Lara Center describes some of the changes she’s seen in EFM careers and service over her 20+ year as a diplomatic accompanying partner.
Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she’s served in, and the ways she’s overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission.
She also describes her many years of work with the Associates of American Foreign Service Worldwide, both as a chair of the SOSA committee and the most recent past president. If you don’t know what AAFSW is doing to promote DC-based and global community for EFMs, provide support to EFMs in crisis or facing employment challenges, or to support EFM policies in the Department or in Congress, you need to listen to this episode!
Lara Center has been part of the Foreign Service community since 2001 when her husband, Adam, began A-100. They have served overseas and domestically in Guadalajara, Caracas, Luxembourg, DC, Hanoi and DC. Currently, Lara’s husband is serving an unaccompanied tour.
Lara and Adam returned to Falls Church in 2019 with their son, David and daughter, Abigail. Lara has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Public Policy, Master in Public Administration and Master in Museum Studies.
Lara worked as a museum consultant while living in Hanoi. Lara worked directly with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on new lesson plans, development of a Discovery Room and outreach to international schools.
Lara was elected president of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) in 2020 and served two years. She previously served on the Board of AAFSW from 2012-2016 and 2019-2020 as chair of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) award. Lara is the 2009 recipient of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for her work at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Military History.
