The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center (RBC) at Howard University proudly introduces the Global Futures Collaborative (GFC), a groundbreaking initiative designed to reshape global policy engagement. Powered by the RBC under the leadership and guidance of RBC Director, Dr. Tonija Hope, the GFC will convene senior global and domestic policy experts to catalyze international exchanges, foster livable communities, and amplify diverse voices in public policy thought leadership.

Key Features of the Initiative

• Expert-Led Engagement: The GFC will bring together policymakers, scholars, and advocates to address pressing global challenges through collaborative dialogue and innovative solutions.

• Cross-Campus Collaboration: By uniting internationally focused units across Howard University, the initiative strengthens interdisciplinary partnerships and expands opportunities for community-driven participation in multilateral programming.

• Human-Centered Mission: Centered on principles of equity and human dignity, the GFC prioritizes inclusive policymaking that uplifts marginalized perspectives in global institutions.

The initiative will be led by Alex T. Johnson, a former diplomat and international philanthropy leader, as Director, alongside Christopher L. “Trip” Scott, a former presidential appointee in education and senior expert in justice campaigns, as Co-Director. Their combined expertise underscores the GFC’s commitment to bridging policy, education, and grassroots advocacy.

This initiative builds on Howard University’s legacy of advancing global citizenship and social justice, positioning the RBC as a hub for transformative international engagement.

Alex T. Johnson

Former Diplomat | National Security Expert | Global Advocate for Racial Equity

Alex T. Johnson is a distinguished leader in diplomacy and national security, recognized for his expertise in multilateral diplomacy, human rights, health equity, and fundamental freedoms. A former Obama Administration appointee, Mr. Johnson has extensive experience managing private philanthropy initiatives, driving international advocacy efforts, and fostering partnerships between government entities and civil society organizations representing diverse identity communities.

Mr. Johnson spent over a decade at the U.S. Helsinki Commission, where he advanced parliamentary diplomacy and served as Chief of Staff during the 116th Congress. His tenure included nearly four years representing the Commission at the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna, Austria. His work has taken him to over 70 countries, where he has led high-profile exchanges and delivered impactful public speeches.

In addition to his diplomatic service, Mr. Johnson has held influential roles in private philanthropy and advocacy organizations. He is a founding Executive Board Member of fp21, a think tank focused on evidence-based foreign policy formulation, and serves on the Board of the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship. He is also a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was honored as one of Washingtonian Magazine’s 500 Most Influential People in 2022 for his leadership in foreign policy supporting global human rights defenders and international racial justice.

Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and a Master of Public Policy from Oregon State University.

Christopher Scott

National Expert on Education & Criminal Legal Systems | Racial Equity Advocate

Christopher Scott is a nationally recognized expert on education and criminal legal systems, with a career dedicated to advancing racial equity, civil and human rights, and innovative policy solutions. A former Obama Administration appointee at the U.S. Department of Education, Mr. Scott has over a decade of experience in Congressional, legislative, and federal policy development. His expertise includes crafting litigation strategies and implementing advocacy initiatives at local, national, and international levels.

As a senior leader in governmental and public affairs, Mr. Scott has successfully developed and executed advocacy strategies across all levels of government. He has also worked internationally with civil society coalitions and local communities to promote equitable policies and systemic reform.

For 14 years, Mr. Scott served as a Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Team Manager at the Open Society Foundations. In this role, he led initiatives to address racial disproportionality in K-12 schools and higher education, championed educational equity, and played a key role in drafting federal policies aimed at systemic change.

Mr. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science as well as a Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from Oregon State University. His career reflects an unwavering commitment to building inclusive systems that empower marginalized communities.

