School of Diplomacy Alumnus Leads at UN Global Compact

Gabriel Torres ’14, a proud alumnus of the Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations program at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, currently serves as senior manager of UN Relations & Partnerships at the United Nations Global Compact. In this role, he oversees collaboration with the UN Global Compact and UN agencies, leading private sector organizations and member states. His work includes engaging the private sector in food systems, as well as facilitating collaboration and coordination between the UN system and the World Economic Forum.

The UN Global Compact is one of the world’s largest organizations dedicated to corporate development and sustainability, bringing together UN agencies, companies, and civil society. Torres’s journey from Seton Hall to the UN Global Compact highlights the lasting value of a solid academic foundation and the opportunities created by the School’s exclusive partnership with the United Nations Association of the U.S.A., which provides special access to the United Nations community.

As an undergraduate, Torres pursued a comprehensive curriculum combining international affairs and diplomacy, providing an immersion into global diplomacy. Torres shares that a career within the UN system has always been a goal and that his education at Seton Hall gave him valuable guidance on where to start.

Torres has learned a great deal about what it means to be an international public servant at the UN, the importance of fulfilling the role’s responsibilities for humanity and the world, and how he contributes to the values the UN stands for. Reflecting on all this, he emphasizes how his education at Seton Hall taught him about diplomacy and the strategic thinking behind the core concepts in the field. Gabriel also studied a master’s degree abroad at an internationally recognized university.

Research projects, internships and extracurricular activities paved the way for Torres. While at Seton Hall, he interned with Caritas Internationalis, where he researched and produced analytical reports for the Permanent Representative to the UN, providing insights gained from conference participation and advocacy for the UN’s development agenda.

Torres also took advantage of learning opportunities that fueled his passion for global engagement. He was president of the French Club, a member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, historian and section editor at the Diplomacy Envoy. “At the School of Diplomacy,” Torres explains, “we have opportunities that help build a strong foundation. Writing is very important, especially when dealing with topics that are political or sensitive. I think the Diplomacy Envoy is a great way for you to grow. Not only in your knowledge, which is what you’re doing throughout the courses, but also in how you communicate about it.”

His experience demonstrates the impact of experiential learning in international affairs combined with a desire to improve the world through the UN.

Torres offers advice for students in the School of Diplomacy who want a career in the UN system,

Courses in international law are essential because they support global frameworks, UN resolutions and international order. The program’s focus on ethics and global citizenship directly relates to real-world diplomacy and international initiatives like the UN Global Compact. Value the educational approach that Seton Hall offers and make the most of the opportunities it presents.

Torres’s journey exemplifies the key qualities that define a successful alumnus and highlights the value of leveraging the opportunities offered at the School of Diplomacy to the fullest.

Categories: Alumni, Nation and World