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Diplomat in Residence to Visit USD

As an army officer, Robert Andrew supervised joint patrols on the border of East and West Germany at the time the Berlin Wall was coming down and the Cold War was ending. He next served in the First Gulf War. As a Foreign Service Officer, he covered non-proliferation and arms control issues in Moscow and provided counter-narcotics assistance to the government of Costa Rica.

Today Robert Andrew is a diplomat in residence based at the University of Oklahoma. He serves the central region, which covers North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Andrew visits the University of South Dakota this week to talk with students about career opportunities in the U.S. Department of State. He’ll also speak on “Language and Culture in the Foreign Service” Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 in Farber Hall on the USD campus. Rob Andrew joined Dakota Midday and discussed his career in the Army and as a Foreign Service Officer.

For more information about U.S. Department of State careers, click here.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.