Spring 2026
International Education: Balancing Collaboration and Innovation with National Security
This two-panel event brings together national and campus thought leaders to discuss the value and potential national security risks of hosting international students on American campuses. It will explore these topics, showcase the contributions international students make to WMU and beyond, and examine the changing landscape of global education. Open to both the campus and the community!
- Date: Thursday, February 19
- Time: 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Venue: Western Michigan University, Student Center, Ballroom A
Off-campus guests, please use the Hilltop Village Parking Structure for complimentary parking with easy access to the Student Center. Directions
PANEL I—Benefits and challenges of providing international education today
3 to 4:30 p.m.
- Dr. Reetha Raveendran—WMU Dean of Students, host and moderator
- Dr. Rosemary Max, Assoc. Vice President, WMU Haenicke Institute for Global Education, overview of the issues, impacts at WMU
- Theresa Cardinal Brown, currently holds appointments as an Immigration Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute and the National Immigration Forum and is the author of the report, Bipartisan Efforts to Keep Talented International Students in the U.S. After Graduation. Read report.
- Mr. Andy Richards, EVP and COO, Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek, business perspective.
PANEL II—Joint Institutes/Divided Loyalties—National Security Risks and Policy Overview
5 to 6:30 p.m.
Jeff Breneman, WMU VP for Government Relations, to interview John Sava, Senior Investigator for the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, on the Committee’s recently published research security investigative reports. Joint Institutes/Divided Loyalties committee report These reports detail how U.S. universities and federal agencies have, enabled China’s military and technological advancement through joint institutes, academic partnerships, and insufficient research safeguards.
Mr. Sava leads the Committee’s investigative and legislative efforts on research security, foreign influence, technology transfer, and intellectual property theft. He is widely recognized within the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities as a leading expert on the People’s Republic of China’s technology transfer apparatus and the defense research and industrial base. Mr. Sava previously served as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), where he conducted counterintelligence investigations and operations focused on threats at the intersection of academia and research institutions. The Select Committee is chaired by Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI).
Reports—Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
Dept of Energy, Containment Breach
Lifting A Leader And Voice For All Sides
A Conversation With Tiffany M. Moore
4 pm, Wednesday, March 25
1025 Brown Hall
At the intersection of policy, technology and diversity, along a road that starts in Detroit and ends in Washington, D.C., lies WMU alumna Tiffany M. Moore's remarkable career. The first in her family to attend college, she studied Spanish and Japanese at WMU, although her mother had hoped she would pursue a business major.
Tiffany was recently named Head of Federal Policy & Government Affairs at Waymo, where she leads federal engagement and policy strategy to support the deployment of autonomous driving technology. For more than 10 years prior she served as the senior vice president for the Consumer Technology Association, best known for its internationally-renowned annual Consumer Electronics Show. Her path to WMU was fueled by the commitment to education of her hard-working single mother.
This mini documentary, based on an interview with Tiffany by LA Times columnist LZ Granderson, follows her journey from the suburbs of Detroit to WMU for college, to her post-graduation leap to D.C., where for 30 years she has worked with people on both sides of the aisle and across multiple perspectives to help shape public policy. Tiffany has worked in the Halls of Congress, with several Presidential Administrations, and with corporate and industry leaders, always intent on finding common ground on difficult issues. What’s made her a great leader is her genuine curiosity to learn from others who may think differently and her ability to build trust.
The screening will be followed by three short panels:
- Reflections from Tiffany's peers in the Camp Baber program; student success programs that exist today.
- Dr. Deveta Gardner, Tiffany’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister, on the critical roles sororities play in finding a community and gaining a sense of belonging.
- How We Talk/Heterodox Academy values shaped Tiffany's success.
- Open Inquiry, Viewpoint Diversity, Constructive Disagreement
- How We Talk/Heterodox Academy values shaped Tiffany's success.
- Dr. Deveta Gardner, Tiffany’s Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister, on the critical roles sororities play in finding a community and gaining a sense of belonging.
A reception will follow at 5:15 pm in Room 3025 Brown Hall—Humanities Center Conference Room.
Spring 2025
Fall 2024
Spring 2024
Spring 2023
Spring 2022
Fall 2022
Fall 2021
International Education: Balancing Collaboration and Innovation with National Security
February 19, 2026
(Program recording)
The event examined how international students have enriched WMU and the nation through their academic, cultural, and economic contributions, while also confronting the growing barriers created by shifting immigration policies and heightened research‑security concerns. Through expert commentary, student perspectives, and a detailed discussion of recent federal investigative findings, attendees explored the balance between attracting global talent and protecting national interests. The two panels offered a comprehensive reflection on the state of international education, and the responsibilities universities carry in an increasingly complex global environment.
Why is Gen Z So Different? How The Great Rewiring of Childhood (2010-2015) Will Impact Everything
March 12, 2025
Has the use of smart phones and especially social media "rewired" global youth development? Should smart phone use by youths be limited in schools and at home? Social psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Jonathan Haidt believes it should. His most recent work, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, examines what he's coined as the “great rewiring of childhood,” in which play-based childhood has been replaced by a phone-based childhood. Haidt will talk about his research, the current mental health situation, and provide some collective action ideas to better prepare Gen Z and beyond to wisely navigate the virtual world.
A University the World has Never Seen
Feb. 6, 2025
Moral Courage for Messy Times: Palestine, Israel, and the Truths In-Between
Nov. 12, 2024
An in-depth discussion on the ongoing conflict between Gaza and Israel, led by Irshad Manji, acclaimed author, educator, and founder of the Moral Courage Project. Manji was joined by Abdullah Antepli, Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at Duke University, exploring the human dimensions of the conflict and the search for peace amidst deep-seated divisions.
