WASHINGTON, DC - Iona College men's rowing alumnus Nicholas Barnett '04 was recently honored with the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, as announced by the United States Department of State. The award recognizes significant contributions in the field of public diplomacy and sustained demonstration of the special qualities that reflect the integrity, courage, sensitivity, vision, and dedication to excellence that Edward R. Murrow exemplified.

Barnett, the current Information Officer at American Embassy Addis Ababa, was selected based on strategic use of public diplomacy programs and tools to promote Ethiopia's political reform and lasting viability as a strategic U.S. partner.
 
"Rowing was perhaps the most formative experience of my time at Iona," Barnett stated. "It taught me about the values of perseverance and teamwork and showed me that the only true limits are those I place on myself. Those lessons have played a major role in my professional accomplishments."

As a student-athlete at Iona, Barnett was a member of the men's rowing program from 2000-2004, earning medals in the men's heavyweight four and eight. During his junior campaign, Barnett was selected by his coach as Rower of the Year. Barnett excelled in the classroom during his tenure at Iona. During his junior season, he finished with a 3.77 GPA, good for second-highest among MAAC rowers. He topped it the next year, leading all MAAC rowers with a 3.82 GPA.

After graduating from Iona in 2004, Nick worked at Young and Rubicam Advertising for four years before beginning a career as a diplomat with the State Department in the Public Diplomacy Career track in 2008. Over the course of a decade, he has served at U.S. Embassies in Dushanbe, Tajikistan; The U.S. Mission to the United Nations; Moscow, Russia; Baku, Azerbaijan; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; where he is currently the Embassy Spokesperson.