For this post in our Service Series, we were pleased to interview Sheriff Almakki, one of our 2023 Graduate Fellows, who recently joined the U.S. State Department as a newly minted Foreign Affairs Officer. We asked Sheriff to reflect on his journey to public service, including his graduate education at the University of Michigan, his longtime interest in refugee affairs, and the impact of his experience within our Graduate Fellowship Network on his professional development. Sheriff's views are his own and do not reflect the stances, policies or beliefs of the U.S. government. His remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.
We thank Sheriff for his active engagement in our Graduate Fellowship Network and look forward to following his many accomplishments in the years to come.
1. Congratulations on recently starting a new position at the U.S. State Department – what does this opportunity mean to you?
"It means the world to me. Studying public policy in graduate school was a deliberate choice. I went to the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy to gain the skills to make change on a higher scale than individual projects, people, or even my local community – I wanted to affect systems and tackle thorny international problems. To have made it from my rural hometown in Indiana to Washington D.C., and to be in a place to serve at the State Department – the center of U.S. foreign policy – is a monumental honor."
2. Looking back at how you got here, you majored in a STEM field as an undergrad – a degree one might think traditionally unconventional for a future Foreign Affairs Officer. What role has your STEM education and interests in emerging technologies and AI played in your career trajectory?
"My training as a scientist is a huge asset in this field. As part of my training, I was taught to analyze complex data and problems systematically, to take an evidence-based approach to decision-making and to find innovative solutions to challenging problems – all skillsets that readily translate to international policy problems. Given the challenges of the 21st century – in fields such as cybersecurity, AI, drone warfare and biotech, to name a few – a background in hard science makes me more credible when negotiating with foreign counterparts, and allows me to navigate the nexus between policy practitioners and technical experts. Even in my short tenure, I have been generating thought leadership and new conversations in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor on the human rights challenges of the future – all thanks to my STEM and emerging technology background."
3. How did your graduate education at the University of Michigan influence your career path and interests?
"It opened a wide swathe of opportunities to me that I never knew about before - getting to work at the Problem Solving Initiative on 'Designing a New Global Refugee Protection System' for delivery to the United Nations, participating in the U.S. Army War College's simulations, participating as a delegate for Model NATO in D.C., researching Disinformation in Conflict Zones for the Department of State - the University of Michigan offered me plenty of opportunities to hone skills, find mentorship, and create deliverables that showed my ability.
I do want to give a shoutout to opportunities for leadership development as well, such as the Ford School's Leadership Initiative and the Sanger Leadership Center's many programs, like their Ross Leaders Academy, Story Lab and Crisis Challenge. I really cherished the opportunities to grow and learn from others interested in becoming changemakers across a variety of fields."
4. Additionally, one of our Graduate Fellowship Program Advisers nominated you for our Fellowship – what was his impact on your studies and career aspirations?
"It would be impossible to overstate how much of an impact my nominating Adviser had on my career. He had a similar journey to mine – his undergraduate degree was in biochemistry, before moving on to law and international policy. His introductory course to foreign policy and his values and ethics course taught me to make cogent arguments, navigate difficult political dynamics and write a memo suitable for busy government principals. One of my biggest practical writing takeaways from his class – you’ll usually overshoot what you actually need, so write your first draft and be ready to cull at least 30% of it.
More than that, he taught me how to be a valuable instructor, classmate, colleague and friend. He mastered the art of taking anything a student said or asked and making it seem brilliant, which built confidence in his classrooms that allowed for more free-flowing conversation and discourse. His nuanced and principled approach to servant leadership and shared governance were inspirational. His knowledge of international institutions, which seemed all-encompassing, proved fertile ground for someone new to the field to satisfy their curiosity – and his patience at my showing up to weekly office hours with a new slew of questions about life, policy, politics and my career seemed unending. I am so grateful to have learned from him – I would not be here today if it weren’t for his guidance."
5. Your interests include human rights and refugee affairs, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Can you talk more about the background of these interests?
"In many ways, they flow from my family history - my parents immigrated from a deeply repressive Syria in the 90s, and received national interest waivers to serve as medical practitioners in underserved rural parts of Indiana. During the Syrian Civil War, many members of my family were not so lucky - they lost their lives or had to uproot them and flee to neighboring countries, tackling physical threats to their well-being, language barriers, cultural differences and the loss of their livelihoods and built lives.
So when I think about these issues - there's a very personal, very moral connection to wanting a world free of authoritarian oppression, where the dignity of every human being is respected. But there's also a strong connection to our country's character and place in the world stage - President Reagan once said that 'America has, since its founding, been a refuge for those suffering under the yoke of oppression.' These values are, he continued, part of the 'soul of our foreign policy.' These values have meaning, they unite us as Americans, and they gain the respect of our friends, allies and counterparts.
