Diplomacy Now: Advancing Global Connection Through Sport

The mission of WorldBoston is to foster engagement in international affairs and cooperation with peoples of all nations.  As globalization increasingly shapes every aspect of life on our planet, so does our Greater Boston region increasingly experience, and even help shape, these global trends.By means of our nationally-recognized global engagement and citizen diplomacy programs and our networking and community events, every year WorldBoston provides people from all over the world – and people right here – hundreds of opportunities for learning and connection. Our community includes professionals in every field, including government, business, media, education, science, and the arts; young people; and citizen diplomats.

WorldBoston

Join WorldBoston for an important Diplomacy Now program, looking at the impact of sports on global affairs.

Boston Public Library, Rabb Hall

WorldBoston’s signature public program will be a high-level opportunity to consider American diplomacy in our current global context. With the United States’ status as one of the host countries for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer and the future host of the 2028 Olympics, sports diplomacy has become increasingly relevant in American foreign policy. This year's program will look into how sports strengthens international relationships, advances cultural understanding, and connects America with the rest of the world.MCing this entire event is Cody Damon, WorldBoston's Sports Diplomacy Envoy. The following are our expert speakers for this exciting event: Keynote Address<ul><li>Shannon Sprenger (U.S. Department of State) who will deliver the keynote, drawing on her role overseeing Sports Diplomacy to outline how the U.S. government leverages sport for international engagement and connection.</li></ul>U.S. Sports Diplomacy Abroad – Fireside chat<ul><li>Featuring Sally Roberts (U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy) who will join Ambassador (ret.) Mark Libby for a fireside conversation, reflecting on her impactful cultural diplomacy mission to Azerbaijan during Mark's tenure there as U.S. Ambassador.</li></ul>Localizing Sports Diplomacy in Boston – Fireside chat<ul><li>Featuring Dave Fortier (One World Strong Foundation) who will be in discussion with Sarah Sibley (WorldBoston), exploring how sport can unite and heal survivors of mass casualty events—and how U.S. Department of State exchanges run locally by WorldBoston have expanded One World Strong’s global reach.</li></ul> This event will bring together global leaders from business, sports organizations, and the public sector for conversations centered on the importance of sports on the global stage. The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM. <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bIIT9Z8MRMWrH9-Sw6Bepw" title="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bIIT9Z8MRMWrH9-Sw6Bepw" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">To attend virtually, please register here.</a>This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.Disclaimer: WorldBoston is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, non-advocacy, educational organization dedicated to fostering civil discourse on international affairs. Our speakers' opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WorldBoston, our affiliates, or our community.

Ambassador (Retired) Mark W. Libby and WorldBoston Ambassador-in-ResidenceMark Libby served as United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan from 2023 to 2025. From 2021 until 2023, he served as an Assistant Professor and Department of State Faculty Advisor at the National War College. Ambassador Libby previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires (acting Ambassador) at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels from July 2018 until June 2021.A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, his other overseas assignments have included tours in Warsaw, Nassau, Nicosia, and Baghdad, where he served as a political counselor. His Washington assignments have included tours as a watch-stander, and later director for crisis management, in the State Department Operations Center; deputy director in the Office of Central European Affairs; director of the Office of Southern European Affairs (Turkey, Greece, Cyprus); and director of orientation at the Foreign Service Institute. He was also a line officer on the State Department Secretariat Staff under Secretary Powell, returning later as director of that same office under Secretary Clinton.Ambassador Libby did his undergraduate studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts and at the Institut des Etudes Politiques (“Sciences-Po”) in Paris; he is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, where he earned a Master’s Degree in 2014. He is fluent in Polish and French and has some proficiency in Azerbaijani and Turkish. He was awarded the Presidential Rank Award in 2022 and is the recipient of multiple Department of State Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. Originally from New England, Ambassador Libby is married and has one son.

Sally Roberts, U.S. Sports Envoy and Co-Founder and CEO, Wrestle Like A GirlSally Roberts is a leader, State Department sports diplomat, entrepreneur, and former elite athlete dedicated to advancing women’s wrestling and strengthening opportunities for the next generation. As the CEO of Wrestle Like A Girl (WLAG), she has played a pivotal role in securing NCAA Championship status for women’s wrestling, ensuring that female athletes have the same avenues for success at the highest levels. A former world-class competitor and U.S. Army veteran, Sally exemplifies discipline, perseverance, and strategic vision. She spent eight years as a resident athlete at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, where she became a three-time National Champion, World Cup Champion, two-time World Bronze Medalist, and an Olympic Alternate. She later served in the U.S. Army, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan, and competed in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, representing the United States as a soldier and a high-performance competitor. As a CEO and industry leader, Sally has positioned WLAG as a key force in the growth of women’s wrestling. She has worked alongside the NCAA, USA Wrestling, and policymakers to ensure institutional recognition and advancement for female athletes. Her efforts have helped shape the sport’s future, establishing clear pathways for success at grassroots, collegiate, and Olympic levels. Sally’s expertise and executive influence have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2016 Women in Sport Award from United World Wrestling and USA Wrestling’s Woman of the Year for 2018. She was also selected as one of 25 elite women leaders across seven nations to participate in the EY Women Athletes Business Network, a program designed to propel high-potential women into executive roles. A sought-after speaker, Sally has addressed audiences at the United States Olympic Museum, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the National War College, and top industry forums, sharing insights on resilience, strategic growth, and advancing leadership roles for women in sports and beyond. Sally holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of the Rockies.

Dave Fortier, Founder and President, One World StrongDave Fortier is a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Dave was running his very first marathon to help support a dear friend dealing with cancer when he was injured by the first bomb. He suffered shrapnel wounds and hearing loss. He has since gone on to run 10 additional marathons in Boston, Paris, New York, Florida and Washington, DC. Dave’s passion for helping other survivors of terror and trauma eventually led him to found the One World Strong Foundation, where he now serves as both president and a survivor mentor.One World Strong’s mission is to establish a vibrant international community of survivors of terrorism, hate crimes, or traumatic events that provides peer-to-peer hope, support and mentorship to anyone impacted by these events. In the days following the Boston Marathon bombings, those who survived the attack received an amazing outpouring of love and support from people throughout the world. They will never forget how members of the Semper Fi Fund—a group of veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan—traveled to Boston to provide one-on-one mentorship and guidance to survivors who sustained similar injuries to their own. It helped them to imagine the possibility of a positive future, and the long-term relationships that ensued also allowed them to move through the healing process, both physically and emotionally, in a much faster way.

Shannon Sprenger, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.Shannon Sprenger serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In her role, she advances U.S. foreign policy by leading strategic exchange programs that promote diplomatic engagement through sports, youth initiatives, music, the arts, and other cultural platforms that showcase American excellence.Prior to joining the Department, Shannon worked at Deloitte as a Government Consultant, where she advised federal clients on legislative analysis, operational strategy, and IT transformation initiatives. She also contributed to the firm’s development of go-to-market business models both domestically and internationally. In addition, Shannon led key programs for private sector clients, managing complex stakeholder environments, overseeing project execution, and driving improvements in organizational efficiency and operational structure.From 2018 to 2021, Shannon served at the Department of State in the Office of the Counselor and the Bureau of Administration, where she managed high-visibility logistics and operations in support of senior leadership and department-wide priorities.Originally from New York, Shannon earned her B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and her MBA from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

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Diplomacy Now: Advancing Global Connection Through Sport

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