Conversations Lunch: Joan Mower

Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communications

Joan Mower is director of the Business Development Office at the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the U.S. Government agency which oversees the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, Radio/TV Marti and the Middle East Broadcasting Corp. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. The office handles partnerships with more than 4,000 broadcast and digital stations around the world, with offices in Cape Town, Accra, Bangkok and Prague. It also runs a robust media training center for international journalists.  

Previously, Ms. Mower served as the public relations director for USAGM and VOA.  Ms. Mower has also been an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, teaching public diplomacy. 

From 2007-2009, she was the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State on Sudan issues. Before joining the USAGM, Ms. Mower served as the director of international programs/Africa and Latin America at The Freedom Forum/Newseum. She supervised offices in Johannesburg and Buenos Aires. At the foundation, she promoted press freedom.  Ms. Mower has also served as a Foreign Service Officer. 

She began her career as a journalist. For 10 years she covered Washington for the Associated Press. She graduated from the University of California/Berkeley and holds an M.A. in African Studies from Johns Hopkins. An avid tennis player, Ms. Mower grew up in Africa, living in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. 

Attendance is limited to 15.

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