Pivot to State & Local Government: From International Development

On August 21, 2025, Diana Winter (Anne Arundel County Government in Maryland), Shifra Goldenberg (Work for America), Gözde Meşeli Teague (Department of Health Care Access and Information in California), and Melissa Griswold (State of Maryland’s Department of Budget and Management) discussed serving and making a meaningful impact local government, offering attendees suggestions on how an international development professionals possess key skills that make us in high-demand! Ashley Hamilton (Georgetown SFS) moderated this session, and Steve Radelet (Georgetown SFS) also provided additional commentary.

This session was the fifth in our Pivot to New Career Paths seminar series, designed to offer attendees the opportunity to hear from colleagues who have already made these important career transitions and glean how to best embark on these changes themselves.

Many global development professionals, especially public servants, have spent their careers serving others, advocating for rights and inclusion miles away from home. As the international development sector continues to undergo unprecedented change, many are reimagining what service can look like—where it can be, gravitating toward roles in state and local governments.

The panelists in this session all have significant experience in local and state government, but all agreed that international development professionals can lean on the same skills in these roles, as they had done working for USAID, its implementing partners, or other organizations—including M&E, program management, strategic planning, and policy analysis, among others.

Other Previous Sessions

Please feel free to browse our other previous sessions to access summaries, video content, and more information about our other events!