Ambassador David J. Young (STH ’87, Pardee ’88) Reflects on Multifaceted Leadership Experiences
The following is an excerpt from the Show Me Mizzou article by Randall Roberts, “A diplomat’s guide to uncertainty: Ambassador David Young recalls life lessons from a career on the road,” published on April 24, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
“My path was a bit unconventional. 
After Missouri, I went on a Rotary Scholarship to Trinity College in Ireland, where I studied comparative religion and peace studies. I was interested in ministry, so I continued at Boston University’s School of Theology, where I studied social ethics. After that, I earned a master’s in international relations, and one of my professors suggested that I take the Foreign Service exam. I thought I’d stay for three to five years — and then 35 years later, I retired from the Foreign Service.
… In the last decade of my career, I worked in leadership roles in sub-Saharan Africa: Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Malawi and Sudan. As ambassador, I was like the CEO of an embassy, leading strategy and outreach. As deputy chief of mission, I focused on internal management. I loved both roles. My ministerial background influenced my leadership style. I saw embassies as teams where everyone’s contributions mattered. The high point of my career was leading these embassies.”