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Diversity and Inclusion

Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence Fall 2020 Symposium

November 12, 2020 at 11:00am – 4:00pm EST

Virtual (See event details)

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Myths, Roles, Careers, and Other Practical Advice

Register with Kristen Duda at krduda@law.syr.edu

The fall 2020 ICCAE symposium will include a plenary session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a follow-on IC careers/mentoring module to discuss student opportunities that the IC and the Syracuse University-led ICCAE program offer.

10 a.m. Student Research Opportunities

  • Christina Williams (FBI/DNI)
  • Bridget Essing, Nori Zaccheo, and Kailee Vicks (ICCAE Students)
  • Mecki Prinz (John Jay University)
  • Peter Romaniuk (John Jay University)

11 a.m. Plenary Session

Panel 1: Myths About the Intelligence Community
Both a fun and serious look at IC myths drawn from popular culture.

This panel invites participants to address some of the myths surrounding the IC and intelligence practice whether those myths derive from popular culture or from student misperceptions about rules and procedures. It is supposed to offer an opportunity for some fun and mischief (what is real and fake in portrayals of the IC) as well as concrete and practical observations (is it true you cannot get a clearance if…) We have added “legends” to the title with intentional triple entendre, but with the specific suggestion that panelists might also share with the audience one or two examples of intelligence officers or actors who inspired them.
  • Corin Stone, Scholar in Residence, American University (former Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Strategy & Engagement and Executive Director, NSA)
  • Alex Joel, Scholar in Residence, American University (former Chief of the Office of Civil Liberties, Privacy and Transparency, ODNI)
  • Athena Arguello, Associate General Counsel
  • Moderator:  Laurie Hobart, SU Law

Panel 2: The Role of the Intelligence Officer
Intelligence Community employees talk about their experiences working in the IC.

This panel is intended to offer students (and faculty) insight about the transition from school to the IC focusing on different transitional paths and challenges, including those that might be presented in the case of more recent U.S. citizens, first-generation Americans and/or college students, and persons entering the IC from diverse backgrounds. As with the first panel, we would encourage participants to draw on their own experiences to identify mentors and role models in their lives, as well as the substantive knowledge and skills they found most useful in making the transiton from student to Intelligence Professional.

  • Vonna Heaton (Former Senior Executive, NGA)
  • Steve Bartley (United States Army)
  • Aurelia Williams (Norfolk State University and former IC)
  • Moderators: Ardie Walser (CCNY/CUNY) & Mark Rosen (John Jay/CUNY)

1 p.m.  Intelligence Career Advising

Syracuse University has been designated as a United States Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (ICCAE)—a highly competitive, congressionally mandated program funded by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which partners with universities to increase the diversity of the U.S. intelligence workforce. The ICCAE offers undergraduate and graduate students unique coursework as well as programmatic and training opportunities to prepare for professional positions in any of the 17 agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Syracuse University has been designated as a United States Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (ICCAE)—a highly competitive, congressionally mandated program funded by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which partners with universities to increase the diversity of the U.S. intelligence workforce. The ICCAE offers undergraduate and graduate students unique coursework as well as programmatic and training opportunities to prepare for professional positions in any of the 17 agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

This event was first published on November 8, 2020 and last updated on October 30, 2024.

Event Details