Fareed Zakaria to Speak at Dedication of The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University

September 14, 2010. New Haven, CT—The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University will celebrate its official opening on September 20. The featured event is an interview by Yale University President Richard C. Levin of Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, a Newsweek and Washington Post columnist, weekly host for CNN, New York Times bestselling author and a 1986 graduate of Yale College. Titled “Global Perspectives: Fareed Zakaria Comments on Today’s Geopolitical Climate,” the event will take place at the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall Street, at 3:30 p.m

The Jackson Institute for Global Affairs is a principal driver of Yale’s efforts to internationalize its teaching curriculum, to attract the most talented students and scholars to Yale from around the world, and to deepen the University’s engagement abroad. As the new home of Yale’s undergraduate major in International Studies and the Master’s program in International Relations, its mission is to institutionalize the teaching of global affairs throughout Yale University and to inspire and prepare Yale students for global citizenship and leadership.

As part of its mission, the Jackson Institute will present an introductory lecture course, “Gateway to Global Affairs.” Open to all of Yale’s incoming freshmen and sophomores, the course is an introduction to topical issues in global affairs and will teach students to analyze global problems of the day, including: U.S. immigration policy, U.S. energy policy, policy around HIV/AIDS in Africa, and the role of international law.

The Jackson Institute also will be welcoming the first group of Senior Jackson Fellows – distinguished practitioners from the field of global affairs – who will teach a variety of courses:

  • Richard Danzig, former Secretary of the Navy and current senior advisor at the Center for New American Security, the Center for Naval Analyses, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies;
  •  Richard Goldstone, an international justice and human rights expert who recently led the United Nation’s investigation of humanitarian issues in Gaza;
  •  Linda Jewell, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ecuador, a career diplomat who has served in a number of posts, including Jakarta, Mexico City, New Delhi and Warsaw; General Stanley McChrystal, former Commander of the International Security Assistance Force and Commander of United States Forces Afghanistan;
  •  Rakesh Mohan, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, one of India’s seniormost economic policymakers and an expert on central banking, monetary policy, infrastructure and urban affairs; 
  • Marwan Muasher, a prominent Jordanian diplomat and politician who has been involved in Middle East peace efforts for the past 20 years;  
  • Stephen Roach, the Non-Executive Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, former Chief Economist and Chairman of the firm’s Asian businesses;
  • James Woolsey, a foreign policy expert who has served in a variety of roles for the US government including Director of the CIA, Ambassador to the Negotiation on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Under Secretary of the Navy, and General Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Yale University has a long history of producing global affairs leaders. A spirit of public service, and especially global leadership, have been traditions at Yale and to that end, the Jackson Institute looks to increase students’ interest in and knowledge of global affairs work. Its career services office is a resource for the entire University community, assisting Yale students to find internships and career placements in public service and other areas of international affairs. By helping students match their international interests with tangible work experiences, the Jackson Institute enhances Yale’s efforts to train future leaders in essential fields of study.

The Jackson Institute was established in April 2009 with a transformational gift from John W. ’67 and Susan G. Jackson.

Links: Jackson Institute for Global Affairs

Contact Information:

Marilyn Wilkes

The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale

(203) 432-3413