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SUMMARY:Diplomacy in the 21st Century
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nDiplomacy in the 21st Century\nIn an increasingly interconnected world\, U.S. diplomats face a growing array of complex global challenges—from climate change and cyber threats to geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crises. As these challenges evolve\, the question arises: Are our diplomats equipped with the tools\, resources\, and support they need to navigate them effectively? Against the backdrop of a transitioning administration\, this discussion will explore the state of the U.S. Foreign Service\, the key role diplomats play in safeguarding American interests\, and what the future holds for diplomacy in a rapidly changing global landscape. \nTuesday\, April 8th I 11:15 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue:\nBass Berry & Sims\n21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500 Nashville\, TN 37203 \n\nSpeaker: Thomas Yazdgerdi (President\, American Foreign Service Association)\n \nA member of the Senior Foreign Service\, Tom Yazdgerdi served from 2019 to 2023 as the AFSA State VP and is proud of the many wins that AFSA has gotten for our members. Before that\, he was special envoy for Holocaust issues in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the Department of State. \nMr. Yazdgerdi has served as director of the Office of South Central European Affairs\, political counselor at U.S. Embassy Kabul\, head of U.S. Consulate Kirkuk\, and deputy political counselor for Iran affairs at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. He also served as deputy chief of mission and political economic chief at U.S. Embassy Pristina during the run-up to and aftermath of Kosovo independence. \nBefore joining the Foreign Service in 1991\, Mr. Yazdgerdi worked on Capitol Hill. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Central European history\, security studies\, and American diplomatic history from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/diplomacy-in-the-21st-century/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims – New Location\, 21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250409T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250409T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T102924
CREATED:20250317T182247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192652Z
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SUMMARY:International Careers Panel (Hybrid Event)
DESCRIPTION:presents \n \nInternational Careers Panel\nThe International Careers Panel is part of our Global Dialogue Webinar Series. This event will bring distinguished professionals together to share their experiences and insights and discuss the preparation and transition from college to careers\, including the tools\, skills\, and competencies needed to enter the profession\, the upsides and downsides of working in those jobs\, and internship opportunities in their organizations. These panels are aimed at college\, high school\, and young professionals\, but they’re open to everyone\, including TNWAC members and partner institutions across Tennessee. \nWednesday\, April 9 I 1:30pm CT / 2:30pm ET – 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET\nVenue:\nUniversity of Tennessee (Toyota Auditorium)\n1640 Cumberland Ave Knoxville\, TN 37996 \nSpecial Needs\, Accommodations\, and Event Questions: \nWe strive to be open and inclusive with our events. Please contact us at either info@TNWAC.org or at (309) 550-0782 if you need any accommodations\, special requests\, or have additional event-related questions. \n_______________________________________ \nModerator:\nDr. Gretchen Neisler\, PhD (University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs\, Director\, Center for Global Engagement)\nGretchen Neisler\, Vice Provost for International Affairs at the University of Tennessee\, works with faculty\, staff\, students and key stakeholders to understand and deepen their engagement as global citizens. Dr. Neisler has successfully managed over $120 million in grant funding to support the work of international research and development. Gretchen believes higher education must support students in understanding their role as global citizens and use the institutional strength of knowledge creation to solve global challenges the world faces. Additionally\, she feels the role of higher education in a community is to understand its societal needs and work collaboratively to meet those needs. Gretchen has worked for 20 years to build global networks that enhance research productivity and preparing a new generation of leaders to take the world’s stage by understanding that problems span geographic boundaries. Her passion is derived from the belief that science has the power to positively impact society and higher education is vital to sharing this knowledge with community stakeholders. Gretchen is an experienced leader with strengths in organizational change and team development. She holds a PhD. in higher education administration from Michigan State University. \nPanelists:\nMajor General William B. Hickman\, US Army (Retired)\nHickman served 36 years in the United States Army\, much of which was spent deployed to Europe and the Middle East. He commanded troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In 2005-2006\, he was a senior leader in the Train and Assist Command in Iraq. In 2007-2008\, he commanded troops during the surge in Baghdad. He finished his Army service\, first as the deputy commander of US Army Central in Kuwait\, supporting operations across the Middle East with an emphasis on Iraq\, Syria\, and Afghanistan. His final assignment was as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Allied Command Transportation\, Norfolk\, Virginia. \nSince retiring from the US Army\, Hickman has published a political science textbook\, Understanding the US Military\, as a co-editor. Additionally\, as a Lecturer in Political Science\, he co-taught a Vanderbilt undergraduate class on the Iraq War (Spring Semester 2024). \nHickman earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the ROTC program. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. \nCasey Santos is the (Chief Technology Officer at Caliber)\nCasey Santos is the CTO of Caliber\, a family of automotive repair and service brands. She also is an independent board director\, and advisor with expertise in leveraging AI\, data analytics\, and cloud technologies to drive innovation and business value while managing cybersecurity\, resiliency\, and regulatory compliance. Formerly the Chief Information Officer at Asurion\, SVP of Business Process Innovation at AllianceBernstein\, and CIO at General Atlantic\, she began her career at NASA’s Mission Control as an aerospace engineer and later transitioned into IT consulting and senior technology leadership roles at McKinsey\, and McKinsey’s private investment office.\nMs. Santos serves on the boards of Omnicom\, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (as Audit Compliance and Risk Committee Chair)\, and Nashville Electric Service\, and is a Special Advisor for Generative AI at Vanderbilt University. She has also held leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as the Nashville Technology Council\, AWS\, Zoom\, and Writer. A recipient of honors from HITEC\, Nashville Tech Council\, WomenTech\, and Constellation Research\, she holds degrees from MIT (B.S.)\, Wharton (M.B.A.)\, and the Lauder Institute (M.A.). \nDr. Krystyne Savarese (Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director\, UT Knoxville Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration)\nIn her role as associate vice provost and executive director of the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration\, Krystyne Savarese strives to ensure all UT students are set up for success in achieving their goals. In this role\, she leads the unit’s efforts including career services\, employer development\, exploration\, and the implementation of the Vol Edge. \nKrystyne has served in a variety of roles in over 20 years in higher education. She started her career at Ohio State University in residence life\, later serving in the Center for the Study of Student Life\, and finally in the Office of Legal Affairs where she managed the university’s policy portfolio. Prior to her time at UT Knoxville\, Krystyne served as the senior director of residence life at Rutgers University\, New Brunswick. \nOriginally from Southern California\, Krystyne has a B.A. in English from the University of California\, Irvine\, and a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University. \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/international-careers-panel-2025/
LOCATION:University of Tennessee – Toyota Auditorium\, 1640 Cumberland Ave\, Knoxville\, TN\, 37996\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T102924
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SUMMARY:Innovation\, Creativity\, Character: Equipping People for Transformative Leadership in the 21st Century
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nInnovation\, Creativity\, Character: Equipping people for Transformative Leadership in the 21st Century\nHigher education at its best prepares students both for their first jobs and for opportunities well into the future. Currently the curricula and mindsets of too many institutions reflect an orientation toward 1995 rather than 2050. We need frameworks that blend innovation (and an entrepreneurial mindset)\, creativity\, and character to enable students to become equipped for the leadership the world needs. \n                Belmont has long had a focus on innovation\, creativity\, and character. We are now doubling down on the importance of those themes and especially their intersections. We are focused on equipping students with the mindsets\, skills\, and character to prepare them both for their first jobs and for lifelong learning so they are equipped for jobs\, roles\, and leadership we can’t even anticipate yet – both locally and globally. \n\n  \nSpeaker: Dr. L. Gregory Jones – President of Belmont University\n \nGregory Jones is President of Belmont University. Prior to serving at Belmont Greg served in a variety of faculty and administrative leadership roles at Duke University. Greg is known as a leader and strategist whose creative engagement has helped institutions across the world and in local communities to create transformational resource models. He is known for an entrepreneurial mindset as well as emphases on character and purpose in higher education\, emphases in his leadership at Belmont. He is the author or editor of 19 books\, and has authored more than 200 essays/articles. He is known for books on forgiveness (Embodying Forgiveness and the co-authored Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven)\, Christian leadership (the co-authored Resurrecting Excellence) and social innovation (Christian Social Innovation). His most recent book is the co-authored Navigating the Future: Traditioned Innovation for Wilder Seas (2021). \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/innovation-creativity-character/
LOCATION:Belmont University Janet Ayers Academic Center Fourth Floor Conference Space C\, 1803 15th Ave S\,\, Nashville\, TN\, 37212\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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