This event was a thought-provoking dialogue on the complex realities of the Gaza-Israel conflict, featuring diverse perspectives on interfaith relations, moral courage, and the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
Mississippi Turning
Oct. 22, 2024
An engaging and thought-provoking event featuring Mississippi-born artist and activist Genesis Be, alongside Assistant Chief Victor Green from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. This special event included an advanced screening of the powerful documentary "Mississippi Turning," which follows Genesis Be and her former high school classmate from Mississippi as they seek common ground over the deeply divisive symbol of the Confederate flag on the state’s flag.
Through their journey of dialogue and understanding, "Mississippi Turning" captures the complexities of heritage, identity, and progress, making this a timely and compelling conversation. Following the screening, Genesis Be and Assistant Chief Green led an interactive discussion on reconciliation, activism, and bridging divides in our communities.
Protecting Democracy
Oct. 1, 2024
We brought together former U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (R), former U.S. Congressman Mark Schauer (D), and former Michigan Elections Director Chris Thomas. Moderated by Jeff Breneman, Western Michigan University’s Vice President for Government Relations, this panel will explore the critical issue of election integrity amid a broader erosion of trust in institutions such as elected bodies, higher education, and the media.
With their extensive experience in public service and election oversight, the speakers addressed key threats to our voting system from both foreign and domestic sources, the rise of misinformation, and what citizens can do to help restore confidence in the democratic process. The conversation also focused on finding bipartisan solutions to ensure the integrity of U.S. elections for future generations.
WAIT, She was homeless?
Spring 2024
Trustee Emeritus George Franklin unveiled the deeply personal journey behind the Wall Street Journal's headline sensation, "She Talked Like a Millionaire, Slept in a Parking Garage and Fooled Nearly Everyone". Delve into the heart-wrenching narrative of Franklin's late sister and her struggle with homelessness, shedding light on the complex realities often obscured by societal misconceptions.
In an enlightening discussion, WSJ reporter Jon Kamp provided invaluable insights drawn from his extensive reporting on homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorders. Together, we unraveled the intricate layers of this pressing issue, confronting the harsh truths while fostering understanding and compassion.
Kalamazoo Mayor Anderson, along with esteemed professors from the School of Social Work, Dr. Shane Brady and Dr. Don Cooney (also serving as City Commissioner for Kalamazoo), joined our endeavor. As the rate of homelessness escalates in Kalamazoo, it's imperative to challenge prevailing narratives and confront the underlying issues head-on. Guests joined us as we embarked on a journey of empathy, education, and advocacy, guided by firsthand accounts, journalistic expertise, and the collective wisdom of community leaders and experts. Together, we can strive for meaningful change and support those most in need within our city.
Foundation for individual rights and Expression (FIRE) visit
- Open Classroom: Why Don't You Feel You Can Speak Freely on This Campus
- Navigating the Thin Line: Free Expression in Higher Education
- Student Voices Matter: Defending Free Expression in the Campus Community
We Talk hosted the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)'s Legislative and Policy Director Joe Cohn and Student Press Counsel, Lindsie Rank, to campus on Wednesday, September 27 2023, to promote free speech protections. We had productive dialogues on why free speech is important in the higher education landscape and how we can improve on it.
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland
WMU was honored to host Mr. Bryan Newland (Ojibwe), Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior on April 13, 2023. Mr. Newland is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community in northern Michigan, where he served as Tribal President from 2017 to 2021.
Mr. Newland works to strengthen the government-to-government and nation-to-nation relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In his visit to WMU he spoke about how the traditional Seven Grandfathers teaching has guided his work in public service and helped him to engage across diverse communities.
Dave Isay with StoryCorps
We Talk and the Fetzer Institute were pleased to bring Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps, an ongoing national oral history project, and the One Small Step initiative to Kalamazoo on March 28 and 29, 2022.
Dingell/Upton Civility tour
WMU We Talk hosted a stop on U.S. Congressional Representative Debbie Dingell and Fred Upton's Civility Tour at Heritage Hall on August 1, 2022. President Edward Montgomery served as the moderator of an engaging and enlightening conversation about how the two members of the Problem Solvers Caucus have reached across the aisle in recent years to pass important legislation and foster civility.
Eboo Patel and Manu Meel
The founding leaders of Interfaith America, author Eboo Patel, and Manu Meel of BridgeUSA, visited Kalamazoo October 5 and 6, 2022 to share how their organizations work with institutions and individuals to build a more diverse and just democracy. They hosted student-focused events and a campus/community conversation.
Re-stitching the fabric of our democracy for the 21st century
The founding leaders of Interfaith America, author Eboo Patel, and Manu Meel of BridgeUSA, came to campus October 5 and 6 to share how their organizations work with institutions and individuals to build a more diverse and just democracy. They hosted student-focused events and a campus/community conversation. Learn what these national civic leaders had to say about how to strengthen the social fabric of our campus and community.
Diversity Without Division
Moral Courage College came to campus on March 21-22, 2022 for a thought-provoking, interactive and engaging experience that delves into the heart of what it means to build a culture of belonging. Diversity Without Division™ is a uniquely unifying strategy and toolkit for inclusion. It uses brain science to foster empathy so that differences can be explored in ways that bring people together.
Irshad Manji and Moral Courage
Irshad Manji, with the force of personality and wit, brought her message of moral courage to WMU in September 2021, boosting the We Talk movement among students, faculty and staff. The Brooklyn-based educator and founder of Moral Courage College challenged her audiences to think differently about how they handle conflict. In classroom, panel, presentation and social settings, Irshad prepared young people to engage honestly about contentious issues rather than shaming or canceling each other.