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Global Ambassadors Program

About the program

The ADLM Global Ambassadors Program is funded through the Global Lab Quality Initiative through an endowment from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation. The program offers speakers to ADLM partners in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America for Online (Virtual Presentations) and On Ground (In-person) Visits. 

Nominations for Global Ambassadors are accepted annually during a 10-week period that occurs from October through December with appointment of Global Ambassadors for the upcoming term and ADLM Orientation occurring in March.

Program recommendations, suggestions for desired topics, and other suggestions/ comments are welcome at any time and should be sent to [email protected].

Apply here

How the ambassadors program works

Requesting Global Ambassadors' participation, both online (virtual) and on ground (in-person) is accomplished through the following steps.

For an online/virtual event

  1. The partner organization may select any Global Ambassador from the online catalog of active Global Ambassadors and contact the Global Ambassador directly to determine availability.
  2. The partner and the Global Ambassador discuss the partner’s proposed event, expected attendance and the requested level of Global Ambassador participation and establish an agreement as to date, time, and online platform.
  3. The Global Ambassador's agreement to participate constitutes approval of the Global Ambassador event and the partner then submits the notice of Global Ambassador event to the Global Ambassadors Program.
  4. Upon completion of the visit both the partner and the Global Ambassador complete their respective post event report. Post Event Report – Partner, and Post Event Report – Global Ambassador.

For an on-ground/in-person event

  1. The partner organization may select any Global Ambassador from the online catalog of active Global Ambassadors and contact the Global Ambassador directly to determine availability, ensuring that the selected Global Ambassador is listed as available for On-Ground/In-Person events and to discuss the partner’s proposed event, date(s) of the event(s), venue and availability of AV and computer equipment.
    • The discussion about the event can include the request that the Global Ambassador make one or more presentations, speak with students, participate in a roundtable discussion and other like activities during the period of the visit.
  2. The partner is responsible for the Global Ambassador's local expenses and should consult with the Global Ambassador about local transportation, lodging and meals planned. The Global Ambassador should provide the partner with an estimate of their inter-city travel expenses in accordance with the ADLM travel policy and within the $1,500 limit.
  3. The partner then submits a Request for Approval of Inter-City Travel Expenses Form to the Global Ambassadors Program no later than 6 weeks prior to the scheduled visit. The Global Ambassadors Program will provide the cost of intercity travel expenses.
    • This allows for a minimum of 21 days between the approval date and the scheduled visit date, so that Global Ambassadors may take advantage of advance purchase tickets at lower fares. Global Ambassadors should not purchase any tickets/expend any funds until the partner provides notification that the request has been approved by ADLM.
    • ADLM will not be responsible for and will not reimburse expenses of any travel that has not received prior approval, and/or has not complied with program policies.
    • Partners are notified of the approval/disapproval of the request with approval based upon, among other things, number events/attendees, scope of visit, and a fair distribution, of Global Ambassador Program funds. Disapproved requests may be modified/updated by the partner and resubmitted keeping in mind program time constraints.
    • The partner conducts the event with the Global Ambassador’s participation.
    4.  
  4. Upon completion of the visit both the partner and the Global Ambassador complete their respective post event reports. Post Event Report – Partner and Post Event Report – Global Ambassador.
  5. For an on-ground/in-person event the Global Ambassador then invoices the partner for any local expense incurred and submits an invoice for intercity travel expenses to be reimbursed.

Policies

All Global Ambassador correspondence should be directed to [email protected].

The program year runs 1 April -31 March. An Ambassador's term is 2 years.

The nomination period for new Global Ambassadors occurs during a 10-week period from October through December of each year with appointment of new Global Ambassadors for the following term occurring in March.

The Global Ambassadors Program reimburses up to US $1,500 for Global Ambassadors' travel from home to event city and return.

Partners are responsible for local expenses.

Partners may arrange for an unlimited number of online visits and request no more than two Global Ambassadors on ground (to the partner’s locale) visits per calendar year.

Approval for online visits is gained upon agreement of the Global Ambassador and Partner hosting the event.

Approval for on ground/in-person visits must be obtained from the Global Affairs Core Committee in advance.

Visa requests

Requests Per Year — Partners may arrange up to two Ambassador on-ground/in-person visits per calendar year. Approval for visitors must be obtained in advance. Additional visits can be requested subject to the availability of funds

Requesting a Global Ambassador. Partners should:

  1. Confirm the speaker’s availability. Partners should work directly with the speaker.
  2. Partners should submit the request via E-mail (all required information must be included in the submission. Submit visit requests to [email protected].

Approvals

  1. All Global Ambassador requests must be approved in advance.
  2. Arrangements made by Global Ambassadors, partners, and/or others outside of Global Ambassadors Program policies and procedures are not the responsibility of ADLM, and will not be reimbursed.

