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Why English-Only Doesn't Cut itMarch 31, 2008 KALAMAZOO--Thomas Petzold, a Western Michigan University graduate with 30 years experience in government service, will address the critical need for foreign language specialists in the federal government from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the Lee Honors College lounge. The presentation is open to the public free of charge, and brownbag lunches are welcome. Petzold's talk is titled "Why English-Only Just Doesn't Cut it in Government International Relations: Government Service Today and the Need for Foreign Language Speakers." He will share his experiences and conclusions about how today's students can make a difference in tomorrow's world through national security, foreign service or humanitarian missions. A 1978 graduate of WMU with majors in political science and
German, Petzold has served as a policy analyst and advisor to
NATO, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Military Attache
School in Washington. He is a retired U.S. Air Force officer,
and spent more than 16 years overseas, working in some 30 countries
for four different government agencies and institutions. Petzold
was a 2005 recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award in the College
of Arts and Sciences, representing foreign languages. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
