Paul Balas is the 2026 recipient of the Charles A. Gliozzo International Award for Public Diplomacy, which recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to public diplomacy through educating, training or promoting knowledge and understanding between MSU faculty and staff, community members and international students, scholars and visitors.
Balas was appointed Eli Broad College’s Executive in Residence for Global Initiatives in 2018, shortly after his retirement as partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, or PwC. Had it not been for Balas, the program would not have made such progress in the way of global mindset initiatives. Balas did not ease into his new position. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, and dug right in, drawing on nearly 40 years of professional experience and expertise.
“In every interaction, Paul’s passion for Michigan State, the Broad College and, most importantly, our students and their experiences, shines through,” Sarah Scott, Broad College Walters Family Director of Education Abroad, and Daniel Spadafore, Broad College Chief-of-Staff, wrote in their letter of nomination.
For Balas, a “global mindset” was something he prepared to explore fully. They weren’t buzz words to throw around casually. His commitment to understanding was evident through the focus groups he conducted with faculty and students to better understand international student experiences to conducting benchmarking studies to working alongside Broad personnel.
“In business, we regularly encounter people who don’t look like us, talk like us or think like us. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we seek to understand and embrace different perspectives to address problems and pursue opportunities across geographic and cultural boundaries,” Balas said.
His help developing the Accounting and Finance Studies in Zurich education abroad program, as well as the Broad College’s pre-departure course for students enrolled in semester-long education abroad programs, has been invaluable.
“I am honored to be recognized by MSU for my work at the Broad College around global mindset and am particularly humbled to receive the award named in honor of such a distinguished scholar and advocate for international education,” said Balas.
As a Broad alumnus and through his current role as executive-in-residence, Balas’ input has been critical in shaping the work of the International Advisory Board and the evolution of the Global Engagement Fellows program.
“The intensive week-long program brings the world to MSU and provides a great opportunity for the Global Engagement Fellows to share their business expertise with Broad students, faculty and staff,” Balas said.
Balas’ contributions have inspired the college to redesign the Executive in Residence program in hopes of helping other executives achieve a similar impact in their work with faculty and students.