International Career Advancement Program

International Career Advancement Program

Strengthening U.S. leadership in global affairs by equipping mid-career professionals across multiple employment sectors, drawn from all segments of the population, with the skills, mentorship, and opportunities to assume senior positions and to lead effectively.

Impact Report:

Strengthening Global Leadership

The International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) is a distinguished professional development and leadership initiative dedicated to elevating promising mid-career professionals in U.S. international affairs. For more than two decades, ICAP has changed careers, transformed lives, and strengthened America’s leadership and effectiveness on the global stage.

Officially hosted by the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver, ICAP is sustained through the generosity of alumni, mentors, foundations, and supporters who share a belief in its mission and impact.

Set amid the reflective environment of Aspen, Colorado, ICAP provides a transformative experience that combines career counseling, leadership development, professional networking, and policy dialogue with purposeful time for self-reflection, mutual bonding, and renewal—ensuring participants return to their work inspired, connected, and ready to lead.

ICAP is more than a program—it is a community, a catalyst, and a commitment: a commitment to cultivating the next generation of U.S. leaders who serve with excellence, integrity, and vision.

Reflections from Mentors and Fellows

Roberto Rosas (ICAP Fellow 2025)

“To me, ICAP’s impact consists primarily of: confidence, clarity, and community. ICAP has inspired me to aim even higher in my pursuits and has reinforced my deep-seated belief in lifting as I climb. I’m grateful to ICAP for connecting me so closely with thoughtful, kind-hearted high achievers who are deeply invested in serving, leading, and advancing international affairs.”

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Ambassador (ret.) Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley (ICAP Fellow 1997)

“ICAP provided the first gathering of foreign policy practitioners where l was not the “only” in the room. The ICAP experience reconfirmed for me that l was exactly where l was supposed to be, doing what l was supposed to do. That gave me the ability to stop questioning my “appropriateness” and focus on the mission at hand. It was key to my success in the field and raised my game as a proud American public servant.”

Latanya Mapp (ICAP Fellow 2001)

“Since my time at the Aspen Institute more than 20 years ago, the ICAP network has allowed me to understand and experience international affairs as a career professional moving from the UN to the US Foreign Service with USAID, to social justice NGOs and funds.  I’ve left no stone unturned, and I am still going.  I would not have the courage to use my voice without this amazing network and the power that comes with it.”

ICAP FOUNDATION AND LEGACY

Expanding Opportunity and Strengthening U.S. Leadership

  • In Memory of Emita Samuels

    Find out about how Emita Samuels’ lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and service helped shape the International Career Advancement Program and left a lasting legacy.

  • Honoring the Visionary Leader Ruth Davis

    Honoring Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, pioneering diplomat and dedicated ICAP mentor whose trailblazing career and leadership shaped the future of international affairs.

  • Global Access Pipeline

    Find out how the Global Access Pipeline builds pathways to expand participation in international affairs careers from early education through senior leadership.

  • ICAP Fellows Association

    Discover how the ICAP Fellows Association (ICAPFA) supports mid-career international affairs professionals through mentorship, networking, and ongoing career development.

Empower Leaders. Shape the Future.

As ICAP looks ahead, one truth remains clear: the demand for thoughtful, ethical, and capable leadership in global affairs drawn from all segments of the US population has never been greater.

If you’re prepared to take the next step in your career and build the skills to serve the highest levels of U.S. leadership in global affairs, apply to become an ICAP Fellow.

Your generosity helps shape the future of U.S. leadership. Support ICAP fellowships that empower rising professionals to lead with integrity, vision, and impact—strengthening America’s voice in the world.