Keynote Session by Mike Harker

It was a remarkable privilege of Embark College to host an intellectual mind Mr. Mike Harker, the Chief of Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, to give us an inspiring and thought-enrichment keynote session at our college. This event was underlined by the college as an on-going attempt to introduce the world to its students by collaborating with thought leaders and international scholars.
Students and faculty members of various disciplines attended the session as each was eager to leverage on the vast experiences that Mr. Harker has had in the field of public affairs, diplomacy, and communications on an international level. Having an influential career in multiple countries and a strong bond with Nepal, the keynote of Mr. Harker resonated powerfully among the listeners.
The session started by showing a welcome note followed by a formal introduction of the speaker. Now working in the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, Mike Harker is the head of communication and public diplomacy programs, overseeing the number of educational, cultural, and outreach activities. His association with Nepal started in 2006 when he trekked through Annapurna Circuit- a trip which initiated a life-long love affair with Nepal, with return trips and research at the Nepali monasteries.
There are many countries, where the diplomatic travel of Mr. Harker takes place, they are Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, and Burma. Most prominently, he has been a Spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy in Burma, where he managed the communications during one of the unstable political crises within the region after the military coup in 2021. Academically, he has Bachelor degree in Mass communications with UCLA and Master degree in International affairs with Columbia University.
He provided an idea about the role of public affairs and diplomacy in the development of international relations, where he expressed the importance of telling a story or being involved in culture and communicating without hiding anything. He addressed the fruitful partnership between the United States and Nepal where common values, participation in education, climate resilience, and the role of younger generations were mentioned.

The focus on soft power, the impact of music, culture, education, and the people-to-people contacts on the creation of a healthy perception and a long-standing goodwill are some of the most interesting elements of the session that Mr. Harker implemented. He has also addressed the issue of open communication during the crisis based on his personal experiences in the war zones and unstable political scenarios.
Mr. Harker has extended an invitation to students to think internationally but act locally to use the opportunities available to them by studying abroad through the exchange programs, scholarships, and cross-cultural partnership. He mainly underlined the current projects implemented by the U.S. Embassy, which help Nepal in aspects of youth leadership, education exchange, and digital literacy.
There was also a lively question and answers session and the students brought curious and incisive enquiries regarding careers across the globe, diplomacy in an online world, dealing with the nature of perception in complicated contexts, and the benefits of education as a tool of peace. Mr. Harker was candid, encouraging, and clear-cut thus leaving students inspired and informed.
The end of the event marked a formal record of thanks to Mr. Harker on behalf of the college who in a spirit of sincerity lauded the immense gratitude he had to spend time, share his openness and the priceless global information about his experiences as relayed to Embark students. The speaker was given a token of appreciation and had a small informal encounter session with the students.
The keynote by Mr. Harker was a significant reminder of how communication, empathy and cultural exchange can change the landscape and help bridge the divide and create connections and cooperation in the complex ever-changing world. The session was a significant value-addition to the learning experience of students and a strong reminder of the mission of Embark College to make each of its graduates a globally conscious and socially responsible citizen and a future-ready graduate.
Embark College anticipates to carry on with the tradition of inviting significant speakers and international leaders who could help in the motivation of the students to take part in the world that lies beyond the learning environment.