Ben joined the Foundation as the inaugural director of global affairs in October 2024, bringing twenty-six years of experience as a United States diplomat to the role. A consular officer for most of his career, Ben led teams on five continents in eight countries and served twice in the Washington, D.C. area, including as an instructor at the Foreign Service Institute, a favorite tour for him. He received numerous individual and group awards. His last two assignments were as consul general in Athens, Greece, and Kabul, Afghanistan. Other posts included Mexico, Colombia, Poland, India and Egypt.
A Morehead-Cain Alumnus, he studied journalism and international studies at Carolina and earned honors in creative writing. His summer experiences were NOLS Wind River Mountains in Wyoming; public safety with the Tucson Police Department in Tucson, Arizona; an internship with The Conservation Fund in Washington, D.C.; and a documentary photography project in collaboration with University of Havana students and staff in Havana, Cuba. He credits these experiences with providing a unique preparation for his career as a foreign service officer. He received a master’s degree with distinction in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
After living in some of the largest cities on the planet, Ben and his wife, Angel Naseman (UNC ’97), are looking forward to finding a home in a quieter corner of North Carolina. Angel and Ben are the parents of seven wonderful children.