Davis Fellows An Enduring Legacy -- A Productive Partnership, by Sherry Lee Mueller
Mathew Jernstedt, Caitlin Meyers, Walter Quintanilla, Anna Fuselier Thompson, 2026-27 Davis Fellows*
| Dr. Mueller with 2026-27 Davis Fellow Walter Quintanilla |
|---|
 |
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Sarah Rogers, was the featured speaker. She made an engaging presentation and shared some personal reflections on what serving in this position means to her and how she endeavors “to be worthy of the role.” During her remarks she recounted the impressive accomplishments of the new class of four Davis Fellows.
The CAA also used the occasion to present certificates to the three Davis Fellows who had just completed their year of additional training. In addition to monthly sessions with PDCA mentors, that training includes participation in the USC Center for Public Diplomacy Summer Institute and preparation of an article that is published in the CAA journal. The dinner, held in the Members Dining Room at the Cosmos Club, was convivial and a spirited celebration of the achievements of outstanding PD professionals who work diligently every day to put Uncle Sam’s best foot forward.
*Pictured: 2026-27 Davis Fellows: Mathew Jernstedt, Caitlin Meyers, Walter Quintanilla, & Anna Fuselier Thompson*. Photos courtesy of Laurence L. Levin Photography.
Mathew Jernstedt is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. He has served overseas in Mumbai and Warsaw, where his work has focused on strengthening people-to-people ties, advancing U.S. foreign policy priorities, and supporting cross-cultural engagement. His experience spans public diplomacy, strategic communications, consular affairs, and educational outreach. He holds a master's degree from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Caitlin Meyers is a Public Diplomacy-coned foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State. She most recently completed an assignment serving as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Educational and Cultural Affairs and will shortly join the European Press division. She previously served at consulates in Karachi, Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. Mission to the OECD, and on the Colombia desk. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Urdu. Prior to joining the State Department, Meyers worked at the New York Peace Institute as a mediator, focusing on data analysis and collaborations with the NYPD. She holds an MPA in Public Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. A Florida native, Meyers graduated from Florida State University with BAs in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. She completed two Fulbright grants in Colombia.
Walter Quintanilla is a Press Officer in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, Office of International Media Engagement (GPA/IME), where he covers Latin America, Spanish and Portuguese language media, and the U.S. Department of State’s Miami Hub. A Los Angeles native, Walter earned a B.A. in French Literature and Political Science from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Public Diplomacy from the University of Southern California. Walter’s previous tours include Consular assignments in Beijing, China and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He previously worked on the Tunisia Desk where he focused on macroeconomics and served as INL Deputy Director at U.S. Embassy Abuja. Walter enjoys playing video games, watching soccer, and Latin dancing. Walter speaks Spanish, French, and Mandarin.
Anna Fuselier Thompson is a Foreign Service Public Diplomacy Officer who has been with the U.S. Department of State since 2021. She has served in Kampala, Uganda and Tirana, Albania. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Anna founded her own nonprofit consulting firm after spending the early part of her career working in the education sector. She is particularly interested in the role of data driven multimedia campaigns in public diplomacy.
Current Davis Fellows with CAA President Ambassador Philip Hughes, Sherry Mueller, and Ambassador John Rakolta Jr.
Sherry Lee Mueller, Ph.D., Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, School of International Service (SIS), American University, Washington, D.C., teaches a graduate Practicum entitled Cultural Diplomacy and International Exchange. She also teaches a Skills Institute entitled Cultural Diplomacy and Protocol. In spring 2015, Professor Mueller served as the Higher Education Specialist for IBTCI on a bi-national team conducting a mid-term evaluation of a USAID-sponsored scholarship program for Indonesians. This included six weeks of fieldwork in Indonesia. After serving as President of Global Ties U.S. (formerly NCIV) from 1996 to 2011, the NCIV Board of Directors named Sherry President Emeritus. Before NCIV, Sherry worked for the Institute of International Education (IIE) for eighteen years, first as a program officer and then as Director, Professional Exchange Programs. Prior to joining IIE, Ms. Mueller served as an Experiment in International Living Leader to the former Soviet Union, a Liaison Officer for the U.S. Department of State, and a lecturer at the University of Rhode Island.Ms. Mueller is an active volunteer. She served for 3 years as the President of the Public Diplomacy Council, and another year as Co-President of the newly merged organization, the Public Diplomacy Council of America. She has also served on the boards of other nonprofit organizations including World Learning, PYXERA Global, Friendship Force International, Business for Diplomatic Action, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, and the International Student House in Washington D.C. Currently she serves on the AU SIS Dean's Advisory Board and the Board of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST).