Faith Chitawo is an accomplished professional in international relations and higher education, serving as the Senior EducationUSA Adviser and Education Outreach Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi. In this role, she led the strategic implementation and evaluation of education programs designed to expand access to U.S. higher education and foster global academic partnerships. Her work contributed to a significant increase - over 80% - in the number of Malawian students pursuing tertiary studies in the United States.
Her work has earned her prestigious accolades, including the 2021 EducationUSA Sub-Saharan Africa Unsung Hero Award and the 2022 U.S. Mission Honor Award, both recognizing her outstanding performance in scaling international education opportunities for Malawian youth. Faith earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she double majored in History and Government, and a minor in Law and Society. She is also an alumna of the 2013-2014 Go Africa-Go Germany Fellowship. Her experiences have helped her develop an appreciation of Africa’s historical and political landscapes, laying the groundwork for her interest in governance, development, and education systems.
With over a decade of experience spanning international education, public diplomacy, and policy advocacy, Faith has successfully built and managed programs that empower youth, enhance institutional collaboration, and promote equitable access to global learning opportunities. She has also implemented education programs that informed soft power diplomacy interventions, including national college fairs, STEM and entrepreneurship camps, and outreach programs reaching more than 50,000 students and professionals across Malawi.
Her passion lies in innovation-driven education, and she has pioneered the integration of digital tools, such as virtual reality, to improve student advising and academic readiness. Most recently, her interest has expanded into the intersection of AI governance and education policy, where she seeks to elevate African voices in emerging global frameworks and create platforms that bridge the gap between tech policy and academic achievement.
A committed mentor and advocate for women and young professionals, she is guided by her personal motto: Empower, Enrich, and Elevate. Whether through travel, public discourse, or policy engagement, her focus remains clear—connecting people to opportunity and building bridges that endure.
I’ve seen change happen through courage, a clear vision, and centring human dignity—especially when stakeholders proactively collaborate. These elements have been vital in challenging barriers to higher education and validating students’ aspirations for social mobility.Faith Chitawo