Contact:

Richele Keller, 277-2718 Michael Padilla, 277-1816

March 4, 2002

UNM’s Diplomat in Residence Recruits for worldwide positions

Richele Keller, diplomat in residence for the United States Department of State at the University of New Mexico, is recruiting individuals to represent New Mexico’s diversity to the world.

Keller, housed at UNM’s Career Services Center for two years, is generating interest for individuals to take the exam to become foreign service officers. The upcoming deadline to register for the April 13 exam is March 11. The exam will be offered again on Sept. 21.

“There are opportunities for students in many fields,” Keller said. “We are looking for individuals who thrive on change, people who enjoy doing new things and those who want to interact with people who have different skills and backgrounds.”

Foreign service officers can be sent anywhere in the world, at any time, to serve the diplomatic needs of the United States. The officers serve as front-line personnel at all U.S. embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions.

Keller said after Sept. 11, more urgency is attached to the need around the world for foreign service officers. Issues of critical importance to the nation’s foreign policy include: strengthening democratization and human rights around the world; halting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; providing protection and assistance to American citizens abroad; strengthening peacekeeping capabilities; dealing more effectively with global environmental issues; fighting international crime and terrorism; dealing with ethnic and religious affairs; and penetrating new markets for American business. The Department of State is recruiting for management and technical skills; foreign service careers are not limited to political science or international affairs majors. Engineering, information technology and resource management experience are in great demand.

“Recruiting targets have more than doubled, an intiative which began before Sept. 11,” Keller said.

A senior foreign service officer, Keller has 25 years of service with the Department of State and has worked in about 50 countries and lived in six foreign countries. Her last overseas posting was as regional consular officer for Southern Africa, based in Johannesburg at the time of the democratic transition in 1993 to 1996. 

Keller also served as consul in Prague at the time of the Velvet Revolution from 1989-1990.  Keller worked in the Department of State with the Office of Inspector General, leading inspection teams to assess embassy programs in Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Botswana, Ethiopia and Haiti. She has also served as a career development officer in the Bureau of Human Resources from 1997 to 1999, as European division chief in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens’ Services Office from 1986 to 1988. From 1990 to 1991 she served as a consular training instructor at the Foreign Service Institute and as a consular officer in Hamilton from 1984 to 1986, Zagreb from 1982 to 1984, Athens from 1979 to 1981, and Port of Spain from 1977 to 1978.

Keller is grateful for the assistance she has received while being at UNM. “UNM has been very welcoming,” she said, adding that she has been able to reach out to each college and school at UNM. She has held several workshops to help prepare for the written exam and oral presentation.

“UNM is a great place for diversity,” she said. “I have asked to extend my stay here for one more year.”

Keller said the process is highly competitive and individuals should take the time to browse the Department of State website at www.careers.state.gov. For more information call Keller at (505) 277-2718.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981