Powell appoints Smullen to cultural diplomacy committee

Powell appoints Smullen to cultural diplomacy committeeMay 17, 2004Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

F. William Smullen, director of the National Security Studies program in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to a seat on the Department of State Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy. The committee advises Powell on how to increase the presentation of U.S. creative, visual and performing arts abroad and to create strategies for increasing public-private partnerships to sponsor cultural exchange programs that promote the national interests of the United States.

“I can’t think of a greater foreign policy challenge for the U.S. than public diplomacy,” says Smullen. “Changing minds, attitudes and opinions is indeed what we need to do to win the peace.”

The Advisory Committee on Cultural Diplomacy is chaired by Margaret Tutwiler, undersecretary of state of public diplomacy and public affairs. Its other members include Patricia Harrison, assistant secretary of state of educational and cultural affairs; Robert Babbage of Lexington, Ky.; T. Willard Fair, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami Inc.; Christopher Merrill, director of the international writing program at the University of Iowa; Carl Schnee, an attorney with Bifferato Bifferato & Gentilotti in Wilmington, Del.; Richard Swigart of Alexandria, Va.; and Charles Webb, dean emeritus of the Indiana University School of Music.

A professional soldier for 30 years, Smullen retired from the U.S. Army in 1993 as a colonel. His last assignment on active duty was special assistant to the 11th and 12th chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., and Powell. Upon leaving active duty, Smullen became the executive assistant to Powell, assisting with the writing and promotion of Powell’s autobiography, “My American Journey,” published in 1995. Beginning in 1997 he became the chief of staff for America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth. He was chief of staff to Powell from January 2001 until coming to SU in September 2002. In addition to his duties at Maxwell, Smullen is also on the faculty of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as a professor of public relations.