Film and discussion of anti-U.S. demonstrations – as witnessed by U.S. diplomats Christopher and Julie Kavanagh.
See never-before-seen privately-filmed footage of demonstrations around the U.S. Consulate General in Shenyang, China and hear an account of on-the-ground events as they unfolded in the aftermath of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
Discussion led by retired Foreign Service Officers Christopher and Julie Kavanagh, both served in key foreign posts including China and Russia.
5:30 – 6:00 p.m. Social
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Program – 40 – 45 minutes with 15 minutes for questions
Parking at Neill-Cochran House House Museum: Free in the museum lot, accessible via 23rd between Leon and San Gabriel; additional street parking available.
Julie Kavanagh is a retired Foreign Service Officer who served with the U.S. Department of
State from 1990 to 2020. Prior to her retirement Ms. Kavanagh was the Director of Recruitment
in the Bureau of Global Talent Management, where she led a team of thirty recruiters across the
country to develop and implement a five-year recruitment strategy for the Department of State.
She also advised senior Department leadership on recruitment challenges and obstacles. She was
informed by her experience as Diplomat-in-Residence for Texas, where she served from 2017-
2019, recruiting Texans to join the Department of State.
Prior to coming to Texas, Ms. Kavanagh was the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S.
Mission to China from January 2017 to June 2017. She was also Minister Counselor for
Consular Affairs in China from 2015-2017, where she managed a team of 600 consular
professionals, generating $500 million in annual income with a combined operating budget of
$50 million. She advised the U.S. Ambassador to China on matters of consular policy and
operations and served as a key member of the Embassy’s senior leadership team.
Ms. Kavanagh served a similar role as the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Moscow,
Russia from 2013-2015, where she also was the U.S. government’s Senior Officer in Charge
during the Sochi Olympics. She has also served in Taiwan, Singapore, Colombia, Brazil, and
Washington.
Ms. Kavanagh grew up in North Canton, Ohio. She graduated summa cum laude from
Georgetown University and has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the
University of Chicago. She speaks Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, and some Russian. She is
the recipient of four Superior Honor awards and four Meritorious Honor awards, as well as the
2006 Assistant Secretary’s Award for leadership.
State from 1990 to 2020. Prior to her retirement Ms. Kavanagh was the Director of Recruitment
in the Bureau of Global Talent Management, where she led a team of thirty recruiters across the
country to develop and implement a five-year recruitment strategy for the Department of State.
She also advised senior Department leadership on recruitment challenges and obstacles. She was
informed by her experience as Diplomat-in-Residence for Texas, where she served from 2017-
2019, recruiting Texans to join the Department of State.
Prior to coming to Texas, Ms. Kavanagh was the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S.
Mission to China from January 2017 to June 2017. She was also Minister Counselor for
Consular Affairs in China from 2015-2017, where she managed a team of 600 consular
professionals, generating $500 million in annual income with a combined operating budget of
$50 million. She advised the U.S. Ambassador to China on matters of consular policy and
operations and served as a key member of the Embassy’s senior leadership team.
Ms. Kavanagh served a similar role as the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Moscow,
Russia from 2013-2015, where she also was the U.S. government’s Senior Officer in Charge
during the Sochi Olympics. She has also served in Taiwan, Singapore, Colombia, Brazil, and
Washington.
Ms. Kavanagh grew up in North Canton, Ohio. She graduated summa cum laude from
Georgetown University and has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the
University of Chicago. She speaks Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, and some Russian. She is
the recipient of four Superior Honor awards and four Meritorious Honor awards, as well as the
2006 Assistant Secretary’s Award for leadership.
