The Weiser Diplomacy Center is thrilled to welcome Dr. Vera Songwe. With a wealth of experience spanning prestigious institutions such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, United Nations, Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota, and the Brookings Institution, Dr. Songwe brings unparalleled expertise to the Ford School. Her accolades include being honored as the African Icon of the Year in 2022 by the African Bankers Association, recognition among the '100 Most Influential Africans' by Jeune Afrique in 2021, and inclusion in Forbes Magazine's list of the top 50 most influential African Women in 2019. Additionally, she was recognized by the Financial Times as one of the 25 Africans to watch.
The Brookings Institution's Africa Security Initiative will host a panel of experts—including Ambassador Susan D. Page, a professor of practice at the Ford School— to discuss the future of the Sudans, and what the United States and its partners can do to support them.