Past events

Join Brent McIntosh, UM alumna and former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for a discussion of the power, limits, and risks of economic sanctions as a tool of U.S. statecraft and the evolution of institutions of global financial coordination.

The Ford School is pleased to present Ambassador Julianne Smith, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, for the 5th annnual Arthur Vandenberg Lecture: "NATO today: Confronting the crisis in Ukraine and adapting to meet global challenges"

Implications of the Iraq War at its 20-year anniversary

Janae Cooley (BA '98) will discuss her 23 years of service as a diplomat, including disaster relief work at the State Department.

This panel will analyze historical and contemporary instances of sexual violence by state and non-state actors amid armed conflict in South Asia, and discuss some policy and diplomacy tools for violence prevention.

This is the third workshop of IPC’s "Aid & Development" series. At "Aid & Development" events, students build practical skills for future international development careers.

Drawing on unprecedented access to all six surviving members of Team Alpha - the first Americans behind enemy lines in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001 - Harnden tells the story of how the CIA and Green Berets infiltrated into the mountains of northern Afghanistan in a mission reminiscent of the OSS in World War II.

Join the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia for a conversation with Ukrainian-born retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, former Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council. We'll examine the current state of the war and its impacts on the Ukrainian people; the implications for global security; and prospects for peace and rebuilding.

The Weiser Diplomacy Center, Career Services, and Development and Alumni Relations are offering sessions during the winter '23 semester for you to engage with alumni who are working abroad/have worked abroad and/or work on a variety of international policy issues. 

This presentation will explain the causes, contours, and possible outcomes of the largely unknown war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Karabakh, which is overwhelmingly Armenian in population but is located wholly inside Azerbaijan.

Bollywood megastar Aamir Khan and the 2016 film Dangal helped reduce India-China tensions, illustrating India’s intangible soft power through the circulation of Bollywood as a malleable cultural form. 

Lou Fintor, Diplomat in Residence North - Central will discuss U.S. Department of State's career paths and upcoming opportunities, including internships and fellowships.

Three noted experts will share insights drawn from academic study, civil society engagement, and diplomatic practice.

Join communities across the United States in a national conversation on China by joining us for an on-site webcast presentation by Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former US Ambassador to Russia, China and Singapore, followed by a local panel discussion.

Connect one-on-one with the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and other top public policy and international affairs programs from across the country!

Eric Schmitt and Dave Philipps will join Associate Professor of Practice Javed Ali in a conversation about their reporting, how it evolved, and the impact it has had on changing US policy with respect to civilian casualties that now extends outside the realm of just counterterrorism operations.

Leaders from North America and Europe will explore approaches to industrial heartland economic renewal in order to address one of the root causes of the polarizing politics undermining Western democracies and the transatlantic alliance. 

Key dates and deadlines for the November 8 election, plus how to register and vote.

Join us for a discussion with Ambassador Peter Bodde on disaster response in South Asia region, especially his experience in hurricane stricken areas. 

Paul Lettow will discuss lessons learned from Truman to today in U.S. national security strategy in conversation with Professor John Ciorciari. 

A panel of former ambassadors hosted by the Weiser Diplomacy Center and the American Academy of Diplomacy will focus on the implications of the war in Ukraine globally and for NATO, Europe, Russia and China.

A discussion of the diplomacy between the United States, key NATO allies, and Russia surrounding the war in Ukraine.   

Ambassador Mark Pekala will reflect on his experience as U.S. Ambassador to Latvia (2012 – 2014) and the shared policy priorities between the U.S., Latvia, and Latvia’s Baltic neighbors.

Connect one-on-one with the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and other top public policy and international affairs programs from across the country!

Professor John Chin’s (MPP '08) research focuses on the politics of unrest—from coups to nonviolent protest to assassinations—and regime change, authoritarian survival, and democratization.

Connect one-on-one with the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and other top public policy and international affairs programs from across the country!

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Poland visits the University of Michigan to speak on the global impact of Russia's war on Ukraine.

The Ford School and PICS students are invited to learn about the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program administered by Howard University that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in Foreign Services of the U.S. Department of State. 

The official start of the school year, welcome week and orientation activities at the Ford School give new master's students the opportunity to meet and engage with peers, faculty, and staff, and begin the process of preparing for the academic year.

Michigan will hold its primary election on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, and the Ford School strongly encourages all eligible voters to make their voices heard.