FAS 2022 Presents: Tony Fernandes

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Through a steadfast commitment to justice, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein — the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 until 2018 — has established himself as one of the world’s most powerful advocates for human rights and open societies. Known for his outspoken criticism of fascism, religious radicalism, and threats to civil liberties, he has called upon powerful and small states alike to secure human rights, drawing notable attention to atrocities committed in Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Middle East, Libya, and Myanmar. 

A veteran diplomat with decades of experience, Al Hussein has served as President of the United Nations Security Council, Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Jordan’s Ambassador to the U.S. An expert in the field of international justice, Al Hussein was also a central figure in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), chairing complex negotiations to establish the exact terms of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He was subsequently elected the first President of the ICC’s governing body in 2002 and grew it into the internationally recognized court that it is today. 

Please join us on Thursday, February 17, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Al Hussein in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1410587.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program, the SNF Agora Institute, and the Political Science Department.

Tony Fernandes

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Negotiations at the U.S. Department of State

Tony Fernandes — the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Negotiations in the U.S. Department of State — is on the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to open new markets, resolve trade disputes, protect intellectual property rights, and promote agricultural innovation. He plays a leading role in navigating issues that impact U.S. economic growth, such as supply chain disruptions, 5G, and the global minimum tax. 

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Tony brings decades of experience in diplomacy with overseas assignments in Turkey, Nigeria, Russia, Canada, and China. Outside of the U.S. Department of State, he has also served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Diplomatic Readiness Task Force, and the Operations Center.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Fernandes in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1483769.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program, the SNF Agora Institute, and the Economics Club.

Dexter Filkins

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist on Afghanistan

Called the “premier combat journalist of his generation,” Dexter Filkins is an award-winning correspondent who has reported on the front lines of U.S. intervention in the Middle East. In 2009, he won a Pulitzer Prize as part of a team of New York Times journalists. Joining The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2011, he has written about the murder of a journalist in Pakistan, the uprisings in Yemen, and the crises in Syria and Lebanon. 

As the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, Dexter brings unparalleled insights into the conflict. His influential book, The Forever War, traces the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. His reporting from the front line brings to life deserts, mountains, and streets of carnage; a public amputation performed by Taliban; children frolicking in minefields; skies streaked white by the contrails of B-52s; a night’s sleep in the rubble of Ground Zero. The Forever War won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Best Nonfiction Book and was named a best book of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and The Boston Globe.

In addition to his Pulitzer Prize, Filkins has received two George Polk Awards, given annually by Long Island University to honor contributions to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting. He has also won two National Magazine Awards and three Overseas Press Club Awards. 

Please join us on Thursday, March 10, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Filkins in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1484476.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program, the SNF Agora Institute, and the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute.

Amanda Nguyen

2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee for Women's Right Activism

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, Amanda Nguyen is a civil rights activist who wrote and unanimously passed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights through Congress after having to navigate the broken criminal justice system following her own rape. As the Founder and CEO of Rise, a social movements accelerator, she has drafted and pushed through 33 laws that codify the civil rights of 84 million sexual assault survivors. 

Her 2021 viral video ignited global coverage on anti-Asian hate crimes and is credited as a pivotal moment for the Stop Asian Hate movement. In recognition of her ceaseless dedication to civil rights, Amanda is a Forbes 30 Under 30, Time 100 Next, Heinz Laureate, Nelson Mandela Changemaker, Foreign Policy 100, Frederick Douglass 100, and Marie Claire Young Woman of the Year. 

Nguyen is the recipient of our annual Smedinghoff Award, which commemorates U.S. Foreign Service Officer Anne Smedinghoff (JHU ‘09), a young Johns Hopkins alumna who was killed in a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan on April 6, 2013 while delivering books to underserved school children. To honor her memory, we recognize a leader who embodies her compassion and spirit through our annual award. 

Please join us on Thursday, March 17, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Nguyen in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1484482.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program, the SNF Agora Institute, and the Program for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Cassie Flynn

Head of the Climate Promise at the United Nations

A champion for the environment, Cassie Flynn is the Strategic Advisor of Climate Change at the United Nations Development Programme and heads its Climate Promise, the world’s largest offer of support for 120 countries to enhance their pledges under the Paris Agreement. In that capacity, she spearheads efforts to help nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenges of climate change.

Previously, she worked to provide technical advice to countries on finance, capacity building, adaptation, and technology during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, advised the Prime Minister of Fiji when the country held COP 23’s presidency, and most recently, helped facilitate the Paris Accord negotiations.

Flynn’s expertise in environmental advocacy and policy has also allowed her to help companies and civil society groups tackle climate change and sustainability issues. As a fierce advocate of our environment, her work directly impacts the narrative of climate change and our world’s health.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Flynn in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1484477.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program and the SNF Agora Institute.

Georges C. Benjamin

Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, Former Secretary of Health of Maryland

Georges C. Benjamin has been the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA) — the nation's oldest and largest organization of public health professionals — for the past twenty years. In that role, he has championed preventative care and fought to expand healthcare access to all Americans. As former Secretary of Health of Maryland, he also oversaw the expansion of coverage and improvement of the state’s Medicaid program.

Benjamin has authored more than 100 scientific articles and served as the publisher of the American Journal of Public Health, the profession’s premier scientific publication. In 2008, 2014, and 2016, he was named one of the top 25 minority executives in healthcare by Modern Healthcare Magazine, in addition to being voted among the 100 most influential people in healthcare from 2007-2017. In April 2016, President Obama appointed Benjamin to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, a council that advises the president on how best to assure the security of the nation's critical infrastructure.

Please join us on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Dr. Benjamin in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM. Please RSVP on CampusGroups here: https://cglink.me/2dh/r1484479.

This event is co-sponsored by the International Studies Program and the SNF Agora Institute.