U.S. diplomat Chaz Lott’s career in the Foreign Service was, in many ways, born on the campus of 
Douglas County High School.
It started with a language elective he chose for reasons that had nothing to do with diplomacy.
"I took Russian class because I heard it was an easy A," said Lott, a 2008 DCHS graduate. "In hindsight, that pretty much led me in some ways to where I am today."
Lott, a vice consul with the U.S. Department of State who recently completed a two-year assignment in Lithuania, spoke with International Baccalaureate students at DCHS on Nov. 14 about his career and the challenges he faced along the way.
The visit was part of the State Department’s Hometown Diplomat Program in collaboration with DCHS IB teacher Andrew Adams, who sponsors the school's Model UN.
Lott told the students that the Russian course he took while at DCHS ultimately led to his assignment in Lithuania and Uzbekistan, where he will serve next. He was the only Russian speaker in his 65-person State Department training class.
His message to students centered on his non-traditional path to a career in diplomatic service.
He shared that he failed the Foreign Service exam by five points on his first attempt and held jobs ranging from a Walmart warehouse worker to an assistant to an oral surgeon before entering government service.
“I feel like I've been training for this job my whole life," Lott said during a Q&A when asked which job was his favorite.
Lott encouraged students to shadow careers, pursue internships and learn critical languages like Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese.
“Mr. Lott’s visit offered our students a powerful example of success born from setbacks, along
with leadership, resilience, and global-mindedness,” said IB teacher Dr. Whitney Dubrulle, who also serves as the IB Diploma Program Coordinator at DCHS. “These are the very qualities we strive to cultivate through the IB Programme. His message reinforced the importance of using our education to make a meaningful impact beyond the walls of DCHS.”
The event also featured IB senior Anointed Enahoro, who recently returned from the 2025 IB Global Conference in The Hague, Netherlands. Enahoro was selected as one of just 12 students worldwide to serve on the IB Youth Advisory Council.
“The purpose of the council is to make sure student voices are heard and represented so they can have an amazing and wonderful IB experience,” she said. The group is divided into committees focused on curriculum, communications, student wellbeing, and access and equity.