Heidi Knuff

Executive Director

Heidi Knuff has over 20 years of experience working in international exchange and diplomacy. Prior to serving as Executive Director of SDDC, she served as SDDC’s Director of Custom Programs and Services. She has also held positions at American Councils for International Education, the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, the MIT Center for International Studies, and Pacific Intercultural Exchange. Heidi is a native of San Diego and has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego. She lives in Kensington with her husband, Ryan, and her children, Luca and Pearl.

Jawad Al Baghdadi

Program Director

A former refugee, first generation-college student, Jawad’s experiences are informed by the conflicts his family left behind. His experiences inspired him to obtain a degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University (SDSU), intern at the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD) Institute on Global Conflict & Cooperation, and begin his career in public service by serving in the district offices for two Congressional Representatives, representing the 53rd and 51st Districts of California, respectively. Jawad interned for the San Diego Diplomacy Council as an IVLP Program Intern while studying at SDSU, and is grateful to return as the Program Director.

Lulu Bonning

Program & Communications Manager

Lulu’s passion for the diplomatic abilities of community empowerment lends itself to her role as program & communications manager. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, she is an avid traveler who appreciates the richness that cultural experience offers to personal and professional growth. Lulu has held several roles with the San Diego Diplomacy Council, starting as an intern, before joining staff as a program associate, and program officer. In her current role, Lulu enjoys assisting with San Diego Diplomacy Council’s strategic partnerships, overseeing communications, and managing various IVLP and custom programs. Lulu graduated with a degree in International Studies from RMIT University. In 2021, Lulu completed her Honors thesis, exploring how Smart City strategies can foster empowerment-based approaches to community development within San Diego.
 

Adrianna Borja

Program Officer

Adrianna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies from California State University Channel Islands where she was the president of the Triathlon Team and studied European Politics and Studio Art in Florence, Italy for a year. Adrianna holds a Master’s degree focusing in International Relations and Cultural Diplomacy which she earned in Berlin, Germany. Adrianna recently completed her thesis, exploring new domestic policies to tackle human rights abuses by multinational corporations with case studies on water privatization and chemical spills; and how this can improve the quality of life for people in the Global South.

Carmelina Herrera

Program Associate

With an aspiration to become a global change maker, Carmelina is enthusiastic about rejoining the San Diego Diplomacy Council as the newest member of the programs team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business from San Diego State University (SDSU) and possesses over three years of experience in International Business Research and Global Diplomacy. She has previously worked as an Executive Intern for the SDDC, an Associate for SDSU’s Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business and served as President of SDSU’s International Business Society. Originally from the Bay Area, Carmelina enjoys exploring new dining spots and discovering emerging music artists. She is thrilled to return to San Diego and collaborate with the SDDC to establish inclusive and secure spaces, both locally and globally, that embrace individuals of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions, and abilities.