Lastly, there's a very raw, realist lens to apply to these issues - when people are unsafe, further instability and insecurity follow, and oftentimes it ends up becoming our problem. In the speech I alluded to earlier, President Reagan continued on to say that 'Governments that must answer to their peoples do not launch wars of aggression.' We've seen this very theory play out in the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, and may well see it elsewhere around the world in the coming years. American interests are best served by encouraging the development of peaceful nations that take care of their citizens, not oppressive regimes that build their power on trampled fundamental freedoms."
6. Last year, you moved to Washington, D.C., and have been active in local networks, including our own Graduate Fellowship Network. How has community building influenced your transition to life in D.C. and supported your professional interests?
"D.C. is the furthest I've been from home, my family and my familiar networks - so I knew I would want to meet people quickly and build communities here. The Rumsfeld Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship Network has been great for that - I have gotten to meet other colleagues at the State Department, make new friends through potlucks and birthday parties, and commiserate when going through stressful times, such as the current uncertainties facing federal personnel.
Moreover, community building is just a deeply Midwestern value - I oftentimes speak to folks here in D.C. who bemoan the lack of deep friendships, community support and the feeling that they are always having conversations that feel transactional. That feels so foreign to me - I grew up with warm neighbors and family friends who always made you feel welcome and cared for. As the saying goes, 'you can just do things,' so I decided for one of my New Year's Resolutions this year to host a monthly potluck to bring people together through different themed events. They've been great fun, and helped to cultivate connections between friends and colleagues that have borne delightful fruit."
7. You have taken advantage of several of our Fellowship Network resources and events, including our year-round speaker series and annual Graduate Fellowship Conference and Spring Retreat. How have these opportunities contributed to your development?
"I adore our speaker series and Fellowship convenings. For one thing, they bring together other peers from the network, who I've found to be universally interesting, insightful and kindhearted, so it's always a joy to see and meet more of them. For another, there's something so special about getting to hear directly from authors and scholars working on the bleeding edge of policy problems facing our nation - and then getting to directly engage with them and ask questions. Having this kind of expertise available is a tremendous boon for our network, and it helps me remain thoughtful and curious instead of stagnating now that I'm working full-time. I love the feeling of learning year-round - it was one of my favorite parts of being in school."
8. Can you share about one specific Graduate Fellowship speaker or event that you found particularly insightful or memorable?
"Just one would be tough, but there are two that were deeply useful and important for me - first, the 'Career Conversations: Navigating the Federal Hiring Process' roundtable was really useful as I was wrapping up my graduate degree, and I directly applied some of the advice in the application process that led me to my current role as a Foreign Affairs Officer. Thanks, Taylor, Wainwright, Stephanie and Aaron!
Second would have to be when the Foundation invited its Georgetown Program Adviser to speak on the publication of his recent book last summer. The chat happened early after my move to D.C., so it helped me reconnect with other members of the Graduate Fellowship - but the book itself has been deeply instructive in actually instrumentalizing the 'America First' foreign policy I'm currently charged with executing, and in better understanding the high-level directives we're receiving as staff."
9. The Graduate Fellowship Program’s core strength lies in its network of now over 200 Graduate Fellows. How has your engagement with network members informed your career goals?
"Particularly early on in my time in the Fellowship Program, the Career Conversations were so helpful - coming from STEM, you usually know there are pretty clear lines for what a successful career looks like, whether that be in academia or in the private sector. Talking to our Graduate Fellows, I grew to realize that careers in policy and public service can look a lot different - you're oftentimes better served by continuously growing, improving, networking and being prepared to take exciting opportunities when they come across your desk. Network members currently working at the State Department (thanks Sean and Sam!) have helped me think through what a career could look like there, and more senior affiliates and Advisers have been huge sources of insight and support for what leadership looks like at the top.
I do also want to give a special shoutout to my Network Connect mentor last year, Kelsey, who was incredibly helpful as I was going through my career search process at the end of graduate school. Her insights into tech policy and the AI policy landscape, her advice and support as I have been applying to D.C.-based fellowships, and her and her husband's warm welcome to the DMV have been some of the great delights and surprises of 2024. I'm inspired and excited to give back to the Fellowship community and future Fellows in the same way in the coming years."
We are grateful to count Sheriff among the now more than 200 rising leaders in public service who have participated in our Graduate Fellowship Program, with network members having served in nearly all U.S. federal departments and agencies, Congress, international organizations, state and local governments, higher education and beyond. The network’s profound commitment to public service is a reflection of our founders and their conviction that dedicated public servants are critical to shaping a better future for our communities and our nation. Learn more about the program here.