Saint Anselm alumnus Tom Seaman ’11 was recently appointed a McCain Global Leader through the McCain Institute at Arizona State University. Originally from Epping, New Hampshire, Seaman is currently a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
A graduate of the Politics Department at Saint Anselm College, Seaman went on to study at The George Washington University, achieving a Master of Arts in International Affairs. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
While serving in the Marines had always been his dream, it was not until he came to the Hilltop that he discovered his passion for diplomacy.
“A lot of that came from talking with Professor Gustafson, Professor Constance, who was the head librarian at the time, and Professor Masur,” Seaman explained. “I had always been interested in the military, but my time at Saint A’s really taught me the connection between military power, defense, and politics. They were the people who inspired me.”
Seaman let his Saint Anselm education guide him as he served the country. He shared that his “education taught [him] the importance of understanding what your principles are.” Now, as he advocates for humanitarian causes, Seaman strives to implement principled leadership.
The McCain Institute Global Leaders Program chooses its representatives based on character, appointing leaders who exemplify the legacy of Senator John McCain. Chosen participants represent the 2025 Global Theme: “Advancing Democracy and Human Rights.”
This year’s program was made up of 22 leaders from around the world and typically runs for 12 months. Seaman is one of two who were chosen from the United States.
As part of the Global Leaders Program, Seaman has traveled to Argentina where he met with human rights advocates and government officials. In May, he will be traveling to Vietnam to mark the culmination of the program.
“I’m deeply honored to carry on a small part of Senator McCain’s legacy of service and standing up for democracy and human rights,” he shared.
Even though the program is coming to a close, Seaman is dedicated to working toward an ethical approach to foreign policy and national security.