FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Centennial Celebrations will feature notable members of the Georgetown Community including President Bill Clinton, Sec. of State Madeleine Albright, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
(WASHINGTON — Tuesday, November 12, 2019) More than more than one hundred leaders in the foreign policy community — including former and current top ranking U.S. officials and foreign leaders — will convene in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the centennial of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (SFS). Centennial events will begin on Friday, November 15 and continue through Sunday.
“One hundred years ago, in the shadow of a war of unparalleled destruction, America created the very first school of foreign service to promote a new set of values—multilateralism, trade, alliances and cross-cultural understanding—as a foundation for a sustainable peace,” said Dean Joel Hellman. “Today, many of those core values are under siege making our core mission all the more urgent: to ensure the next generation is prepared and inspired to tackle a new set of global challenges.”
The historic three-day celebration will include addresses from President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Former CIA Director George Tenet, 36th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Gen. George Casey and a brief music performance by Cristina Pato, Sandeep Das, and Yo-Yo Ma of the Silkroad Ensemble. The full schedule of events can be found here.
Founded in 1919, five years before the creation of the U.S. Foreign Service in 1924, the Walsh School of Foreign Service prepares future leaders to make the world safer, more equitable, more prosperous, and more peaceful.
The weekend will begin with a Lloyd George Centennial Lecture on the Future of the Global Order with World Bank President David Malpass, as well as an evening performance and world premier of Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski. The powerful production and solo performance by Academy Award-Nominee David Strathairn explores the legacy of Jan Karski, Polish World War II hero, Holocaust Witness, and beloved Georgetown Professor.
The weekend will end with a gala and presentation of the Centennial Honors with awards given to Austin Tice (SFS’02, L’13), journalist missing in Syria, (represented by his parents Marc and Debra Tice), Judith Sherman (SFS’82), former HIV/AIDS coordinator for Malawi, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Chad Griffin (SFS’97), former President, Human Rights Campaign. At the gala, Yo-Yo Ma will appear with Cristina Pato, Sandeep Das of the Silkroad Ensemble for a brief musical performance and to discuss the role of culture in diplomacy, and Secretary Albright and President Clinton will offer reflections.
For more details on the events or to request press credentials, please email gucomm@georgetown.edu or call (202) 687-4328.
###
About the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS)
The Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), founded in 1919, is a premier school of international affairs. SFS provides a rigorous education grounded in both theory and practice while instilling the Jesuit value of service. In 2019-2020, SFS is celebrating its Centennial, to re-engage with the School’s history and mission, connect the community, and plan for an equally influential second century.
About Georgetown University:
Established in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll, Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. Located in Washington DC, Doha, Qatar, and around the world, Georgetown University is a leading academic and research institution, offering a unique educational experience that prepares the next generation of global citizens to lead and make a difference in the world. For more information about Georgetown University, visit Georgetown.edu or connect with Georgetown on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.