How I ended up working with public diplomacy and communication in New York
Josefine Nielsen holds a BA in American Studies from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and today works as a Senior Public Diplomacy and Administrative Officer at Denmark’s UN Mission in New York. In her role, she operates in an international environment where communication, events, culture, and international relations come together in concrete projects and collaborations.
"I work as a Senior Public Diplomacy and Administrative Officer at Denmark’s UN Mission in New York. My work sits at the intersection of international relations, communication, and culture, and it takes place in a highly international and multicultural environment.
An experience that shaped my direction early on was the course American Foreign Policy during my BA in American Studies. I was taught by Niels Bjerre-Poulsen, and it was here that I truly realized how fascinating foreign and international politics are. This influenced my choices during my studies – both electives, an internship, and a study abroad stay at Columbia University in New York, where I also took courses in foreign policy and war history. It was there that I realized this was the field I wanted to work in.
In my current role, I work across several key areas. I serve as coordinator for our administrative team, which includes public diplomacy, communication, administration, and event coordination. In addition, I work with Danish exhibitions within the UN framework and am responsible for our external communication on platforms such as LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. I also support press coordination and handle a wide range of ad hoc tasks.
A specific project I recently worked on was an exhibition at the UN headquarters in New York featuring photographs by a Danish photographer. The exhibition focused on female refugees from Sudan and marked the third anniversary of the war. I was responsible for the administrative process of getting the exhibition into the UN, coordination between the UN, the artist, and partners, as well as external communication and press work related to the exhibition. It is a large and complex process with many sub-tasks.
”In my work, I especially draw on analytical and communication skills from my education. American Studies has given me a strong understanding of international relations, politics, culture, and societal conditions.
In my work, I especially draw on the analytical and communication skills I developed through my education. American Studies has given me a strong understanding of international relations, politics, culture, and societal conditions. At the same time, the programme provided me with a broad cultural understanding, which is essential when working within the UN system and collaborating across many different cultures.
What drives me is the combination of international politics, communication, and the feeling of contributing to something greater. The world is constantly changing – and so is my work. Working in an international environment with many perspectives greatly expands one's horizons, and that is one of the most exciting aspects of my job."
Josefine's path
Josefine holds:
- a Bachelor’s degree in American studies (University of Southern Denmark)
- a Master's degree in International Security and Law (University of Southern Denmark)
Josefine’s career path has been shaped by both academic and personal interests, as well as the choices she made during his studies. What will your path be?