Alumni Spotlight: Beverli Jo Dewalt

Beverli Jo Dewalt (’98, Communication) is a Foreign Service Officer and Diplomat for the Department of State in Washington D.C. where she works in the Secretary's Office for Coordination of Reconstruction and Stabilization. 

Currently, she is on a temporary tour of duty in Afghanistan working in two provinces north of Kabul. She assists local government leaders, line ministers and local people improve the stability and security through reconstruction and regular engagement.  Beverli spent three months earlier this year assisting with the Kosovo transition from a U.N. protectorate to an independent state. 

Beverli also served a tour in Brussels, Belgium at the U.S. Mission to NATO, working as an Executive Officer to the Ambassador for a year and a political officer on Iraqi issues. She reveals, "The most interesting part was working with our 25 NATO Allies. In one day I would have lunch with the Germans, afternoon hot chocolate with the Dutch and an evening meeting with the French."

Her first tour with the Foreign Service was in Islamabad, Pakistan as a Vice-Consul interviewing Pakistani citizens wishing to visit the United States. She met people from every walk of life -- poor farmers, famous Bollywood stars, political figures and businessmen. She loved the job and fell in love with the country. 

Beverli credits her SUU education, specifically her Communication training, for providing her with a strong background for service as a diplomat.  She values having learned the importance of relationships, politics and economics. Reflecting on her classroom experience and still using what was taught, she remembers Suzanne Larson opening class by saying, "Persuasion is manipulation with ethics," and Les Jones repeatedly stating, "Why do we do the things we do?"