{"id":1375,"date":"2015-08-05T10:30:12","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T15:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=1375"},"modified":"2017-02-15T12:15:19","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T18:15:19","slug":"ali-diop-alumni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/ali-diop-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Ali Diop, ’15: Advancing a World View"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 2 minutes<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ali Diop, \u201915, is committed to helping solve some of the world\u2019s most difficult problems, and through a highly competitive internship he turns that goal into action every day. Diop\u2019s workplace is the United Nations in New York, in the Office of the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) at the International Criminal Court.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe United Nations is the epicenter of world governments,\u201d Diop says. \u201cWithout it, I don\u2019t think the world would be peaceful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally from Senegal in West Africa, Diop came to the U.S. at age 16 to attend a college-prep boarding school in Minnesota.<\/p>\n

As an intern at the U.N., much of Diop\u2019s day is spent translating documents, planning discussions between states\u2019 delegates, attending meetings on topics such as terrorism and economic development, taking notes at high-level meetings and creating reports, consulting with ambassadors, and keeping Senegal\u2019s capital apprised of U.N. events.<\/p>\n

In September, he helped Senegal during the 70th session of the U.N. General Assembly. During the session, heads of state, including Senegal\u2019s President Macky Sall\u2014whom Diop had the opportunity to meet\u2014addressed issues of sustainable development, climate change and terrorism.<\/p>\n

Diop also attended the 2015 United Nations Security Council election of the five non-permanent members, including Senegal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis job has pushed me to improve my knowledge and learn more about politics, international law and world issues,\u201d Diop says.<\/p>\n

Adjusting to the high-pressure world of the U.N. wasn\u2019t as difficult as Diop expected, he says, because of skills he developed at Maryville. He credits Davis Brown, JD, professor of political science, for teaching him diplomatic and persuasive language.<\/p>\n

When his internship ends next spring, Diop hopes to pursue a master\u2019s in international relations. Eventually, he wants to work as a leader at an institution like the U.N. or Amnesty International.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to empower women in order to achieve true gender equality, give the poor the opportunity to have a healthy life free of violence and unfairness, and tackle climate change,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Committed to being part of the solution where these complex world issues are concerned, Diop says, \u201cI hope I always opt for action when given the choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This story was first published in the Fall 2015 edition of<\/em> Maryville Magazine.<\/p>\n

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