Call for Proposals
5th Annual Summit, “Diplomacy and International Development”
Sponsored by the Mroz Global Leadership Institute and
School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs at the College of Charleston, SC.
Summit date: February 19-20, 2026.
Proposal deadline: December 10, 2025
Since 2022, Mroz Global Leadership Institute’s summits have provided a platform for discussions on diplomacy and global challenges from diplomats, policymakers, journalists, academics, and practitioners. The 5th Annual Summit will expand this tradition by including academic panels focused on the intersection of international development and diplomacy.
We invite proposals from scholars, policy analysts, development professionals, and civil society practitioners working in non-governmental and international organizations. Submissions from interdisciplinary and cross-regional perspectives are especially welcome with the following suggested topics:
· Diplomacy and development
· Climate diplomacy and sustainable development
· Humanitarian diplomacy and peacebuilding
· Democracy and development
· Global governance and multilateral institutions
· Health and education
· Poverty and inequality
· Migration and displacement
· Civil society and development cooperation
Accepted presenters will be invited to submit full research papers by January 30, 2026.
Please complete the online form (https://forms.gle/5zxQqtcqxGL7zPaV6) that includes your CV and a proposal abstract of no more than 200 words by December 10, 2025. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.
For more information, contact Bambi Downs, Mroz Global Leadership Institute Operations Manager, at downsb@cofc.edu.
The Mroz Global Leadership Institute will cover domestic travel and accommodation expenses for participants whose proposals are accepted.
About Mroz Global Leadership Institute
Founded in January 2021, the Mroz Global Leadership Institute continues the 40-year legacy of John Mroz and the EastWest Institute (EWI). The Mroz Institute’s mission is to cultivate global fluency and promote diplomatic literacy among students through experiential learning, public engagement, and interdisciplinary programming.
We offer a range of professional development opportunities for students interested in public service and diplomacy, a speaker series, an oral history project, and we regularly invite guests to speak on diplomacy and global challenges. We also host multi-day summits that bring together scholars, practitioners, and students for discussions of global challenges.
Visit our website at mrozinstitute.charleston.edu to learn more. Here is a brief overview of our summits in the past four years: