Traveling around the world.

Living in exotic places.

Speaking many languages.

Although this may seem like a backpacker's scenario, it is none other than the scenario of Ronald Woods, the UW's Diplomat in Residence. Woods, who came to Seattle and the UW in 1992, was a foreign service officer, or diplomat, for 30 years.

"As a diplomat, I represented the United States government in the embassies and have lived in places such as Cairo, Rome, Paris and London," Woods said.

Along with traveling and representing the U.S. government in foreign locations, Woods also worked in Washington, D.C., where he was director of staff and a senior staff member for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the 1970s.

Although he describes his life in the foreign service as one of great adventure, Woods said there are difficulties.

"The major downside to this job was having to move my family around all the time," he said. "It's hard to have a close family, such as I have, and to be moving all the time."

That is why, in 1992, Woods and his family came to Seattle. Woods committed to a year of service at the UW as a Diplomat in Residence, giving foreign policy lectures and presentations on- and off-campus. It was after this year that the University asked if he would stay and continue to teach, and he agreed.

"It's really nice to have settled down in one place finally," Woods said. "And Seattle couldn't be better."

While Woods' diplomatic career ended when he retired in 1993, he maintained his title as Diplomat in Residence, and his teaching career and involvement in the community really began to grow. Non-profit organizations, such as the World Affairs Council, have benefited from Woods' involvement with them.

The University and its students have also benefited. Woods, who has a passion for foreign policy, designed a class that directly deals with the subject.

Andrew Gorcester, who took the class during fall quarter 2005, praised Woods' personality and teaching style.

"Professor Woods is a friendly, extremely knowledgeable and experienced professor. He has a very practical approach to teaching that other professors at the UW would do well to adopt," Gorcester said. "He is also very helpful and is very confident in his students' abilities."

Woods advised Gorcester with his final thesis paper, and Gorcester said Woods was helpful after graduation as well.

"He has recently been very instrumental in my job search, going so far as to call his contacts at local organizations on my behalf," Gorcester said.

And that is a favorite part of Woods' involvement with the UW: mentoring the students he has taught. Although Woods recently stopped teaching, students still keep in touch and he continues to do presentations on- and off-campus.

"I love being at the UW because I get to and have mentored the students I've taught," Woods said. "It's truly great, because usually they've been interested in international relations, which is my specialty, so I get to help them with whatever they do."

Professors are also quick to praise Woods. Professor emeritus Herb Ellison of the Jackson School of International Studies has known Woods since he came to the University in 1992.

"Woods is a tremendously knowledgeable and universal man," Ellison said. "He's a very good person to have on the faculty."

Ellison praised Woods' specialty in European politics.

"It's a fantastic advantage to have a faculty member with that background, not just for the other faculty but also for the students," he said.

With Woods' firsthand experience living in foreign countries and practicing the foreign policy he now teaches, he can bring something to his teachings and discussions that no one else can, Ellison said.

"I am very impressed by Woods' balance between being well-informed, but also being able to skillfully analyze the facts," he said.

Although he has given up his traveling and diplomacy days, Woods said he would recommend the job to the right person.

"It's not for everyone," he said, "but if it works, foreign diplomacy is a tremendous way to spend a career."

Reach reporter Stephanie Small at features@thedaily.washington.edu.