Irina Karmanova
About Irina Karmanova
Irina Karmanova is a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Department of State, specializing in strategic communications on global environmental, science, technology, and health issues. She has extensive experience in public diplomacy and cross-cultural communication, having held various roles within the U.S. government and academia since 2008.
Work at The George Washington University
Irina Karmanova has been serving as a Part-time Faculty member for the Global Capstone program at The George Washington University since 2019. In this role, she contributes her extensive knowledge and experience in international affairs and public diplomacy to educate and guide students. Her background in cross-cultural communication and strategic communications informs her teaching approach, providing students with insights into global issues.
Current Role at U.S. Department of State
Since 2024, Irina Karmanova has been working as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Department of State. In this position, she focuses on strategic communications related to environment, science, technology, and health priorities on a global scale. Her work in the Office of Policy and Public Outreach leverages her expertise in public diplomacy and regional knowledge across multiple areas, including Europe and Asia.
Previous Experience at U.S. Department of State
Irina Karmanova has held various roles at the U.S. Department of State over the years. She served as Team Lead and Public Affairs Officer from 2016 to 2024, and as Communications Director from 2022 to 2023. Her earlier positions included Assistant Information Officer in Kyiv, International Visitor Leadership Program Coordinator, and Public Diplomacy Desk Officer. These roles provided her with a comprehensive understanding of public diplomacy and international relations.
Educational Background and Expertise
Irina Karmanova holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in Europe/Eurasia and Russian Language and Literature from The George Washington University, completed in 2010. She also earned a Master of Arts in Global Communication from the same institution in 2012. Additionally, she completed the Executive Leadership Program at Graduate School USA, enhancing her leadership skills within federal government roles.
Experience in Creative and Educational Roles
Before her current roles, Irina Karmanova worked at ArtJamz LLC from 2012 to 2018, where she held positions as Creative Enabler, Art Instructor, and Bar Manager. This experience allowed her to develop skills in creativity and education, which complement her diplomatic career. She also worked as a Research Assistant at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, further broadening her expertise in research and analysis.