Lucia C. Piazza
On May 27, 2020, US Consul General in Calgary Lucia C. Piazza was the guest speaker for the inaugural webinar in the University of Alberta's Diversity in Diplomacy speaker series. The Consul General shared her experiences in working around the globe as an out LGBT+ diplomat in conversation with Prof. Lois Harder, Principal of the Peter Lougheed Leadership College, and Dr. Susanne Luhmann, Director of the Intersections of Gender Signature Area.
During the conversation, Ms. Piazza provided insight on the challenges faced by LGBT+ diplomats, and the progress made, as well as the status of diversity more generally in the recruitment and retention of US foreign service officers. She also commented on the necessity for intercultural communication in foreign service roles, the importance of training when handling crisis situations, and how being authentic and culturally respectful can go hand in hand.
As a career Foreign Service Officer, Lucia C. Piazza has represented the U.S. government in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East under three distinct administrations. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including for her leadership during the 2012 attack on the U.S. embassy in Tunis, and for her leadership of the State Department's response to Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria when she and her team oversaw the evacuation and repatriation of over 3,000 U.S. citizens. Consul General Piazza is a mother of 5 children, and represents the USA as an open and proud LBGT+ diplomat.
The Diversity in Diplomacy series is jointly organized by the University of Alberta's Intersections of Gender Signature Area, the Peter Lougheed Leadership College, and University of Alberta International. In moderated online conversations with Canadian and foreign ambassadors, high commissioners, and consuls general, the series will explore diplomatic service through the lens of intersectionality, encourage students from diverse backgrounds to consider diplomatic careers, and lead national and international conversations on the role of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in improving foreign policy outcomes.
View the recording: