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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T130000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250204T182933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T170842Z
UID:38556-1745407800-1745413200@www.tnwac.org
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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250409T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250409T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250317T182247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192652Z
UID:45601-1744223400-1744227000@www.tnwac.org
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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250408T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250408T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250213T152243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T213755Z
UID:38612-1744129800-1744135200@www.tnwac.org
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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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250331T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250331T170000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250315T203532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T214108Z
UID:45524-1743436800-1743440400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Foreign Policy Town Hall (webinar)
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nForeign Policy Town Hall\nMonday\, March 31 – 11:00pm CT – 12:00pm CT\nJoin Senator Murphy and fellow citizens across the nation for a town hall on U.S. Foreign Policy. We’ll address the massive changes to the State Department\, the role of the U.S. in conflicts around the world\, and relationships with allies and adversaries alike. \n\n  \n\n\nFeatured Speaker:\n\n\nU.S. Senator Chris Murphy\nU.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)\, is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee; the Health\, Education\, Labor\, and Pensions Committee; and the Appropriations Committee. He previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives\, representing Connecticut’s fifth congressional district. Before being elected to Congress\, he served for eight years in the Connecticut state legislature. \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/foreign-policy-town-hall/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250325T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250325T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250204T223459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T214011Z
UID:38565-1742920200-1742925600@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Dollar is the Globe’s Reserve Currency: Once you lose it\, you never get it back
DESCRIPTION:Presents \n \n  \nThe Dollar is the Globe’s Reserve Currency: Once you lose it\, you never get it back\nJoin us for AllianceBernstein’s President and CEO Seth Bernstein for an insightful discussion on the importance of the dollar for the U.S. and the rest of the world. Seth Bernstein (no relation to the firm) has led AllianceBernstein since 2017. AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers diversified investment services to institutional investors\, individuals\, and private wealth clients in major world markets. \nTuesday\, March 25th I 11:15am – 1:00pm\nat \nHolland & Knight \n511 Union Street Suite 2700 Nashville\, TN 37219 \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Seth Bernstein (President and CEO\, AllianceBernstein)\n \nSeth Bernstein was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of AllianceBernstein (AB) in 2017. In 2018\, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Asset Management of Equitable Holdings. Prior to his appointment at AB\, Bernstein had a distinguished 32-year career at JPMorgan Chase\, most recently as managing director and global head of Managed Solutions & Strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. In this role\, he was responsible for the management of all discretionary assets within the Private Banking client segment. Among other roles\, Bernstein served as managing director and global head of Fixed Income & Currency for 10 years\, concluding in 2012. Prior to that\, he held the position of CFO at JPMorgan Chase’s Investment Management and Private Banking division. \nBernstein holds a BA in political science and economics from Haverford College. He is Vice-Chair of Haverford College’s Board of Managers and the Clerk of the board’s Investment Committee. Bernstein is also a member of the Council of Foreign Relations in New York\, as well as a Board of Trustees member of the Brookings Institution and a governor of the Investment Company Institute\, both in Washington\, DC. In addition\, he serves as a trustee of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville\, TN. \nModerator: Karl Dean\n \nKarl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County.  He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990.  He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998.  He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007\, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School\, Belmont University\, and Boston University. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-dollar-is-the-globes-reserve-currency/
LOCATION:Holland & Knight\, 511 Union Street Suite 2700\, Nashville\, TN\, 37219\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250318T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250318T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250128T182250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T214202Z
UID:38503-1742314500-1742320800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Middle East on Fire
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nThe Middle East on Fire\nThe Middle East is witnessing the almost total collapse of deterrence as both state and non-state actors take huge risks amid the region’s deepening cycles of conflict and violence. Continued escalation lays bare the reality of a region that has grown profoundly more perilous since Hamas’s October 7 terror attack and the ensuing Gaza conflict. The Middle East is no longer bound by established rules of engagement and modes of deterrence. Assumptions undergirding the behavior and risk calculus of many state and nonstate actors in the region are increasingly obsolete. Clear redlines and mutually accepted rules of the game are glaringly absent. So\, too\, are reliable channels through which the warring parties can de-escalate. \nThe United States can rebuild its waning influence and play a decisive role in restoring deterrence in a region where countries and militant groups now feel able to act recklessly. But it has to recognize first that its current policies are inadequate and outdated. It continues to rely largely on conventional military approaches to deterrence that fail to account for the shifts roiling the region: emboldened nonstate actors\, unrestrained state actors\, and disruptive technologies. Washington must help all parties minimize the likelihood of miscalculation and work to stop the erosion of deterrence that has inflamed violence. If it does not do so\, it will risk being drawn into a regionwide conflict with global implications. \nTuesday\, March 18th I 11:15 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue:\nBelmont University – Massey Rogers Boardroom (Parking on Inman Center)\n1601-1603 Wedgewood Av. Nashville\, TN 37201 \n\n  \n\n\nSpeaker: Mona Yacoubian (VP of Middle East North Africa Center\, United States Institute of Peace)\nMona Yacoubian is vice president of the Middle East and North Africa center at USIP. She brings more than 30 years of experience working on the Middle East and North Africa. Her work has centered on conflict analysis\, governance and stabilization challenges\, and conflict prevention. \nSince returning to USIP as a senior advisor in 2017\, her work has focused on Syria\, Lebanon and Iraq. Additional research interests include Russia’s role in the Middle East and violent extremism. In 2019\, she served as executive director of the Congressionally-appointed Syria Study Group\, which USIP was mandated to facilitate. \nYacoubian joined the U.S. Institute of Peace after serving as deputy assistant administrator in the Middle East Bureau at USAID from 2014 to 2017\, where she had responsibility for Iraq\, Syria\, Jordan and Lebanon. Prior to joining USAID\, Yacoubian was a senior advisor at the Stimson Center focusing on the Arab uprisings with an emphasis on Syria. Prior to joining the Stimson Center\, she served as a special advisor on the Middle East at the U.S. Institute of Peace\, where her work focused on Lebanon and Syria as well as broader issues related to democratization in the Arab world. From 1990 to 1998\, Yacoubian served as the North Africa analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. \nYacoubian was a Fulbright scholar in Syria where she studied Arabic at the University of Damascus from 1985 to 1986. She has held an international affairs fellowship with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and is currently a CFR member. She earned a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s in public policy from Duke University. \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-middle-east-on-fire/
LOCATION:Belmont University – Barbara Massey Rogers Center Board Room\, 1900 Belmont Blvd.\, Nashville\, TN\, 37212\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250305T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250305T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250211T153159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T214247Z
UID:38595-1741197600-1741201200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Geopolitical Divergences on the Korean Peninsula (Webinar)
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nGeopolitical Divergences on the Korean Peninsula\nWednesday\, March 5th – 12:00pm-1:00pm\nIn recent months\, North and South Korea have seen a divergence in their geopolitical fortunes. On December 3\, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law\, setting off a political crisis that has seen President Yoon impeached and hindered Seoul’s ability to coordinate with the new Trump administration. In contrast\, North Korea continues to deepen its relationship with Russia to which it has exported 9 million artillery shells and provided more than 10\,000 troops in exchange for food\, fuel\, and advanced military technology. Please join the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion of the current state of affairs in North and South Korea\, as well as how they are adapting to changes in geopolitics.  \n\n\n\nFeatured Speaker:\n\nTroy Stangarone (Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy; Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at The Wilson Center)\nTroy Stangarone is the Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy and the Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center. Mr. Stangarone specializes in economic and foreign policy relations on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region. \nIn addition to his work at the Wilson Center\, Mr. Stangarone is columnist for The Korea Times and a contributing author for The Diplomat. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the North Korea Economic Forum at the George Washington Institute for Korean Studies\, a member of the Korea-America Student Conference’s National Advisory Committee and on the Board of the International Council of Korean Studies. \nPrior to joining the Wilson Center\, Mr. Stangarone was Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) where he oversaw the Institute’s programmatic initiatives and focused on issues pertaining to economic and foreign policy on the Korean Peninsula. During his time at KEI\, he was also a 2012-2013 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in South Korea\, sponsored by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies\, and a Posco Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center. Mr. Stangarone also previously worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Torricelli on issues relating to foreign affairs and trade. \nMr. Stangarone holds an MSc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Memphis. \nModerator:\nNatalie Thibault (Talent Executive | NBJ 40 Under 40 | Nashville Emerging Leader | MBA Candidate)\nNatalie is an Award-Winning Global Leader with expertise in talent strategy and operational excellence. For 17+ years\, Natalie delivered high impact results in one of the most complex\, matrixed\, fastest growing\, and innovative Fortune 10 tech companies in the world. She is now pursuing her MBA at Belmont University in Nashville\, Tennessee. \nNatalie values immersive international experiences to learn first-hand about politics\, food\, art\, geography\, global economics\, etc. At 68 countries and counting\, she believes it builds an almost instant connection when you can say ‘I know something about where you are from’. One of her favorite local hobbies is Salsa Dancing each week at Plaza Mariachi. \n\n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/geopolitical-divergences-on-the-korean-peninsula-webinar/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250213T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250213T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250128T180542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T214328Z
UID:38497-1739469600-1739473200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Reshaping of The Middle East (webinar)
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \n  \nReshaping of The Middle East\nTuesday\, February 13th – 12:00pm-1:00pm\nPresident Donald Trump returned to office on January 20\, 2025 facing a Middle East that has witnessed historic and tectonic shifts in the four years since he left office. The Israel-Hamas war\, broader conflicts and tensions in the region\, and major changes in Syria and Lebanon are among the events that have reshaped the regional landscape. What are the Trump administration’s likely priorities for the Middle East in the coming year\, and what dynamics and issues within the region will present the biggest challenges and opportunities? Please join the Tennessee World Affairs Council for an online discussion with Brian Katulis\, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute\, as part of its Global Dialog Webinar Series. \n\n\nSpeaker: Brian Katulis (Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy)\nBrian Katulis is a Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Middle East Institute. He was formerly a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP)\, where he built the Center’s Middle East program and also worked on broader issues related to U.S. national security. \nHe has produced influential studies that have shaped important discussions around regional policy\, often providing expert testimony to key congressional committees on his findings. Katulis has also conducted extensive research in countries such as Egypt\, Israel\, Jordan\, and the Palestinian territories. His past experience includes work at the National Security Council and the U.S. Departments of State and Defense. \nEducation\nMaster in Public Affairs\, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs Bachelor of Arts in history and Arab and Islamic studies\, Villanova University Fulbright scholar in Jordan\, 1994 – 1995 \nRegions of Expertise\nEgypt\, Israel\, the Palestinian territories\, Jordan \nIssues of Expertise\nNational security\, U.S. foreign policy\, diplomacy \nModerator: Dr. Breck Walker\n \n  \nBreck Walker pursued a twenty years’ career international business\, law\, and finance\,\nbefore turning to academia. For several years\, he taught foreign policy courses at\nSewanee\, The University of the South\, and worked as a contract historian for the Office\nof the Secretary of Defense Historical Office\, researching and writing on early Pentagon\npolicies in the computer security and cyber areas. Dr. Walker is currently retired. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/reshaping-of-the-middle-east-webinar/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250206T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250206T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250113T160352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T175709Z
UID:38450-1738859400-1738864800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:A Conversation on Israel\, Iran\, Syria\, and the Shifting Geopolitics of the Middle East (webinar)
DESCRIPTION:A Conversation on Israel\, Iran\, Syria\, and the Shifting Geopolitics of the Middle East (Webinar)\n \n\n\nDoes it feel like the Middle East is changing faster than you can keep pace with?\nJoin TNWAC and The World Affairs Council of Miami on Thursday\, February 6th from 10:30am – 12:00pm CST for a free virtual Distinguished Speaker conversation on Israel\, Iran\, Syria\, and the Shifting Geopolitics of the Middle East.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/a-conversation-on-israel-iran-syria-and-the-shifting-geopolitics-of-the-middle-east-webinar/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250205T171500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250205T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20250114T194131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T175824Z
UID:38460-1738775700-1738782000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Author Preview - "Getting Russia Right"
DESCRIPTION:PRESENTS \n \n  \nWednesday\, February 5th I 11:15am – 1:00pm\nat \nBobby Hotel – 230 4th Ave N\, Nashville\, TN 37219\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan President Trump End the Russia-Ukraine War?\nThree years ago\, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a brutal war against Ukraine. What\nhe thought would be a blitzkrieg has turned into a bloody war of attrition\, pitting Russia against a\nThe West actively backs Ukraine. Why did Putin choose war? What national interests did he\nbelieve were at stake\, and what personal ambitions drove him? Why did he believe Russia\ncould achieve a quick victory? How and why did he miscalculate Ukrainian resilience\, Western\nresolve\, and Russian might? \nToday\, President Donald Trump wants to resolve this conflict within six months. How can he\npersuade Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate seriously? What might\nbe the outlines of an enduring settlement? At a moment when Putin believes he is making\nsteady progress toward his goal of subjugating Ukraine\, can Trump craft a peace deal that\nsecures Ukraine as a sovereign state\, deters Russia from further aggression\, and burnishes his\nreputation as a statesman and peacemaker? \n*Following the event\, all attendees will receive a free copy of his book Getting Russia Right \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker:\n \nThomas E. Graham is a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. His book\, Getting Russia Right\, was published in September\, 2023. He is a cofounder of Yale University’s Russian\, East European\, and Eurasian studies program and sits on its faculty steering committee. He is also a research scholar at Yale’s MacMillan Center. He has been a lecturer in global affairs and political science since 2011\, teaching courses on U.S.-Russian relations and Russian foreign policy\, as well as cybersecurity and counterterrorism. Graham was special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia on the National Security Council staff from 2004 to 2007\, during which he managed a White House-Kremlin strategic dialogue. He was director for Russian affairs on the staff from 2002 to 2004. \nGraham served as an advisor to Kissinger Associates from 2008 to 2021. He was a Foreign Service officer for fourteen years. His assignments included two tours of duty at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in the late Soviet period and in the middle of the 1990s\, during which he served as head of the political internal unit and acting political counselor. Between tours in Moscow\, he worked on Russian and Soviet affairs on the policy planning staff at the U.S. Department of State and as a policy assistant in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy. \nGraham serves on the advisory board of Russia Matters\, a project of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs with the goal of enhancing the understanding of Russia among policymakers and the interested public. Graham holds a BA in Russian studies from Yale University and an MA in history and a PhD in political science from Harvard University. \nModerator:\n \n  \nBreck Walker pursued a twenty years’ career international business\, law\, and finance\,\nbefore turning to academia. For several years\, he taught foreign policy courses at\nSewanee\, The University of the South\, and worked as a contract historian for the Office\nof the Secretary of Defense Historical Office\, researching and writing on early Pentagon\npolicies in the computer security and cyber areas. Dr. Walker is currently retired. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/author-preview-getting-russia-right/
LOCATION:Bobby Hotel\, 230 4th Ave N\, Nashville\, 37219\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250115T171500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250115T184500
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20241216T181753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192834Z
UID:38426-1736961300-1736966700@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Luncheon with Consul General Galloway
DESCRIPTION:PRESENTS \n \n  \nWednesday\, January 15\, 2025 I 11:15am – 12:45pm\nat \nBradley (11th Floor)\n1221 Broadway Ste. 2400\nNashville\, TN 37203\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. \nRegister Now\n\nSpeaker:\n \nAs Consul General\, Rachel Galloway is the senior UK official in the Atlanta Consulate General\, which is a subordinate office to the Embassy. The Consul General represents the UK government and is typically responsible for consular\, visa\, and trade activities in their city or region. \nGalloway came to Atlanta following a three-year tour as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of North Macedonia. An outspoken leader\, she called for reforms of the judiciary and public administration to help the country on its eventual application for membership of the EU. She supported projects to develop youthful talents in information technology and to reduce pollution\, lending a hand herself in cleaning the streets. \nHer prior tour was as Chair\, Mashrek Maghreb Working Group\, European External Action Service. Previously\, she headed the Neighbourhoods Team\, UK Permanent Representation to the EU (UKREP)\, Brussels. In 2008 – 2011 at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)\, she was Deputy Head of the International Organisations Department. \nIn the 2000s\, Galloway served a tour in the Washington DC Embassy; followed by development and reconstruction posts in conflicted places: Darfur and Helmand (Afghanistan). She also served in HM Treasury’s Counter Terrorism review team. \nModerator:\n \nKARL DEAN \nKarl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County.  He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990.  He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998.  He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007\, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School\, Belmont University\, and Boston University. \n  \n  \n  \n\n \n\nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nDonate
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/consul-general-galloway/
LOCATION:Bradley\, 1221 Broadway Suite 2400\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241209T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241209T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20241119T184056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:38383-1733767200-1733770800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:THE WORLD AHEAD 2025: TOP 10 TRENDS TO WATCH (webinar)
DESCRIPTION:“THE WORLD AHEAD 2025: TOP 10 TRENDS TO WATCH”\n \n\n  \nMonday\, December 9\, 2024 I 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nAfter an unprecedented year of elections\, new leaders around the globe who have promised change will be expected to deliver in 2025. The world will also be coming to terms with the outcome of America’s elections in November and the implications for global security\, trade\, and climate policy. New alliances are forming\, and old ones are fraying in an increasingly tense and dangerous world. But the adoption of green tech continues to outpace the most optimistic forecasts\, even as concerns grow over artificial intelligence and its voracious appetite for chips\, energy\, water\, and data. Tom Standage\, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of The World Ahead 2025\, will consider these and other trends and their implications for geopolitics\, business\, and culture in the coming year. \n\n\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. \nRegister Now\n\n  \n\nSPEAKER: Tim Douglas (Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of The World Ahead 2025)\n \n\n\nTom Standage is Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual\,\nThe World Ahead. He joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was\nsubsequently appointed technology editor\, business editor and digital editor. He is the\nauthor of seven history books\, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013)\, “The Victorian\nInternet” (1998) and the New York Times bestsellers “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005) and “An Edible History of Humanity” (2009). His latest book\, “A Brief History of Motion”\, was published in 2021. Tom studied engineering and computer science at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times\, the Guardian and Wired\, taking a particular interest in technology’s social and historical impact. \n\n\n  \nModerator: Tim Douglas (Regional Director of Private Banking at FirstBank)\n \nTim graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in 1973 and from Tulane University’s Engineering School in 1977. He received a Master of Arts in International Commerce from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at The University of Kentucky in December\, 1978 – and he then moved to New York City to begin his career in finance. In 1983\, he received an Accounting Certificate from NYU’s Stern School of Business. \nIn 1979\, he joined Euro Brokers Harlow as a Eurodollar and Eurodollar CD broker; and he later transitioned to Bankers Trust Company\, working in their bond department.\nTim married the former Alison Schmidlapp from Oyster Bay\, LI; and in 1985\, they moved back to Nashville where they raised three children. He joined Nelson Capital Corporation\, a diversified merchant banking firm that advised corporate clients on debt and equity financings. In 1995\, he purchased a distributor and fabricator of adhesive products\, selling the business to a private equity firm in August\, 2008. He then joined Covenant Surgical Partners where he managed surgery centers. \nHe subsequently entered the insurance industry; and then\, FirstBank contacted him and offered him the position of Nashville Market President. He has now been with FirstBank since 2016 where he currently serves as Senior VP and Regional Director of Private Banking. \nTim served as President of Belle Meade Country Club in 2012 where he continues to enjoy playing golf. He started the “Boulevard Bolt\,” a Thanksgiving Day run/walk benefitting the Homeless. He has also served on the Board of various civic entities\, was on the Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Belle Meade and City of Forrest Hills – and was elected Commissioner for the City of Forrest Hills. \n  \n\n\nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-world-ahead-2025-top-10-trends-to-watch-webinar/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241114T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241115T013000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240919T192445Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192834Z
UID:37632-1731627000-1731634200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:NATO AT 75: THE WAY AHEAD (Memphis)
DESCRIPTION:In partnership with Rhodes College Presents \n“NATO AT 75: THE WAY AHEAD “\n \n\nThursday\, November 14\, 2024 I 5:30pm – 7:30pm \n** free event ** \nRhodes College (Buckman Hall in Blount Auditorium) \n2000 North Parkway – Memphis\, TN 38112 \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. \nRegister Now\n\n\nSPEAKERS:\nMajor General William 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. \nHis final assignment was as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Allied Command Transportation\, Norfolk\, Virginia. Since 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. \n \n\n\nProfessor Yannis A. Stivachtis \n\n\nYannis A. Stivachtis is Professor of Political Science and holder of the Jean Monnet Chair at Virginia Tech. He also serves as the Director of the Center for European & Transatlantic Studies (CEUTS)\, which is recognized by the European Commission as a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence. His research and teaching interests include the study of regional international systems in Europe and Eurasia; international/European security; and EU’s strategy\, and foreign and security policy. He is the editor of the Critical European Studiesbook series (Routledge) and co-editor of the Athens Journal of Mediterranean Studies. He currently serves as Senior Advisor of the Center for European and Mediterranean Affairs (CEMA) of the Athens Institute for Education & Research (ATINER\, Greece); Advisory Board member of the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies (Bellevue University); and Senior Advisor of the Research Institute for European & American Studies (RIEAS\, Greece). He has authored and edited several books and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. \nPrior to arriving in Virginia Tech in 2005\, Professor Stivachtis served initially as Research Fellow and later on as Consultant at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) where he was involved in UNIDIR’s European Security Program that focused on the implementation of the INF and CFE treaties\, as well as in the institution’sMiddle East Peace Program that investigated the possibility of cooperative security and non-offensive defense arrangements in the region as a way to achieve regional peace and stability. Later on\, he served as Research Fellow at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) focusing on issues related to cooperative security and arms control. He also served as Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Studies of the Austrian Ministry of Defense and Research Fellow at the Austrian Institute of European & Security Policy. \n  \n \nMajor General Albert C. Harvey \nMr. Harvey\, of counsel\, at Lewis Thomason’s Memphis office\, is a senior member of the firm. He has an extensive practice in federal and state courts defending doctors\, lawyers\, architects\, engineers\, and other professionals. He is involved in complex business litigation\, intellectual property disputes\, and securities cases. Mr. Harvey has a special interest in national security and governmental affairs and frequently lectures\, teaches\, and consults with clients on these matters. In addition\, he has served at the state and national levels on setting ethical standards for lawyers and judges. Mr. Harvey recently retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of Major General. \nAFFILIATIONS\n• American Bar Association\n• Tennessee Bar Association\n• Memphis Bar Association \nPROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES\n• Member\, Irish Legal 100\n• Member\, American Bar Association House of Delegates\n• Selected by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell as Elite Lawyer of the South\n• Former law clerk to Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Larry Creson\n• Former Assistant Public Defender for Shelby County\n• Listed in “Who’s Who in America”\n• Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers\n• Named to The Best Lawyers in America®\, Ethics & Professional Responsibility Law\, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants\n• Holds the highest rating\, AV\, from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory\n• Former president of both the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations\n• Former member\, Board of Governors of the American Bar Association\n• Served on the Committee on the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (Ethics 2000) and on the council of the litigation section.\n• Fellow\, American College of Trial Lawyers\n• Fellow and chair\, Tennessee Bar Foundation\n• Master of the American Inns of Court\n• Member\, American Board of Trial Advocacy\n• Recipient\, Lawyer’s Lawyer Award\, Memphis Bar Association\, 2008 \nModerator:\n \nDr. Kevin Galambos \nDr Kevin Galambos is Assistant Professor of International Studies and the J.S. Seidman Research Fellow at Rhodes College in Memphis\, Tennessee. Dr Galambos completed his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Political Science from Emory University in Atlanta\, Georgia. He recently completed his PhD in Government at the University of Texas\, Austin (hook ‘em) where he was a Graduate Fellow with the Clements Center for National Security. Dr Galambos was previously a Postdoctoral Research Associate for the Aspiring Powers Initiative at the University of Arizona and has served as the Managing Editor for the academic journal Conflict Management and Peace Science. He currently teaches undergraduate courses on International Relations and Security Studies. \nDr Galambos’ research broadly looks at questions of international security\, foreign policy\, and war. His dissertation project\, focused on military exercises\, addresses questions about the conditions under which war games take place; their influence on public opinion in countries hosting exercises; and how multinational training socializes soldiers to rules of war and respect for human rights. He is interested in explaining international cooperation at the local\, regional\, and global levels and ramification of these events regarding alliances\, arms trade\, and conflict.   His research uses quantitative research designs like network analysis\, Monte Carlo simulations\, and formal game theory. Dr Galambos has presented his research at various conferences of the American Political Science Association\, Southern Political Science Association\, International Studies Association\, and International Peace Science Society; and has been published in International Studies Quarterly and International Theory. A native of Oak Ridge\, Tennessee\, he is happy to be back in the Volunteer State and looks forward to collaborating with scholars and policymakers with similar research interests. \n\n\n  \n \nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n OUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nRegister Now \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/nato-at-75-the-way-ahead-memphis/
LOCATION:Rhodes College\, 2000 North Parkway\, Memphis\, TN\, 38112\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241112T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241112T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T182328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192834Z
UID:37247-1731432600-1731438000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:NATO’s Ambitious Agenda—Preparing for the Future
DESCRIPTION:“NATO’s Ambitious Agenda—Preparing for the Future”\n\nAs NATO celebrates its 75 years of Collective Defense\, the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC) will host a discussion featuring Major General William Hickman\, US Army (retired)\, a veteran with extensive NATO experience. The event will focus on NATO’s evolution since the Cold War and its current focus on a 360-degree approach to deterrence and defense. The discussion will revolve around the NATO 2022 Strategic Concept and the 2023 Strategic Foresight Analysis\, both important documents outlining the Alliance’s future. He assisted in drafting NATO’s first Military Strategy since the Cold War\, started the initial work for NATO’s Warfighting Capstone Concept\, and represented ACT in NATO’s Defense Planning focused on long-term military capabilities.\n \n  \nTuesday\, November 12\, 2024 I 11:30 am – 1:00 pm \n* Luncheon Event * \nBass\, Berry & Sims\n150 3rd Ave. South Suite 2800\nNashville\, TN 37201 \n\n  \nSPEAKER:\nMajor General William Hickmann – US Army (Retired) \nMajor General William B. Hickman\, US Army (Retired)\, brings decades of military leadership and strategic insight to his role as a commentator on defense and security issues. As a former NATO’s Director of Strategic Plans and Policy\, Hickman is well-versed in alliance dynamics and global security challenges. His distinguished career underscores his commitment to advancing international security cooperation and readiness. \n\n\n  \nRegister Now\n  \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. \nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n \nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nRegister Now \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/natos-ambitious-agenda-preparing-for-the-future-2/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims\, 150 Third Avenue South Suite 2800\, Nashville\, TN\, 37201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241107T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241107T190000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T192828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192834Z
UID:37277-1731000600-1731006000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:LTG ANTHONY HALE
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\n\n\n\n(Coming Soon)\n\n\nSpeaker:\nLTG ANTHONY HALE\n\nLieutenant General \nLieutenant General Anthony R. Hale is the current Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) of the United States Army. Prior to his current role\, LTG Hale served as the Commanding General and Commandant of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence at Fort Huachuca\, Arizona\, from August 2020 to July 2023. He also held the position of Director of Intelligence\, J-2\, at the United States Special Operations Command and served in various intelligence capacities during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. LTG Hale holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. \n  \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/ltg-anthony-hale/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241030T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241030T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240919T181459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:44262-1730307600-1730311200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Webinar | Reform in Central Asia: Shifting Frameworks and Dynamics
DESCRIPTION:presents \n\n\nReform in Central Asia: Shifting Frameworks and Dynamics\n \n  \n\n\n\nWednesday\, October 30th | 12:00pm – 1:00pm \n\nMr. Mark Reese will discuss how historical reforms in Central Asia hold profound implications for our understanding of the region and its influence on geopolitics. He will explore\nthe shifting theoretical frameworks and leadership models deployed to conceptualize and govern the Central Asian Republics. The webinar will pay special attention to current cultural initiatives in the Republic of Uzbekistan that hold greater credibility and influence\, especially among youth populations. Mr. Reese will offer a broad outline of the challenges still faced in Central Asia– along with the solutions being implemented by its populations.\n  \nRegister Now\nSpeaker:\n \nMark Reese began his thirty-year career in Central Asia as the first Peace Corps volunteer to serve in Kokand\, Uzbekistan\, from 1994-1996. Through the University of Washington\, he subsequently established and managed a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program centered around Islamic studies and curricula reform in Uzbekistan through the Department of State’s Uzbekistan Partnership Program in Islamic Studies. Mr. Reese managed translation and cultural advisement task orders for a broad spectrum of government and private industry clients. \nOver seven years\, he conducted groundbreaking work through dynamic educational program development as Founding Director for the Center for Regional Studies at the United States Naval Academy. His flagship work surrounds his translation of Abdullah Qodiriy’s O’tkan Kunlar\, the first full-length novel in the Uzbek language. For his efforts\, the Republic of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Mr. Reese the Presidential Order of Do’stlik for furthering awareness of the Uzbek language and culture. \nIn 2023\, he was awarded the Tourism Fo’ydasi for developing tourism content in Tashkent\, Uzbekistan. As CEO of Suhbat LLC\, Mark is currently engaged in strategic communications and cultural program development for a variety of clients in Central Asia. \n\n\nModerator:\n \nPatrick Ryan is President Emeritus and founder of the Tennessee World Affairs Council. In 2007\, Mr. Ryan organized a group of concerned citizens to launch Tennessee’s first World Affairs Council to bring global awareness to education programs and resources in communities and schools in the state. The Council\, responding to the statewide interest in its programs\, moved from its first home in Cookeville to Nashville\, where it is hosted on the campus of Belmont University. \nMr. Ryan was born and raised in New York City. At age 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served a 26-year career\, assigned first in the Persian Gulf in 1973 followed by assignments in the Submarine Service where he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Ryan received a BA degree at the University of South Carolina\, in 1981\, majoring in International Studies followed by commissioning in the Navy as an Ensign. Mr. Ryan served aboard numerous ships\, headquarters staffs and overseas assignments before retiring in 1998 as a Lieutenant Commander. Among his assignments were the Joint Staff in the Pentagon\, the Center for Naval Analyses\, and US Central Command headquarters. He has lived and worked in Bahrain\, Italy and Japan and has traveled to about 50 countries for work and leisure. \nPatrick Ryan was the President and founder of Ryan & Associates\, an editorial consulting firm based in Nashville\, from 1999-2015\, specializing in on-line global affairs information resources\, especially covering developments in the Middle East. Mr. Ryan also serves as founding President of the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association\, on the National Geographic State Advisory Board and on the U.S. Global Leadership Council’s Tennessee State Committee. \n\n \nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \n\n\n  \nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/reform-in-central-asia-2/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241030T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241030T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240919T181459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:37629-1730307600-1730311200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Webinar | Reform in Central Asia: Shifting Frameworks and Dynamics
DESCRIPTION:presents \n\n\nReform in Central Asia: Shifting Frameworks and Dynamics\n \n  \n\n\n\nWednesday\, October 30th | 12:00pm – 1:00pm \n\nMr. Mark Reese will discuss how historical reforms in Central Asia hold profound implications for our understanding of the region and its influence on geopolitics. He will explore\nthe shifting theoretical frameworks and leadership models deployed to conceptualize and govern the Central Asian Republics. The webinar will pay special attention to current cultural initiatives in the Republic of Uzbekistan that hold greater credibility and influence\, especially among youth populations. Mr. Reese will offer a broad outline of the challenges still faced in Central Asia– along with the solutions being implemented by its populations.\n  \nRegister Now\nSpeaker:\n \nMark Reese began his thirty-year career in Central Asia as the first Peace Corps volunteer to serve in Kokand\, Uzbekistan\, from 1994-1996. Through the University of Washington\, he subsequently established and managed a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program centered around Islamic studies and curricula reform in Uzbekistan through the Department of State’s Uzbekistan Partnership Program in Islamic Studies. Mr. Reese managed translation and cultural advisement task orders for a broad spectrum of government and private industry clients. \nOver seven years\, he conducted groundbreaking work through dynamic educational program development as Founding Director for the Center for Regional Studies at the United States Naval Academy. His flagship work surrounds his translation of Abdullah Qodiriy’s O’tkan Kunlar\, the first full-length novel in the Uzbek language. For his efforts\, the Republic of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Mr. Reese the Presidential Order of Do’stlik for furthering awareness of the Uzbek language and culture. \nIn 2023\, he was awarded the Tourism Fo’ydasi for developing tourism content in Tashkent\, Uzbekistan. As CEO of Suhbat LLC\, Mark is currently engaged in strategic communications and cultural program development for a variety of clients in Central Asia. \n\n\nModerator:\n \nPatrick Ryan is President Emeritus and founder of the Tennessee World Affairs Council. In 2007\, Mr. Ryan organized a group of concerned citizens to launch Tennessee’s first World Affairs Council to bring global awareness to education programs and resources in communities and schools in the state. The Council\, responding to the statewide interest in its programs\, moved from its first home in Cookeville to Nashville\, where it is hosted on the campus of Belmont University. \nMr. Ryan was born and raised in New York City. At age 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served a 26-year career\, assigned first in the Persian Gulf in 1973 followed by assignments in the Submarine Service where he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Ryan received a BA degree at the University of South Carolina\, in 1981\, majoring in International Studies followed by commissioning in the Navy as an Ensign. Mr. Ryan served aboard numerous ships\, headquarters staffs and overseas assignments before retiring in 1998 as a Lieutenant Commander. Among his assignments were the Joint Staff in the Pentagon\, the Center for Naval Analyses\, and US Central Command headquarters. He has lived and worked in Bahrain\, Italy and Japan and has traveled to about 50 countries for work and leisure. \nPatrick Ryan was the President and founder of Ryan & Associates\, an editorial consulting firm based in Nashville\, from 1999-2015\, specializing in on-line global affairs information resources\, especially covering developments in the Middle East. Mr. Ryan also serves as founding President of the Tennessee Submarine Memorial Association\, on the National Geographic State Advisory Board and on the U.S. Global Leadership Council’s Tennessee State Committee. \n\n \nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \n\n\n  \nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/reform-in-central-asia/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241023T223000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241024T000000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T190327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37262-1729722600-1729728000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Stabilizing US-China Relations in a Time of Tension
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\nis proud to present\nStabilizing US-China Relations in a Time of Tension\n at\n\n\nWednesday\, October 23\, 2024\n5:50 PM – 7:00 PM\nBelmont University. Town Hall in partnership with the Center for Global Citizenship\n  \nAmbassador Randt first visited Beijing in 1974 and has witnessed the monumental changes that have occurred. That the US and China have profound differences is hardly surprising considering China’s different national circumstances\, 5\,000 years of history\, culture and\, ultimately values. As the most consequential relationship in the world\, it is essential that both sides work constructively to manage these differences. With a population of 1.4 billion people\, a prosperous China at peace with itself and its neighbors is not only good for China\, but good for the US and the world. Both the US and China want peace\, stability\, and prosperity for our respective peoples. Taiwan\, the South China Sea\, intellectual property\, human rights\, military buildups\, cyber-security\, and certain technology transfers are among the many sources of tension that must be managed. Such management requires understanding and continuous engagement.\n \n\n  \nSpeaker:\nAMBASSADOR CLARK T. RANDT JR.\n\nFormer Ambassador to China \nAmbassador Clark T. Randt Jr.\, former Ambassador to China\, brings extensive diplomatic experience and deep insights into U.S.-China relations. His tenure in Beijing and subsequent engagements provide unique perspectives on stabilizing bilateral ties amidst global tensions. Ambassador Randt’s strategic vision and nuanced understanding of geopolitical complexities inform his advocacy for constructive engagement and dialogue between the two superpowers. \n  \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/stabilizing-us-china-relations-in-a-time-of-tension/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241009T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241009T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T184711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37257-1728491400-1728496800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Energy to Expand Our Global Impact
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\nis proud to present\nEnergy to Expand Our Global Impact\n\nLuncheon at\n\n\n\nWednesday\, October 9\, 2024\n11:30 AM – 1:00 PM\nBass Berry and Sims -Nashville. 150 Third Avenue South Suite 2800 \,\nNashville\, Tennessee\, USA\, TN 37201\n  \nThe global economic impact of the Tennessee Valley region has never been more evident\, as national and international companies and emerging industries are flourishing here. As the region’s energy supplier\, the Tennessee Valley Authority is partnering with local\, regional\, and state leaders to attract these industries. Through these efforts\, we are helping to fuel billions in economic investment taking place in our communities. While affordable\, reliable\, and clean energy attracts new business and industry\, TVA continues to work to ensure we meet the needs of our existing customers and prepare for future development — providing energy that is expandable\, sustainable and innovative. TVA’s investments will power this region in building on its economic success\, attracting and retaining the jobs of the future\, and helping organizations meet their clean energy goals in the next decades. These investments also will assist in cementing the Tennessee Valley region as the home of global growth industries from new nuclear generation to advanced manufacturing to electric vehicle production. Join us to learn more about how the Tennessee Valley region and TVA are partnering to deliver the energy for global leadership.\n \n\n\n  \nSpeaker:\nJEFF LYASH\n\nPresident and CEO of TVA – Tennessee Valley Authority \nJeff Lyash is president and chief executive officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Appointed by the Board of Directors in February 2019\, Lyash leads the nation’s largest public utility in its mission of serving the people of the Tennessee Valley to make life better. He is also chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute executive committee providing oversight to NEI on policy affairs on behalf of the U.S. nuclear industry. His leadership focuses on energy policy\, environmental stewardship\, and regional economic development. Under his guidance\, TVA has championed sustainable energy initiatives that drive innovation and resilience across the region. \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n SPONSORS\n \n  \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/energy-to-expand-our-global-impact/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241002T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241002T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T182943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37251-1727886600-1727892000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:New International Horizons
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\nis proud to present\nNew International Horizons\n\nLuncheon at\n\n\nWednesday\, October 2\, 2024\n11:30 AM – 1:00 PM\nBass Berry and Sims -Nashville. 150 Third Avenue South Suite 2800 \,\nNashville\, Tennessee\, USA\, TN 37201\n\n  \nDouglas Kreulen will address Nashville International Airport’s expansion plans and its role in fostering new international connections\, highlighting opportunities for economic growth and cultural exchange through enhanced air connectivity\, contributing to Nashville’s global standing.\n \n\n  \nSpeaker:\nDOUGLAS KREULEN\n\nPresident and CEO – Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority \nDouglas Kreulen serves as the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority\, overseeing strategic development and international partnerships at Nashville International Airport. His visionary leadership has been instrumental in expanding the airport’s global footprint and enhancing its role as a key hub for international travel and commerce. \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n \n\nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/new-international-horizons/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240911T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240911T170000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240819T225716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:37410-1726074000-1726074000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Webinar | China's Use of Armed Coercion to Win Without Fighting
DESCRIPTION:China’s Use of Armed Coercion to Win Without Fighting\n\n\n\nWednesday\, September 11th | 12:00pm – 1:00pm \n\nOver the past 20 years\, China’s international status as a “great power” has become undeniable. China’s “peaceful rise” has included substantial investments in military modernization and an increasingly assertive regional posture. While China has not waged war\, it has frequently resorted to what the US State Department has referred to as “gangster tactics” – threats\, intimidation\, and armed confrontation – to advance its strategic aims. China’s regional ambitions are evident from how it has asserted itself militarily\, especially within the maritime “nine-dash line” and concerning several ongoing territorial disputes with its neighbors. China’s efforts to project power are intended to intimidate its smaller neighbors and to push back against US military presence and freedom of action in the region. \nRegister Now\n  \nSpeaker:\n \n\n\nJames A. Siebens is a Fellow with Stimson Center’s Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program\, where he leads the Defense Strategy and Planning project. He is the editor of China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting (Routledge 2023)\, a study on China’s use of military and paramilitary forces for purposes of coercion. He is also co-editor of Military Coercion and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Use of Force Short of War (Routledge 2020)\, a book on U.S. strategy and military operations since the end of the Cold War. Siebens is also affiliated with Stimson’s Cyber program and Russia program. His research focuses on grand strategy\, military coercion\, and gray zone conflict. \nSiebens previously served as a Research Associate and Special Assistant to the President and CEO at the Stimson Center. Prior to joining Stimson\, he was a Data Analyst at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland\, where he contributed to a DoD-sponsored study on gray zone conflict. Siebens is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds an M.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in Global Security from American University’s School of International Service. \nModerator:\n \nJeremy Goldkorn is an editor and writer whose work has focused on China. He co-founded the Sinica Podcast in 2010 and was editor-in-chief of The China Project from 2016 to 2023. Goldkorn moved from his hometown of Johannesburg\, South Africa\, to China in 1995 and became managing editor of Beijing’s first independent English-language entertainment magazine. He later edited and founded several other publications\, including the website Danwei\, which tracked Chinese media\, markets\, politics\, and business\, acquired in 2013 by the Financial Times. \nWhile in China\, he lived in a worker’s dormitory\, produced a documentary film about African soccer players in Beijing\, and rode a bicycle from Peshawar to Kathmandu via Kashgar and Lhasa. He moved to Nashville\, Tennessee\, in 2015. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town. \n \n\n \nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \n\n\n  \nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/chinas-use-of-armed-coercion-to-win-without-fighting/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240829T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240829T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240802T180440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37234-1724959800-1724963400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:PANEL ON ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND THE U.S. (TN)
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Tennessee World Affairs Council\, in partnership with The Stimson Center\, The University of Tennessee Knoxville\, and The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce\nare proud to present \nPANEL ON ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND THE U.S. (TN)\n\n\nThursday\, August 29th I 2:30pm – 3:30pm \n* Free Event – Registration Not Required * \nThe University of Tennessee – Baker School Toyota Auditorium \n1640 Cumberland Ave Knoxville TN \n  \nThe panel will discuss the interplay between economic cooperation and cultural diplomacy in shaping the relationship between South Korea and the U.S.\, exploring opportunities and challenges in both realms to strengthen bilateral ties and foster mutual understanding. \n\n\n  \nSpeakers:\nKevin L. Miller – President – KDVA Georgia\nKevin L. Miller is originally from Franklin\, Pennsylvania and entered the United States Army in 1990. He completed Basic Training and Advance Individual Training with 2nd Bn 54th Infantry at Fort Benning\, GA as an Infantryman.  His first duty station was with the 1st Bn 506th Infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Greaves on the Korean DMZ.  Following 18 months with the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk\, LA\, he attended Airborne School at Fort Benning\, GA.  His final duty station was with the 2nd Bn 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg\, NC. \nOn 23 March 1994\, while serving with the 2nd Bn 504th PIR\, Kevin was injured at a mass casualty event on Pope Air Force Base commonly known as the Disaster at Green Ramp. 24 Paratroopers lost their lives and over 60 were injured and required medical support at Fort Bragg\, NC with many being further transferred to the burn ward at Fort Sam Houston\, TX. Due to their permanent nature\, Kevin’s injuries required him to separate from the United States Army in 1996\, and he relocated to Atlanta\, GA.   \nFor the past 25 years\, Kevin has served in middle and senior management roles within the defense industry and international sales markets.  He is currently a featured speaker and a consultant to multiple industries. As a proud member of the Korea Defense Veterans Association\, Kevin was honored to be appointed as the President of the KDVA Georgia Chapter in October 2022.  He was also selected to participate in the first Revisit Program for Korean Defense Veterans presented by the ROK MPVA and KDVA in November 2021. Kevin joined the Georgia Veterans Day Parade Association of Atlanta as a Director in 2001. He has served as President since 2010 and oversaw its transformation to the Georgia Veterans Day Association to better identify its expanded role. \n\nHe is a Life Member of the National Infantry Association\, 82nd  Airborne Division Association\, 504th  Parachute Infantry Regiment Association\, 2nd  Infantry Division Association\, and the DAV.\nKevin is married to his wife of 23 years\, Cecilia\, and they have one daughter\, Tina. \n  \nScott Laska – Business Development Director – SL Tennessee\nScott is a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Director with over 22 years of experience in the automotive industry. As a key player at SL Tennessee  a leading tier-one automotive supplier based in Clinton\, Tennessee with headquarters Daegu\, South Korea\, Scott is passionate about driving growth and forging strategic partnerships. leading to SL Tennessee growth from 30\,000 sqft and 3 employees in 2000 to currently 1000 employees\, 800\,000 sqft and sales of $700 million dollars. \n  \n\n  \n  \nJenny Town – Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center & Director of Stimson’s Korea Program \nJenny Town is a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson’s Korea Program and 38 North. Her areas of expertise include North Korea\, US-DPRK relations\, US-ROK alliance relations and extended deterrence\, and Northeast Asia regional security. She was named one of Worth Magazine’s “Groundbreakers 2020: 50 Women Changing the World” and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2019 for her role in co-founding and managing 38 North\, which provides policy and technical analysis on North Korea. \n\nMs. Town is also an Associate Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)\, a Member of the National Committee on North Korea\, and an Associate Member of the Council of Korean Americans. She serves on the Editorial Board for Inkstick\, an online foreign policy journal for emerging scholars. She previously served as the Assistant Director of the US-Korea Institute at SAIS (2008-2018) and an expert reviewer for North and South Korea for Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Index (2010-2023)\, where she previously worked on the Human Rights in North Korea Project. \n\nMs. Town holds a BA in East Asian Studies and International Relations from Westmar University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She is a frequent commentator for a range of print\, radio and television news\, including Reuters\, BBC\, CNN\, Financial Times\, Deutche Welle\, Voice of America\, Japan Times\, NHK\, CGTN\, BBC World Radio\, and more. And has been featured on a number of podcasts including Asia Matters\, The President’s Inbox\, the Impossible State\, Today Explained\, The DSR Daily Brief\, and more.\n \n  \nModerator:\nIliana Ragnone – Research Associate for the Korea Program \nIliana Ragnone is a Research Associate for the Korea Program and Producer of 38 North at the Stimson Center. Prior to joining Stimson\, she was a Program Assistant at the Foreign Service Institute\, a part of the Department of State. She holds a B.A. in International and Area Studies and Chinese Language and Culture from Washington University in St. Louis. \n  \n  \n  \n\n\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n\nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nRegister Now\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/panel-on-economic-and-cultural-relations-between-south-korea-and-the-u-s-tn/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240828T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240828T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240716T230538Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37069-1724862600-1724868000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Importance and the Impact of the Strategic Partnership between the US and South Korea
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\, in partnership with The Stimson Center\, The University of Tennessee Knoxville\, and The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce\nare proud to present \n“The Importance and the Impact of the  Strategic Partnership between the US and South Korea”\nThe Tennessee World Affairs Council and the Stimson Center’s Korea Program\, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce\, are pleased to host a panel discussion on the status\, future\, and importance of the upgraded alliance between the US and South Korea (ROK). The strength of the US-South Korean Alliance holds enduring value for the US and local communities against the backdrop of today’s evolving geopolitical challenges and in the pursuit of our collective goals of freedom\, democracy\, security\, and economic prosperity. Conversation will delve into the ways the US-ROK Alliance reflects these shared aims and values\, through all facets of the relationship—military\, economic\, and diplomatic—and the benefit this relationship has for the American population. A range of discussion topics will encompass the future of extended deterrence on the Korean Peninsula\, the Alliance’s role in US Indo-Pacific strategy\, multi-domain security cooperation\, and the expansion of strategic trade. \nWednesday\, August 28th I 11:30 am – 1:00 pm \n* Luncheon Event – Registration Required * \nBelmont University – Massey Rogers Boardroom (Parking on Inman Center)\n1601-1603 Wedgewood Av.\nNashville\, TN 37201 \n\n\n\n\n\nRegister Now \n  \nSpeakers:\nKevin L. Miller – President – KDVA Georgia\nKevin L. Miller is originally from Franklin\, Pennsylvania and entered the United States Army in 1990. He completed Basic Training and Advance Individual Training with 2nd Bn 54th Infantry at Fort Benning\, GA as an Infantryman.  His first duty station was with the 1st Bn 506th Infantry of the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Greaves on the Korean DMZ.  Following 18 months with the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk\, LA\, he attended Airborne School at Fort Benning\, GA.  His final duty station was with the 2nd Bn 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg\, NC. \n\nOn 23 March 1994\, while serving with the 2nd Bn 504th PIR\, Kevin was injured at a mass casualty event on Pope Air Force Base commonly known as the Disaster at Green Ramp. 24 Paratroopers lost their lives and over 60 were injured and required medical support at Fort Bragg\, NC with many being further transferred to the burn ward at Fort Sam Houston\, TX. Due to their permanent nature\, Kevin’s injuries required him to separate from the United States Army in 1996 and he relocated to Atlanta\, GA.   \nFor the past 25 years\, Kevin has served in middle and senior management roles within the defense industry and international sales markets.  He is currently a featured speaker and a consultant to multiple industries. As a proud member of the Korea Defense Veterans Association\, Kevin was honored to be appointed as the President of the KDVA Georgia Chapter in October 2022.  He was also selected to participate in the first Revisit Program for Korean Defense Veterans presented by the ROK MPVA and KDVA in November 2021. Kevin joined the Georgia Veterans Day Parade Association of Atlanta as a Director in 2001. He has served as President since 2010 and oversaw its transformation to the Georgia Veterans Day Association to better identify its expanded role. \n\nHe is a Life Member of the National Infantry Association\, 82nd  Airborne Division Association\, 504th  Parachute Infantry Regiment Association\, 2nd  Infantry Division Association\, and the DAV.\nKevin is married to his wife of 23 years\, Cecilia\, and they have one daughter\, Tina. \n  \nScott Laska – Business Development Director – SL Tennessee\nScott is a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Director with over 22 years of experience in the automotive industry. As a key player at SL Tennessee  a leading tier-one automotive supplier based in Clinton\, Tennessee with headquarters Daegu\, South Korea\, Scott is passionate about driving growth and forging strategic partnerships. leading to SL Tennessee growth from 30\,000 sqft and 3 employees in 2000 to currently 1000 employees\, 800\,000 sqft and sales of $700 million dollars. \n  \n\n  \n  \nJenny Town – Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center & Director of Stimson’s Korea Program\nJenny Town is a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson’s Korea Program and 38 North. Her areas of expertise include North Korea\, US-DPRK relations\, US-ROK alliance relations and extended deterrence\, and Northeast Asia regional security. She was named one of Worth Magazine’s “Groundbreakers 2020: 50 Women Changing the World” and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2019 for her role in co-founding and managing 38 North\, which provides policy and technical analysis on North Korea.\nMs. Town is also an Associate Fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)\, a Member of the National Committee on North Korea\, and an Associate Member of the Council of Korean Americans. She serves on the Editorial Board for Inkstick\, an online foreign policy journal for emerging scholars. She previously served as the Assistant Director of the US-Korea Institute at SAIS (2008-2018) and an expert reviewer for North and South Korea for Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Index (2010-2023)\, where she previously worked on the Human Rights in North Korea Project.\nMs. Town holds a BA in East Asian Studies and International Relations from Westmar University and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She is a frequent commentator for a range of print\, radio and television news\, including Reuters\, BBC\, CNN\, Financial Times\, Deutche Welle\, Voice of America\, Japan Times\, NHK\, CGTN\, BBC World Radio\, and more. And has been featured on a number of podcasts including Asia Matters\, The President’s Inbox\, the Impossible State\, Today Explained\, The DSR Daily Brief\, and more.\n \n  \nModerator:\nIliana Ragnone – Research Associate for the Korea Program\nIliana Ragnone is a Research Associate for the Korea Program and Producer of 38 North at the Stimson Center. Prior to joining Stimson\, she was a Program Assistant at the Foreign Service Institute\, a part of the Department of State. She holds a B.A. in International and Area Studies and Chinese Language and Culture from Washington University in St. Louis. \n  \n  \n  \n\n\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n \nOUR MISSION: \nAs a nonpartisan nonprofit organization\, we aim to promote international awareness\, understanding\, and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nOUR VISION: \nTo create a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events. \nRegister Now
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-importance-and-the-impact-of-the-strategic-partnership-between-the-us-and-south-korea/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.tnwac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Speaker-Series-8-28-2024-1620-x-924-px.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240702T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240702T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240614T125128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T192835Z
UID:37025-1719937800-1719943200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Road to Washington: NATO at 75 - Luncheon with Peter Rough
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council \nin partnership with the Nashville Chamber\, and Bass Berry & Sims\nis proud to present\n\n\nThe Road to Washington: NATO at 75\n\n\n\nin person\n \n\nTuesday\, July 2\, 2024\n11:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. CT\nLuncheon at Bass Berry and Sims \n150 3rd Ave S\, Nashville\nPresident Biden has invited 31 allied leaders along with partners from around the world to Washington from July 10-11 to celebrate 75 years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is a working Summit\, however\, as the alliance looks not only to celebrate the past but also to tackle the challenges of today. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on NATO’s eastern flank to the scourge of terrorism emanating from the alliance’s southern flank of North Africa and the Middle East\, the U.S. and its allies face a darkening security environment. Please join Peter Rough\, senior fellow at the Washington-D.C. based Hudson Institute\, for a discussion on NATO and how the United States aims to make the alliance fit for purpose today.\n \n\n\nRegister Now \n\nPeter Rough\n\nPeter Rough is a senior fellow and director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at Hudson Institute. In that capacity\, he writes and comments on US foreign policy and regularly briefs official delegations\, news media\, public intellectuals\, academics\, and business leaders from around the world. Mr. Rough also convenes several track 1.5 dialogues.\nMr. Rough is a regular commentator on major radio and television and speaker in public forums. While at the institute\, he has been named a next generation leader at the Munich Security Conference\, Atlantik-Brücke\, the Center for New American Security\, and the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies. He has also helped edit Hudson’s journal\, Current Trends in Islamist Ideology.\nMr. Rough is also principal and founder of Hilltop Solutions\, a limited liability company that performs writing and research services for academics\, executives\, and political professionals. Previously\, as director of research in the Office of George W. Bush\, Mr. Rough assisted the former president with his memoir\, Decision Points. In 2014\, his highly acclaimed collaboration with Leila Fawaz on a social history of World War I in the Middle East\, A Land of Aching Hearts\, was published by Harvard University Press.\nFrom 2007 to 2009\, Mr. Rough served as associate director in the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives\, where he helped coordinate political strategy and outreach to key stakeholders. He has also completed stints as a policy analyst at the US Agency for International Development\, where he was staff briefer to Administrator Henrietta Fore\, and as an advisor to US Army Special Operations Command\, where he analyzed unconventional warfare doctrine for the commanding general’s Strategic Initiatives Group. In 2012\, he was responsible for US-Russia bilateral relations as a member of the Romney for President Russia Working Group. In 2016\, he served as a member of the Rubio for President Middle East Working Group.\nMr. Rough began his career at the Republican National Committee specializing in political research. A proud native of Des Moines\, Iowa\, he holds his BA\, summa cum laude\, from the George Washington University and MA in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University\, where he was a Cabot corporation scholar.\nHe is a member of the board of the American Main Street Initiative and previously was a commissioner of the Radio in the American Sector (RIAS) Commission in Berlin. Mr. Rough is also a member of the Friends of Ukraine Network’s (FOUN) Task Force on National Security and vice chair of the Reagan Institute’s Foreign for American Leadership Europe group.\nMr. Rough is a native German speaker.\n \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-road-to-washington-nato-at-75-luncheon-with-peter-rough/
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240619T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240529T145914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:37011-1718816400-1718820000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Webinar | The Lithuanian Perspective on Russian Aggression in Ukraine | June 19\, 2024
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\nis proud to present\n\n\nThe Lithuanian Perspective on Russian Aggression in Ukraine\n\n\n\nvia Zoom\n \n\nWednesday\, June 19\, 2024\n12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. CT\nLithuania’s political past and borders have been anything but stable since the 13th century when the semblance of a cohesive state began. Now\, with Russia’s war in Ukraine\, which is less than 800 miles southeast of Lithuania\, it seems that instability in Central Europe is rearing its head again and could threaten Lithuania and other nations in the Baltic region. In 1940 after a short 22 years of independence\, Lithuania was invaded by the Soviet Union which absorbed this small\, proud country the size of West Virginia. It remained occupied by Soviet forces until 1991 when the Soviet Union finally recognized Lithuania’s independence. Though facing plenty of political turmoil after its past occupations by both Nazi and Soviet forces\, Lithuania’s reconstruction and independence seemed more certain to a now westward-leaning state in the early 2000s. Lithuania joined the UN\, NATO\, and the EU. But\, in 2014\, Russia\, now led by Vladimir Putin\, invaded the Crimean Peninsula\, and on February 24\, 2022\, began its invasion of Ukraine. What do Lithuanians think about their past and the recent years of independence from Russian control and influence? What do they think now about the war in Ukraine and their own future as an independent nation with a neighbor like Russia? Why does history have a way of repeating itself in this region of the world?\n \n\n\nRegister Now \n  \n\nLinas Zabaliunas\n\nMy name is Linas Zabaliunas born in 1979 in Lithuania\, I graduated my primary school still under the Soviet occupation. At the age of 10\, my school year were the first generation in school to refuse to join the Soviet Pioneer organization\, as the Lithuanian Freedom movement was catching speed.\nIn 1993\, with my family\, I lived in England for 9 months. My dad was a University teacher in Lithuania and was taking a qualification course at the University of Plymouth. During this time\, we lived in Devon\, we saw all the busy B&Bs and got the idea of developing one in Lithuania. Individual\, private hospitality existed only on the Lithuanian coast at that time.\nSo\, upon return to Lithuania\, we bought a half-built house in the suburbs of Kaunas (second largest city in Lithuania) and we set about converting it into a guesthouse with 9 double ensuite rooms for the guests. Our neighbors could not understand why the Zabaliunas family are building a house with 14 toilets\, and they were visiting the building site as the attraction!\nWhile building work continued\, we opened a grocery shop in the ground floor of the building\, for the community to shop. I was responsible for the deliveries\, going to cash and carry\, before my lectures at university started. These were big steps for us\, as we left Soviet life behind and opened up to private business.\nWe welcomed our first guests (mostly family friends from UK) in 1999. My favorite year was 2004 when my parents retired from the university and went to the USA visiting friends and relatives. Me and Jurga (girlfriend then\, wife now!) were running the whole show at Nemunas Tour Guest House and after the successful marketing campaign in Finnish newspaper we had an invasion of Finnish guests that year!\nOur guesthouse joined the Lithuanian Countryside Tourism Association the same year. Off season\, I started spending more time at Lithuanian Countryside Tourism Association. In 2005 was elected the head of Kaunas region\, in 2007 elected as member of the Board of the Association\, in 2009 was elected as the Chairman of the Board and in 2011 started in the position of President of Lithuanian Countryside Tourism Association – uniting over 300 members and having around 10\,000 beds. Together with 9 other tourism associations in 2014 we have established The Chamber of Tourism of the Republic of Lithuania and we have rotated the Presidency every 2 years.\nDuring all this time I was already working for Lithuanian Holidays (a UK based specialist tour operator) and they were expanding to become Baltic Holidays (www.balticholidays.com) to cover the 3 Baltic States. I hosted British and international guests and guided them in Lithuania during their tour. Jurga and I also got married and had daughters Ema and Kamile. And\, seeing a niche in the domestic and international market for good quality camping facilities\, Jurga and I opened our first campsite in 2012 in Kaunas (www.campinn.lt).\nIn 2014\, Jurga and I\, along with our business partner Sally Chambers\, bought out our old friend Baltic Holidays. Sally had been at Baltic Holidays from the very early days and managed its growth to become the leading specialist tour operator for tailor-made private tours to the Baltic States and surrounding countries. Sally is British and based in the Lake District\, UK\, but previously lived in Lithuania and has immense knowledge and experience of the Baltic tourism industry after more than 20 years expert involvement. Linas\, Jurga\, Sally & our small sales team are highly regarded in the regions tourism industry.\nFor me\, in 2020 I have resigned from the role of President of the Countryside Tourism Association but remain as Chairman of the Board. 2020 also saw us open our second campsite in the pretty spa town of Birštonas in Lithuania (www.naturcamp.lt). Of course\, Baltic Holidays and the Campsite has been quiet during the pandemic and have ready for action when our guests return in post Covid life! But….\nAs our old wisdom says – no one can choose his neighbors and 2022 02 24 has proven it well.\nDuring my activities in tourism have been involved in many initiatives and one of them has a really strong connection with Nashville\, TN. Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and LSMU gymnasium in Kaunas\, Lithuania has come a long\, nice way since the first visit of MBA teachers to from Lithuania following in the footsteps of world renown writer from Nashville – Rūta Sepetys. Have been involved in bridging this partnership sine the first day with a great help of good friend Emmett Russell and Rūta Sepetys as well as active communities of teachers and students in both schools.\nIt will be a great pleasure for me to visit Nashville next week and have a great reunion with since the pre covid days!\n \n  \nEmmett Russell\n\nA native Nashvillian\, Emmett Russell attended Montgomery Bell Academy for high school. He graduated from Rhodes College with BA in English in 1992 and from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English with an MA in Literature in 2004. At Rhodes he fell in love with literature\, history\, and travel while attending the British and European Studies summer programs in Oxford\, England. In the fall of 1992\, he began his teaching and coaching career at Memphis University School. Later\, he worked in the admissions office of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in northeast Georgia before returning to teach and coach at Montgomery Bell Academy in 1996. He has been there for 28 years and began leading trips with teachers and students to Lithuania in 2014. \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n  \n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/ukraine-lithuanian-perspective/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240522T230000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240523T010000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240424T032314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T193114Z
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SUMMARY:Global Eats - UZBEKISTAN An Evening at OSH Restaurant and Grill | May 22\, 2024
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council presents:\nGlobal Eats: UZBEKISTAN\nAn Evening at OSH Restaurant and Grill  \n \n\nWednesday\, May 22\, 2024\n6:00 p.m. CT\n216 Thompson Lane\, Nashville\n\n  \n\n\nRegister Now\n\n\n  \nWith Mark Reese:\nFounding Director for the Center for Regional Studies at the United States Naval Academy\, Mark established programs centered around Islamic studies and curricula reform in Uzbekistan\, managed translation and cultural advisement task orders in both Afghanistan and the United States for a broad spectrum of government and private industry clients. Awarded the Presidential Order of Do’stlik by the Republic of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for furthering awareness of the Uzbek language and culture through translation of Uzbek novel\, O’tkan Kunlar.   \nAs President and CEO of Suhbat LLC\, Mark is currently engaged in strategic communications and cultural programs on behalf of Central Asian clients. \nMark holds an M.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Washington. \n\n  \nAbout OSH Restaurant and Grill:\nRestaurant featuring cuisine from Uzbekistan ranks in top 10 of Yelp’s U.S. restaurant list\n“Nashville! Listen up! If you like central Asian food\, or don’t even know if you do or not\, do yourself a favor and go to OSH!”  \n“Everything was so delicious\, and the recommendations were so helpful. I highly recommend this place for good food\, service & ambiance.” \n“The people cooking are cooking true family recipes and the food is absolutely authentic. “ \nYelp Reviews \n  \n\n\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\nRegister Now \n\n  \nIf not already a TNWAC member this is a great time to join — follow the registration link sign up for both membership and dinner.  New Member Benefits \nTo register a GUEST\, complete second registration and use “GUEST” in place of Last Name \n____________________________________________________________________ \n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/global-eats-uzbekistan-an-evening-at-osh-restaurant-and-grill-may-22-2024/
LOCATION:OSH Restaurant and Grill\, 216 Thompson Lane\, Nashville\, 37211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Global Eats
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240521T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240521T180000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240418T135647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T180853Z
UID:36855-1716310800-1716314400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Webinar | Gaza and its Regional Reverberations: A Crucible for the Emerging Order in the Middle East? | May 21\, 2024
