2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America
Belmont’s Alexis Humbrecht to Represent Tennessee World Affairs Council at National Conference and You Can Too
The Tennessee World Affairs Council is pleased to announce that our nominee Alexis Humbrecht was selected by the World Affairs Councils of America as a scholarship recipient to the 2016 National Conference in Washington, D.C. (November 16-18, 2016)
The annual conference brings together Councils’ members from around the United States to hear from and interact with leaders in government, business, academia, the military and other decision makers to discuss the top issues on the international affairs agenda. The 2016 conference theme is “America and Global Megatrends,” and will feature keynote remarks from Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, former US Senator George Mitchell, UPS CEO David Abney, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson and many more. The conferees will also participate in visits to Washington think tanks and receptions at foreign embassies including the Embassy of France and Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.
Ms. Humbrecht, a sophomore at Belmont University, will have her conference registration fee covered along with $1,000 to cover transportation, lodging and incidental expenses to attend the annual meeting of World Affairs Councils. She was selected from among a group of highly qualified student applicants by the Tennessee World Affairs Council and nominated to the national office of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA).
The WACA is the largest nonpartisan, non-profit grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to educating and engaging the American public on global issues. Over 500,000 people a year benefit from the network programming, including members and participants. The Tennessee World Affairs Council is an independent, nonpartisan educational nonprofit, but maintains membership in the WACA network.
You too can attend the 2016 World Affairs Councils National Conference. Check below for details or on the Web site. [Link]
More about Ms. Alexis Humbrecht
Alexis (Ali) Humbrecht is a sophomore global leadership studies and German language dual major in the Honors Program at Belmont University. She was born and raised just outside of Philadelphia with her two sisters and parents. Ali has been interested in global affairs for most of her life and was interested in studying political science in college. Ali decided to come to Belmont upon her meeting Dr. Nathan Griffith, an associate political science professor at Belmont. She has been highly active within the political science department, and Dr. Griffith invited her to attend the Midwestern Political Science Association’s Annual Conference this past April, where she learned about national and global politics, the newest research in political science and current global issues. Ali is also highly involved in Belmont’s Student Government Association, serving as a congress member last year and the chair of the Campus Outreach and Events Committee this year. Other passions of Ali’s include service, particularly through Kiwanis, graphic design, German and her two cats.
The 2016 National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America
November 16-18
Washington, DC
WACA’s 2016 National Conference will be held on November 16-18, at The Capital Hilton Hotel, located in the heart of Washington DC, and just two blocks from the White House and three Metro Rail stations, makes it the perfect hotel for exploring our Nation’s Capital. It is within walking distance of museums and memorials, theatres and art galleries, shopping, dining, and nightlife.
New this year! REGISTRATION REWARDS: For every five paid registrations from an individual Council community, WACA will provide free admission to a sixth individual designated by the Council CEO.
Book your room at our special Group Rate now!
Staying at The Capital Hilton We have secured a special group rate:
- Queen/King bed Deluxe Room: $279/night (Single/Double occupancy) plus tax
- Queen/King/Double bed Executive Floor: $349/night (Single/Double Occupancy) plus tax
Click here to reserve your room!
Printable Agenda (tentative)
Conference Speakers:
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Ambassadors Luncheon Keynote
U.S. Secretary of Commerce |
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Ambassadors Luncheon KeynoteDavid Abney Chairman and CEO of UPS |
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Opening Dinner Keynote Senator George J. Mitchell Former Special Envoy to the Middle East Author of the forthcoming A Path to Peace |
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Leadership Day Keynote Ambassador Barbara Stephenson President, American Foreign Service Assn.
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Carl Gershman President, National Endowment for Democracy |
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Great Decisions: Luncheon Keynote
Evans Revere
Senior Advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group |
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Professor, National Security Strategy
National War College
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Pentagon Briefing and Tour
Brian P. McKeon |
| CIA Briefing and Tour |
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French Embassy Reception H.E. Gerard Araud
Ambassador of France
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H.E. Hunaina Al Mughairy
Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
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Atlantic Council
Global Risks 2035
Director, Strategic Foresight Initiative
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Director, Project on International Order and Strategy
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The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Syria: How to Bring Lasting PeaceAndrew J. Tabler Martin J. Gross Fellow |
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TBD |
Panel: Presidential Leadership and U.S. Foreign Policy
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Evan Thomas Journalist, Historian, and Author of “Being Nixon: A Man Divided” |
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Tom DeFrank Contributing Editor, National Journal Author of “Write It When I’m Gone” |
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Moderator: Talmage Boston Attorney and Author of “Cross-Examining History: A Lawyer Gets Answers From the Experts About Our Presidents” |
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Michael Duffy Deputy Managing Editor, TIME |
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Professor of Practice
National Defense University
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President and Co-founder
Muslim Public Affairs Council
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Capt. Bernard D. Cole, USN (Ret.) Author and Professor, National War College |
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Jeremy R. Haft CEO, SafeSource Trading |
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Dr. Angela E. Stent
Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies
Georgetown University
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Dr. Omer Taspinar Professor, National War College Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins SAIS |
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Former Amb. Stephen Sestanovich George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies The Council on Foreign Relations |
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Program Manager, U.S. Operations
Institute for Economics & Peace
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About the World Affairs Councils of America
The World Affairs Councils of America has a long and storied history that stretches back some 90 years. Two groups, the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) and the World Affairs Councils worked together in the same organizational system from 1918 until the early 1950s. The FPA was begun in the spring of 1918 by a small group of individuals who worked with President Woodrow Wilson that included journalist and social reformer Paul Kellogg, who also served as FPA’s first president. The founding members were concerned that at the end of World War I, Americans would choose an isolationist foreign policy over one of engagement and worked to nurture grassroots citizen involvement in international affairs. By 1947, these two groups operated as a national organization that was composed of a network of independent community councils.
In 1986, the National Council of World Affairs Organizations national office was established in Washington, D.C. This office evolved into the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). Today, WACA is the country’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to fostering grassroots understanding and engagement in international affairs and seeks to involve as many citizens as possible in an exchange of ideas, knowledge and understanding of global issues.
The national office of the WACA works to develop new program opportunities to distribute to member councils. This includes a variety of national program series, an annual national conference, five flagship programs, Leadership Missions to other countries, and other opportunities.
In addition to providing program opportunities, the WACA acts as the central hub for the council network, connecting councils with resources, opportunities, and of course, with each other. Councils often turn to the WACA for assistance with capacity building and organizational development. The WACA staff visit several councils every year and work hard to help councils accomplish their goals.
The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a nonprofit (501c3), nonpartisan educational charity based in Nashville that works to build understanding of global issues in our communities. Learn more about the Council and find how you can join, donate and volunteer at: www.TNWAC.org
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