Great Decisions Series of the World Affairs Council

Western Michigan University is an educational partner of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, which serves to spread awareness about matters of foreign policy and international interest through informative lectures and discussions.

A focus of the partnership is the council's Great Decisions Series of lectures held each spring—one of the most important lecture series on international affairs and American foreign policy concerns that is held in the United States.

Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland, director of faculty and global program development at WMU's Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education, serves on the WAC Educational Partners Advisory Committee, which determines the lineup of Great Decisions speakers each year. She is also teaching an upper-level undergraduate, general education course course through the Lee Honors College in which she has incorporated the lecture series into the curriculum. The course is titled, "Diplomacy, Debate, Conflict and Compromise: Critical Issues in a Global Context," and its students travel with Metro-Roland to Grand Rapids to attend each of the Great Decisions lectures.

About the Great Decisions Series

The Great Decisions Series brings national experts to West Michigan for thought-provoking discussions on eight critical issues related to U.S. foreign policy and other international concerns.

All lectures are schedules at 6 p.m. for consecutive Mondays from Feb. 4 through March 23. The talks are held at the Aquinas Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids.

All series lectures are free to WMU students, employees, and faculty when they sign up at the university table located in the foyer of the center.

For others who would like to attend, the cost is $10 per lecture for World Affairs Council members and $15 for World Affairs Council nonmembers. Package-ticket deals are available for members and nonmembers of the council, and there is free parking close to Aquinas' Performing Arts Center.

Great Decision Series 2015 lectures

Feb. 2—"Privacy: Is there such a thing?" Aarti Shahani, Technology Correspondent for National Public Radio.

Feb. 9—"What are the Consequences from the Crisis in Ukraine?" Matthew Rojansky, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Feb. 16—"Is it Religion of Politics that Divide the Middle East?" Sebastian Maisel, Grand Valley University.

Feb. 23—"Human Trafficking: A local, national, and global problem!" Becky McDonald, Women at Risk International, Amanda Colegrove, Coalition Against Trafficking & Exploitation, Senator Judy Emmons, Michigan State Senate.

March 2—"Is the New President Modi of India Running or Stumbling to Progress?" Dr. Leela Fernandes, University of Michigan.

March 9—"Africa Transforms: Wealth, Technology, Democracy," Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa.

March 16—"Brazil: A Country of the Future, But Will It Always Be So?" Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky.

March 23—"Through the Camera Lens: Follow the Journey of the Syrian Refugee Experience," Jared Kohler, photojournalist.

To see a full description of each lecture, please visit this website