Baylor alums fling their green and gold in Canadian consulates

Baylor graduates often find themselves in interesting places, whether displaying worldwide leadership in countries around the globe, or in unique jobs or industries closer to home. Two Baylor grads, Lauren (Sellers) Simpson (BA ’05) and Colt Currie (BA ’08), have found a way to combine elements of both. Each day they leave their homes in Denver and San Francisco and commute to… Canada.

Yes, Canada. Of course, they don’t physically travel north of the border each day. But they do work in what are considered tiny sovereign states here in the U.S. Lauren is a public affairs officer in foreign policy and diplomacy services at the office of the Consulate General of Canada in Denver; Colt serves as a foreign policy and diplomacy officer for the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco.

The consulates where these two Bears work are similar to embassies, but with a key distinction. Embassies are located in a nation’s capital city, whereas consulates can be found in cities that are important political hubs, where they handle business for the surrounding region. The consul generals for whom they work report to the ambassador in the capital city. One characteristic they both share is sovereign state status — so yes, Lauren and Colt both do their jobs on Canadian soil, so to speak, when they arrive at work each day.

Lauren’s office serves a five-state region in and around the Rocky Mountains, and Justin’s office covers Northern California and Hawaii. In these areas, they help promote diplomatic relations, trade efforts and cross-border partnerships between the United States and Canada. Lauren handles speechwriting and social media for the Denver office, and Justin promotes the same efforts in San Francisco.

They’re also both proud Baylor Bears. According to Lauren, she and Colt are the only two American officers from the same university to hold Canadian positions; she says it’s “pretty funny to see the reactions when people learn that the hosts of the Canadian reception at a governor’s event are a couple of native Texans.” Although not as far-flung as some Baylor grads in foreign lands, they’re flinging their green and gold to a people who aren’t always automatically familiar with Baylor, in a unique setting that that most aren’t fully aware of.

Sic ’em, Lauren and Colt!