Inaugural Alcee L. Hastings Global Leadership Fellows
The GFC will host a distinguished cohort of senior leaders, honoring the legacy of the late U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings, a pioneer in transatlantic cultural diplomacy. Fellows include: 

• Zakiya Carr (HU ’96): Former Chief Diversity Officer, U.S. Department of State 

• Travis Adkins: Former President/CEO, US-Africa Development Foundation

• Desiree Cormier-Smith: Former Special Representative for International Racial Equity, U.S. Department of State 

Zakiya Carr

Global Social Inclusion Leader | Equity Strategist | Advocate for Women Entrepreneurs

Zakiya Carr is a social inclusion and equity expert and strategist with over 25 years experience shaping international development and foreign policy. Prior to joining Howard University’s Ralph Bunche Center as an inaugural Alcee L. Hastings Global Leadership Fellow, she served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the US Department of State and Senior Professional Staff Member for the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, leading policy on the Western Hemisphere, International Law Enforcement and Narcotics and Corporate Social Impact. In 2018, Zakiya founded global consulting firm, Odara Solutions and launched the Black Women Disrupt initiative to strengthen ecosystems for women entrepreneurs. Previously, she served as Senior Advisor and Director of the Race, Ethnicity and Social Inclusion Unit in the U.S. Department of State, co-chair for the White House Inter-Agency Committee on Gender-Based Violence Monitoring and Evaluation, Foundation Representative for Ecuador and Venezuela at the Inter-American Foundation and Senior Technical Advisor for the Social Inclusion Trust Fund at the Inter-American Development Bank.  

As a proud alumnus of Howard University, Zakiya is an accomplished public speaker, fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, who builds bridges of understanding between communities at home and abroad. 

Travis L. Adkins

Global Leader in Foreign Policy, International Development, and Advocacy for African Affairs

Travis L. Adkins is a senior executive leader in foreign policy and international development, with 25 years of experience serving in both the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government; various branches of the United Nations system; and prominent International NGOs and think tanks. 

He most recently served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. African Development Foundation; and prior to that as the politically appointed Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa with the U.S. Agency for International Development; as well as the Staff Director for the House Subcommittee on Africa.  

Mr. Adkins has served in over 50 nations throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America; held academic appointments from Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, and New York Universities; is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations; holds an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Bridgewater State University; and is a graduate of Fisk University, one of our nation’s illustrious Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Desiree Cormier-Smith

Trailblazing Advocate for Racial Equity | Human Rights Champion | International Policy Leader

Desirée Cormier Smith is a recognized foreign policy expert, an effective human rights and racial justice advocate, and a dynamic public speaker. From 2022 until 2025, she served as the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice. In this groundbreaking role, she led efforts to promote and advance the human rights for people of African descent, Indigenous peoples, Roma people, and other marginalized racial and ethnic communities around the world through U.S. foreign policies and programs. Previously, she served as the Senior Advisor in the Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs, where she played an integral role in ensuring robust U.S. support for the newly created UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. Ms. Cormier Smith also worked at the Open Society Foundations as the Senior Policy Advisor for Africa, Europe, and Eurasia. In that role, she led the global foundation’s U.S. advocacy strategy and execution on a wide range of human rights issues in these dynamic and diverse regions. From 2015 until 2020, she was the Senior Director with Albright Stonebridge Group’s Africa Practice, where she advised and assisted private and social sector clients on growth strategies across the African continent. Ms. Cormier Smith began her career as a State Department Foreign Service Officer with assignments in Mexico, South Africa, and Washington, DC.  

Ms. Cormier Smith is the recipient of five Department of State Meritorious Honor Awards and the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Undergraduate Fellowship. She is an alumnus of the International Career Advancement Program and is a member of the 2019 class of Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship at the Center for a New American Security. She was honored by New America as a 2020 Black American National Security and Foreign Policy Next Generation Leader and is a 2020 alumnus of the New Leadership Council Washington, DC chapter. She was recognized by the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) as a Global Top 100 leader in politics and governance in 2023. Ms. Cormier Smith is the inaugural recipient of the Harvard Kennedy School Black Alumni Association’s Distinguished Achievement Honor in 2024.  

She currently serves on the Advisory Council of Global Kids, an educational non-profit aimed to inspire underserved youth to pursue careers in public policy and global affairs, and on the Advisory Board of Shea Yeleen, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering women in West Africa and the U.S. Ms. Cormier Smith was a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2019 until 2024. 

Ms. Cormier Smith holds a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from Stanford University and a M.A. in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is proficient in Spanish and French.