DESCRIPTION:The Tennessee World Affairs Council\nis proud to present\n\n\nGaza and its Regional Reverberations: \nA Crucible for the Emerging Order in the Middle East?\n  \n\n\n\nvia Zoom\n \n\nTuesday\, May 21\, 2024\n12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. CT\nThe Middle East is at a hinge moment. The old order is collapsing\, and a new one has yet to emerge. While the region’s tectonic shifts predate Hamas’s terror attack on Oct. 7\, the ensuing conflict in Gaza and its reverberations across the region are the crucible in which the new contours of the Middle East will take shape. USIP’s Mona Yacoubian will provide insights on the regional flashpoints that have erupted in the wake of the Gaza conflict as well as the broader implications for a region in a state of enormous flux. \n\n\nRegister Now \n  \n\nMONA YACOUBIAN \nMona Yacoubian is vice president of the Middle East and North Africa center at USIP. She brings more than 30 years of experience working on the Middle East and North Africa. Her work has centered on conflict analysis\, governance and stabilization challenges\, and conflict prevention. \nSince returning to USIP as a senior advisor in 2017\, her work has focused on Syria\, Lebanon and Iraq. Additional research interests include Russia’s role in the Middle East and violent extremism. In 2019\, she served as executive director of the Congressionally-appointed Syria Study Group\, which USIP was mandated to facilitate. \nYacoubian joined the U.S. Institute of Peace after serving as deputy assistant administrator in the Middle East Bureau at USAID from 2014 to 2017\, where she had responsibility for Iraq\, Syria\, Jordan and Lebanon. Prior to joining USAID\, Yacoubian was a senior advisor at the Stimson Center focusing on the Arab uprisings with an emphasis on Syria. Prior to joining the Stimson Center\, she served as a special advisor on the Middle East at the U.S. Institute of Peace\, where her work focused on Lebanon and Syria as well as broader issues related to democratization in the Arab world. From 1990 to 1998\, Yacoubian served as the North Africa analyst in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. \nYacoubian was a Fulbright scholar in Syria where she studied Arabic at the University of Damascus from 1985 to 1986. She has held an international affairs fellowship with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and is currently a CFR member. She earned a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s in public policy from Duke University. \n  \n\nLT. CMDR. PATRICK RYAN\nLt.Cmdr. Patrick Ryan is President Emeritus and founder of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.  He served in the U.S. Navy for over 26 years as a Submariner and Intelligence Officer. He was a specialist in Middle East affairs\, residing in the Persian Gulf and working as an analyst at the Joint Staff in the Pentagon\, the Center for Naval Analyses and the U.S. Central Command\, as well as numerous ship deployments to the region. In his post-military career Ryan founded and managed a publishing business focused on Middle East issues for 15 years. \n  \n\n\nRegister Now\nInternational Career Panel | April 3\, 2024\n \n\n\n\n  \n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/webinar-gaza-usip-mona-y-may-21-2024/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240506T223000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240507T000000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240414T171628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T191835Z
UID:36807-1715034600-1715040000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Ukraine: How it Can Win\, and Why it Matters to the United States - Global Town Hall with Daniel Bischof| May 06
DESCRIPTION:PRESENTS\n\n\n\nIn Person\nat \n\n\n\n\nBelmont University\nMonday\, May 06\, 2024\n5:30 Registration and Networking6:00-7:00 Keynote Address \n  \n\n\nUkraine: How it Can Win\, and Why it Matters to the United States\nRussian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 rattled the international order that the United States helped establish and lead since World War II. Today\, the threat of further aggression in Europe continues to galvanize U.S. and international support for Ukraine. Dan Bishof\, the Department of State’s Director for Eastern Europe\, will join the Tennessee World Affairs Council to share insights and exchange views on what factors have influenced U.S. decision-making over the evolution of the war\, which has seen Ukraine fight back from the near-loss of Kyiv to recapture significant amounts of its own territory and inflict significant blows on Russia in the Black Sea. Mr. Bishof will discuss the mechanisms the U.S. government has established for tracking and providing oversight of U.S. assistance to Ukraine\, and how that assistance impacts the security of not only Ukraine\, but also that of Europe and the United States. Questions will be welcomed. \n  \nRegister Now \n  \n \nAbout the speaker: \nDaniel Bischof  \nDaniel Bischof is the Director for Eastern European Affairs at the Department of State\, the office responsible for U.S. policy toward Ukraine\, Belarus\, and Moldova. \nWith more than 20 years in the Foreign Service\, he recently served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore for three years.  Until 2019\, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Dili\, Timor-Leste.  \nHe also served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Korean Affairs from 2014-16. He was a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center. In U.S. Embassies in Seoul and Manila\, Daniel covered political-military affairs\, and in Washington\, D.C.\, was responsible for Malaysian Affairs in the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia.  He also adjudicated non-immigrant visas in Seoul and served as the General Services Officer in Vientiane\, Laos.\n\nDaniel is fluent in Thai and has studied Korean and Lao. Prior to joining the Department of State\, he practiced law in Florida.  He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia and Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. Daniel is married to Jane Kim. \n  \nRegister Now \n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/daniel-bischof-may-06/
LOCATION:Belmont University – Barbara Massey Rogers Center Board Room\, 1900 Belmont Blvd.\, Nashville\, TN\, 37212\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240411T223000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240412T000000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240311T042729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T191835Z
UID:36613-1712874600-1712880000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Frank Langfitt | Town Hall | Eyewitness to History: Lessons from Two Decades Covering the World | April 11
DESCRIPTION:AND\n \nPRESENT\n\n\n\nIn Person\nat \n\n\n\n\nBelmont University\nThursday\, April 11\, 2024\n5:30 Registration and Networking6:00-7:00 Keynote Address \n\n\n\nEyewitness to History: Lessons from Two Decades Covering the World\nNPR’s Frank Langfitt has reported from more than 50 countries and territories since the late 1990s. In a video and audio presentation\, Frank recounts the history he’s witnessed through the people he’s met and how that history has shaped today’s challenging geo-political landscape. Frank will explain what he learned driving a free taxi in Shanghai and tracking elephants in South Sudan. He’ll also discuss reporting in Ukraine during Russia’s 2022 invasion and covering the Israel/Gaza war. \n  \nRegister Now \n  \n \nAbout the speaker: \nFrank Langfitt \nFrank Langfitt is NPR’s Global Democracy correspondent based on the Investigations desk in Washington\, D.C. He covers threats to democracy at home and abroad. Previously\, Langfitt spent nearly two decades as an international correspondent reporting from more than 50 countries and territories. Based most recently in London\, he covered Brexit\, the war in Ukraine and its implications in Europe. Before that\, he was based in Shanghai\, Nairobi and Beijing. While in China\, he drove a free taxi for a series on a changing China as seen through the eyes of ordinary people. Langfitt expanded his reporting into a book\, The Shanghai Free Taxi: Journeys with the Hustlers and Rebels of the New China (Public Affairs\, Hachette). Langfitt is a graduate of Princeton and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard. \n  \n \nAbout the moderator: \nDavid Plazas \nDavid Plazas is the Opinion and Engagement Director for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He writes editorials and columns\, edits guest essays and leads opinion strategy for The Tennessean in Nashville\, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis and The News Sentinel in Knoxville. \nHis editorial writing has earned him the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award and Bronze Medallion\, multiple Tennessee Press Association first-place awards and a National Headliner Award. He served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes in 2023 and 2024\, and he contributed an essay in the book\, “Reinventing Journalism to Strengthen Democracy\,” focusing on his statewide work with The Tennessean’s Civility Tennessee campaign. He is a frequent event moderator and co-emceed The Nashville Mayoral Debates four-part series in 2023. \nPlazas writes two opinion newsletters weekly and hosts the Tennessee Voices video show\, which has produced nearly 400 episodes of conversations with leaders\, thinkers and doers since 2020\, and he delivered a TEDx Talk on having “adult” conversations. \nHe has served on several industry boards and has mentored student and young journalists in formal training programs for a decade and a half. \nA Chicago native\, Plazas holds a B.A. in political science and Spanish and a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University\, and an MBA with a marketing concentration from Florida Gulf Coast University. He previously worked as a reporter\, Spanish-language editor\, community conversations editor and digital engagement editor for The News-Press in Fort Myers\, Florida. \nHe and his family moved to Nashville in 2014. \n  \nRegister Now \n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/frank-langfitt-town-hall-april-11-2024/
LOCATION:Belmont University – Barbara Massey Rogers Center Board Room\, 1900 Belmont Blvd.\, Nashville\, TN\, 37212\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Webinar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240409T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240410T010000
DTSTAMP:20260507T145936
CREATED:20240408T032617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T193254Z
UID:36799-1712705400-1712710800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:CHINA Town Hall with National Committee on U.S. - China Relations
DESCRIPTION:and\n \n  \nInvite you to attend \n2024 CHINA Town Hall \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCHINA Town Hall (CTH)\, a two-part program that provides a snapshot of the current U.S.-China relationship and examines how that relationship reverberates at the local level – in our towns\, states\, and nation\, connects Americans around the country with U.S. policymakers and thought leaders on China. \nSince CTH began in 2007\, the National Committee has proudly partnered with a range of institutions and civic groups\, colleges and universities\, trade and business associations\, world affairs councils\, and think tanks to convene town halls and bring this important national conversation to local communities around America (and a few overseas). \nThe 2024 CHINA Town Hall program will take place on Tuesday\, April 9\, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET\, with featured speaker Dr. Kurt Campbell\, Deputy Secretary of State. \n  \n\nRegister Now \n  \nSpeaker \nDr. Kurt M. Campbell\n\nDr. Kurt M. Campbell was confirmed by the Senate on February 6\, 2024\, and sworn in as the 22nd Deputy Secretary of State on February 12\, 2024. Prior to assuming this position\, Deputy Secretary Campbell served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council.\n \nHe was previously founding chairman and CEO of The Asia Group\, LLC\, a strategic advisory and capital management group. From 2009 to 2013\, Campbell served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Earlier\, he was the CEO and co-founder of the Center for a New American Security and concurrently served as the director of the Aspen Strategy Group and chairman of the Editorial Board of the Washington Quarterly. Among the other positions he has held during his distinguished career\, Campbell served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs\, White House Fellow at the Treasury Department\, and as Director of the Democracy Office at the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration.  \n \nCampbell was an associate professor of public policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He is the author or editor of ten books including The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia\, Difficult Transitions: Why Presidents Fail in Foreign Policy at the Outset of Power\, and Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security.  \n \nCampbell received his B.A. from the University of California\, San Diego\, and his doctorate in international relations from Brasenose College at Oxford University where he was a Distinguished Marshall Scholar. He is the recipient of numerous awards\, including the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.  \n  \n\nRegister Now \n  \n\n\n \nTHE MISSION of the nonprofit\, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness\, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world. \nTHE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/china-town-hall-with-national-committee-on-u-s-china-relations/
CATEGORIES:Town Hall
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