Join us for an opportunity to hear leaders in the field of international affairs speak candidly about what they did after graduation and how today's recent graduates can prepare for a career in international affairs. Our distinguished panelists have experience in founding a non-profit organization and working on micro-finance projects, as well as working in the Foreign Service and at the United Nations.

Thursday, January 28, 2010
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Bunche Hall 6275
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Each of our panelists will speak for approximately 10 minutes, there will then be an open Q&A session moderated by Alexandra Lieben, Deputy Director of the Burkle Center.

About Our Panelists:

• Richard Walden
  Richard Walden is President and CEO of Operation USA, a privately funded relief agency, whose mission is to help those regions across the globe hardest hit by disasters, disease and poverty. In 1979, Mr. Walden started Operation USA as a response to the hardships people faced in war torn Vietnam. For the next three decades Operation USA has grown to assist people all over the world. Operation USA has been named as one of "America's top 100 Charities" by Worth Magazine has received the President’s Volunteer Action Award in 1983 and has shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for its work in banning landmines. Richard Walden holds a B.A. in Economics and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked for the State of California, has taught in Europe and is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
   
• Nicholas Smith
  Nicholas Smith is a UCLA graduate student in the African Studies Program. He has developed a micro-finance program named the Buseesa Community Development Centre (BCDC) in Western Uganda that provides small-scale loans to rural businesses and farmers. Nicholas began this micro-credit project in March of 2009 and it is already playing a crucial role in improving regional growth, education, housing, and living standards.  
   
• William Davis
  William Davis is Director of the United Nations Information Center in Washington, DC. In this capacity, he is the United Nation's senior representative in Washington. Before joining the United Nations William Davis was Director for Global and Functional Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Mr. Davis also served as the Deputy Head of the Public Affairs Division for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Mr. Davis' other government service includes tenure as a Presidential Management Intern in the White House Office of Administration, as well as assignments with the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Defense. He earned a BA in Political Science and an MA in Public Policy, both from Duke University.
   
• Robert Banks
  Robert Banks is Public Diplomat in Residence at the University of Southern California. Dr. Robert Banks joined the Foreign Service in 1983. Working for the State Department, Dr. Banks has served in numerous roles globally: Press Attaché in Nicaragua, Cultural Affairs officer in South Korea, Counselor for Public Affairs in Argentina. Dr. Banks has also served as an Examiner for the Foreign Service Oral Exam and State Department Chair at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, VA. Robert Banks received a B.A. and M.A. in English and American Studies respectively, from Boston College. He earned his doctorate in Interdisciplinary (American) Studies at Oklahoma State University.

Cost : Free and open to students, staff, faculty and the general public.

Sponsor(s): Burkle Center for International Relations