Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, pathbreaking diplomat and bestselling author, will be the keynote speaker at an October 24 event at the University of Rochester.
The event will be held at 6 p.m. in the Strong Auditorium on the University of Rochester’s River Campus. It is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; tickets must be reserved at www.rochester.edu/madeleinealbright.
Albright’s talk will focus on American foreign policy in 2019. Her visit is part of the “Difficult Conversations as a Catalyst for Change” lecture series presented by Donald Hall, the University’s Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences & Engineering.
Following her remarks, Albright will take part in a moderated conversation hosted by Dean Hall.
“Secretary Albright has been at the center of difficult conversations around American foreign affairs for the past quarter century and more,” Hall says. “Her work with many of the world’s most important political leaders provides her with unparalleled insights into the challenges facing the U.S. in an increasingly volatile and ever-changing international landscape.”
Albright is a professor in the practice of diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm. She is also chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. She was the 64th U.S. secretary of state. In 2012, Albright received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Albright was named the first female secretary of state in 1997, making her at that time the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As secretary of state, she reinforced America’s alliances, advocated for democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade, business, labor, and environmental standards abroad. From 1993 to 1997, Albright served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and was a member of the president’s cabinet. From 1989 to 1992, she served as president of the Center for National Policy. Previously, she was a member of President Carter’s National Security Council and White House staff, and served as chief legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie.
Albright also chairs the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. She serves on the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board, a group tasked with providing the secretary of defense with independent, informed advice and opinion concerning matters of defense policy. Albright also serves on the board of the Aspen Institute. In 2009, she was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to chair a group of experts focused on developing NATO’s New Strategic Concept.
Albright’s most recent book is the No.1 New York Times bestseller Fascism: A Warning (2018). She is the author of five other New York Times bestsellers: her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003); The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs (2006); Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership (2008); Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box (2009); and Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948 (2012).
Albright received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Wellesley College, and master’s and doctorate degrees from Columbia University’s Department of Public Law and Government, as well as a certificate from its Russian Institute. She is based in Washington, D.C.