Funding

US $1,500 for inter-city travel for approved visits to ADLM partner societies in areas covered by the Global Lab Quality Initiative. Local expenses, including accommodations and meals, are paid by the host partner.

  • Additional funding may be available if multiple talks in multiple cities are given on a single trip. Inter-city travel in multi-city visits is considered reimbursable by ADLM when cities are farther than 100 KM apart

Covered expenses and reimbursement

  1. Inter-city traveling costs are defined as reasonable expenses incurred traveling from the Global Ambassador’s home or office to the host partner’s city and departure from the host partner’s city until arrival at the Global Ambassador’s home or office.
  2. Global Ambassador should purchase economy class airfare, bus, and/or train tickets. It’s advised to purchase tickets as early as possible to secure the lowest possible fare.
  3. Cost coverage includes normal economy coach class airfare, bus fare, train fare, parking at home airport, mileage, or nominal gas to and from the Global Ambassador’s home airport. The use of advance-purchased tickets is encouraged.
  4. All requests for reimbursement must be submitted in accordance with ADLM guidelines.

Host partner responsibility

Partners are responsible for local expenses which are defined as reasonable expenses incurred after arriving in the host partner’s city, including accommodations, transportation, and meals. These expenses are to be submitted by the Global Ambassador to the host partner for reimbursement and should be agreed upon by the Global Ambassador and the host partner in advance

Reimbursement

All requests for reimbursement must be submitted in accordance with ADLM guidelines.

Procedures for requesting an ambassador

  1. The Global Ambassador serves all ADLM partners societies in their region.
  2. Partners should consider Global Ambassadors from the current online catalog only.
  3. Partners should contact the Global Ambassador directly to set up a tentative date for a visit. Both the partner and Global Ambassador should provide estimates for inter-city travel and local expenses.
    • ADLM will fund transportation for visitors to and from the host organization up to US $1,500 with the possibility of increasing that to $2000 for a multi-city visit.
    • Partners are responsible for local accommodations and transportation.
  4. Once a date for a visit has been established, the partner organization must submit the Global Ambassador Request Form included in this catalog at least six (6) weeks prior to the scheduled visit.
  5. After completing a visit, both the partner organization and the Global Ambassador should fill out the Post Event Form.

Becoming an ambassador

  1. Nominations for Global Ambassadors are advertised and formally solicited by the Global Affairs Core Committee starting October of each year and accepted via online submission during October 1 through December 15, 2025 (11:59 PM EST) of the year with appointments made in early February 2026. The selection of Global Ambassadors is conducted in accordance with the following guidelines:
  2. Global Ambassadors are recognized authorities in their respective fields as indicated by any of the following criteria with respect to their chosen topics:
  3. The Global Ambassadors Catalog offers topics of interest to the ADLM membership as determined by the following criteria:
  4. Global Ambassadors’ schedules permit them to respond positively to requesting ADLM partners whether for online (virtual events) or to make an In-Person visit the partner’s locale.
  5. Global Ambassadors have the support of their employer to participate in the Global Ambassador Program and activities.
  6. Global Ambassadors are appointed as an Ambassador for the ADLM for an initial two-year period where they are eligible for reimbursement for intercity travel when making an approved visit to an ADLM partner’s locale and conducting a visit which should include a minimum of one presentation and attendance at other events such as meeting with students.
  7. After the initial two-year period Global Ambassadors are invited to continue their active participation in the Global Ambassadors Program via offering their participation in online/virtual events and continuing to update their topics/presentations on the Global Ambassadors Webpage.  Global Ambassadors continue as Ambassadors so long as they maintain the ADLM Membership in good standing.
  8. Nominations are scored within the Global Affairs Core Committee and the regional Subcommittees and rank ordered within regions leading to selection. A Global Ambassador accepts selection and re-confirms their availability and organizational support, which then leads to their appointment by the Global Affairs Core Committee Chair.
  9. Highly placed non-selectees may be requested to reapply in the successive year.
  10. Global Ambassadors may be returned to eligibility for reimbursement for inter-city travel through the annual nomination process following a two- year holding period and/or by request to the Global Ambassadors Program to fill a specific need within the program. Approval of such a request can be for one to two years and is based upon the needs of the Global Ambassadors Program. Such a request must gain the recommendation of the Global Affairs Core Committee chair and the approval of the Committee and relevant Subcommittee
  11. A Global Ambassador may make an early transition from Travel Eligible status to online only status upon request and approval of the Global Affairs Core Committee Chair.
  12. A Global Ambassador may be removed following a review of circumstances and the recommendation of the Global Affairs Core Committee Chair with the concurrence of the Global Affairs Core Committee and the relevant Subcommittee.
  13. Representation from underrepresented groups is highly encouraged.