AAFSW Welcomes New SOSA Chair

AAFSW would like to welcome our new Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) award Chair — Lara Center. Welcome back, Lara! You can read more about Lara below.

Lara Center has been part of the Foreign Service community since 2001 when her husband, Adam, began A-100.  They have served overseas and domestically in Guadalajara, Caracas, Luxembourg, DC and Hanoi.   

Lara and Adam recently returned to Falls Church with their eleven year old son, David, and seven year old daughter, Abigail.  Lara has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, Master in Public Administration and Master in Museum Studies.  

Lara worked as a museum consultant while living in Hanoi.  Lara worked directly with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on new lesson plans, development of a Discovery Room and outreach to international schools.  

Lara served on the Board of AAFSW from 2012-2016.  Lara is a former Chair for the annual SOSA award, where she oversaw the award process from announcements, formation of selection committees, planning the ceremony and honoring the recipients.  While also serving as 1st Vice President, Lara broadened her portfolio, provided leadership and worked as a team player on various activities to include AAFSW’s merit scholarships, support of family member employment, online FSHub, increasing membership, and reviewing the mission of AAFSW.  

Lara is the 2009 recipient of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for her work at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Military History.