Speaker series brings global affairs experts to the Penn State School of International Affairs

Leif Trana, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Norway
Leif Trana, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Norway Credit: Vanessa McLaughlin

Several prominent authors, scholars, and experts will visit the Penn State School of International Affairs throughout this semester to discuss the latest research, trends, and challenges presented affecting global affairs. Speakers will present on intelligence, the Middle East, nation-building, the news media, poverty, and world health, during this year's SIA Global Affairs Colloquium.

The semester-long speaker series began on Jan. 12, and continues on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. in room 116 of the Lewis Katz Building. All of the presentations are open to the public.

Organized by retired U.S. Ambassador and SIA professor Dennis Jett, each presentation will consider the various global challenges and dilemmas of the world today. The Colloquium is part of a required first-year course for SIA students, designed to provide broad exposure to a wide range of critical issues.

Upcoming Speakers

Date

Topic

Lakshman Yapa, professor in the Penn State Geography Department in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Feb. 25

Global policy challenges in poverty

Kimberly Dozier, national security expert and award-winning CBS News and Associated Press correspondent

Mar. 4

“The Media in the Age of the Internet”

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson (Ret.), U.S. Army, former chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell

Mar. 18

“Why We Need Strategic Intelligence; Why We Don’t Have It; How to Get It”

Rachel Sayre, SIA graduate and Senior Advisor to the Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Mar. 25

International development

Fawad Sultani, SIA graduate and Program Implementation Coordinator, Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA)

April 1

Policy challenges dealing with Afghanistan

Evans Revere, senior director with the Albright Stonebridge Group and retired foreign service officer

April 8

Global challenges dealing with North Korea

Karl Hofmann, SIA board member, president and CEO, Population Services International (PSI)

April 15

Global challenges in health

Wayne White, Penn State graduate, Middle East Policy Council, Middle East Institute

April 22

Policy challenges in the Middle East

Peter Van Buren, former U.S. State Department official and author of We Meant Well

April 29

Post-conflict nation-building