Biography
Dominique Addison is a Florida International University alumna and a current dual Master's candidate in public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University. A Boren Scholar through the Indonesian Language Flagship Initiative (2023-2024), Dominique studied Bahasa Indonesia in Malang and Yogyakarta, and interned at an education nonprofit in Bali. She spent a total of one year dedicated to learning the language and continued taking Bahasa Indonesia courses virtually through the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C., in which she MC’d the biennial semester language and culture showcase.
She also participated in the Japan–U.S. Friendship Commission Summer Institute, a leadership and professional development program with immersive training in Kyoto and Tokyo. The program combined online workshops and mentorship with in-country experiences, where she engaged in cross-cultural dialogue, met with professionals across sectors, and explored avenues for U.S.–Japan collaboration.
This experience strengthened her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to fostering mutual understanding between the United States and Asia. Passionate about cultural diplomacy, she aspires to leverage her love for people-to-people diplomacy into a career in foreign service, international development, or sports diplomacy.