Diplomatic Speaker Series to Bring New Perspectives for 2022

Posted: April 18, 2022 by Stephanie Troutman

The Diplomatic Speaker Series has returned for 2022. Spearheaded by Associate Professor Raluca Viman-Miller, the Diplomatic Speaker Series offers students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to engage with active and retired diplomats. All of the invited diplomats have real-world experience and have made noteworthy contributions in diplomacy and diplomatic relations.

One of the main purposes of the series is to connect the theoretical with the experiential. The Diplomatic Speaker series is meant to familiarize the students, faculty, and staff with the diplomatic process and the important political questions and concerns central to issues in international relations and diplomacy. Particularly noteworthy for students, the Series affords them an opportunity to take their classroom experiences and conversations into a unique setting where they can engage with speakers who are both knowledgeable and practiced in their field.

The Diplomatic Speaker Series is presented online via Zoom. The online format allows for a wider participation across UNG's campuses and affords a convenient venue for all people wanting to attend. In addition to increasing availability and making connections across UNG's campuses, the format allows the guest diplomat to present and interact with a large audience directly. For the UNG community, the online presentation affords ease of accessibility while still providing an intimate and personalized experience with diplomats.

The online format also allows for unique opportunities to meet diplomats from across the globe who might otherwise be unable to join in person due to time or travel restrictions. Offering a multinational perspective on pressing political questions and the tribulations of politics, previous presenters serve or served as diplomats to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan.

Our first event for the Spring 2022 semester took place on April 22nd. Mexico's Consul General Francisco Javier Díaz de León presented: "Mexico and the US: Strategic Partners and Global Neighbors".

The Diplomatic Speaker Series will continue to invite presenters with the intent to diversify perspectives and include speakers from a variety of regions in the world. With this in mind, the Series' committee is currently negotiating dates and times with diplomats and more information will be forthcoming.