American interests in any of over 170 countries.
The Department of State maintains a comprehensive website on internships and careers at: http://www.careers.state.gov.