Program and Event

U.S. Public Diplomacy Commissioner Visits Laos

Mr. Jay Snyder talks with Lao students on the UN's roles and responsibilities

Mr. Jay Snyder, a member of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, visited Laos November 5-9 to observe UXO-related projects in Khammuan province and to learn more about the U.S. Embassy’s outreach efforts in Laos. 

While in the capital, Mr. Snyder visited the Lao-American Center and spoke to approximately 40 students about the roles and responsibilities of the United Nations, based on his own experiences serving as a U.S. Representative to the 55^th United Nations General Assembly. He said that the role of the UN is similar to that of other government systems, and he discussed the variety of UN development agencies, their roles in various countries, and how they are organized.

Mr. Snyder also shared his own professional experiences, both in the private sector and as a government representative. He described how his interests had shifted from working in a chemistry laboratory to managing investments to becoming involved with public policy issues. He advised students to follow their own desires in finding jobs that they care about and then to work hard to achieve those goals.