Heather Booth

Heather Booth is a renowned American political organizer and activist with a distinguished career in social movements, fighting for both civil and abortion rights. She was a founding member of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union in 1969 and played a pivotal role in organizing the 1973 National Women's Political Caucus, as well as leading the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and setting up the Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberation, an underground network which connected women with doctors who were willing to perform illegal abortions.

Throughout her career, Booth has been actively engaged in labor organizing and has been instrumental in fostering alliances between progressive organizations. She has served as a member of the AFL-CIO's Industrial Union Department and served as the Director of the Midwest Academy, a premier training center for progressive organizers. In recent years, Ms. Booth has continued to be a driving force in progressive politics, working on numerous campaigns and organizing efforts. Her contributions to social justice and human rights have been widely recognized and honored by various organizations.

Mark Hertling

Mark Hertling is a highly decorated and accomplished retired United States Army Lieutenant General with a distinguished career spanning over 37 years. He served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe from 2010 to 2012, where he was responsible for leading and directing the training, readiness, and operations of all U.S. Army units in Europe. Prior to this, he held the position of Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command and served as the Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War, where he played a critical role in the successful execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Throughout his military career, General Hertling held various command and staff positions of increasing responsibility throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He served as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Infantry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division, and as the Chief of Staff of the 1st Cavalry Division. He is widely recognized as an expert in military training, leader development, and counterinsurgency operations, and is considered a subject matter expert in the areas of leadership and change management. Following his retirement, General Hertling has been a frequent commentator on national security and defense policy issues and continues to provide expert analysis and insight on these matters.

Narges Bajoghli

Dr. Bajoghli is a leading expert in the politics and cultures of Iran and the Persian Gulf region, and her research focuses on the complex interplay between state power, media, and civil society in the Middle East. Dr. Bajoghli received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from New York University, where her research was recognized with numerous grants and awards, including from the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the American Institute of Iranian Studies. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS. 

She is the author of the critically acclaimed book "Iran Reframed: Anxieties of Power in the Islamic Republic" (Stanford University Press, 2019) which explores the role of state-controlled media in shaping the Iranian government's relationship with its citizens. Dr. Bajoghli is also a frequent commentator in the media, and her work has been featured in many leading publications such as The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post. She continues to publish extensively in academic journals and books and is considered a leading voice in her field. Dr. Bajoghli is a regular speaker at conferences and workshops worldwide, and her unique insights and perspective on the Middle East are highly valued by a broad audience.

Amali Tower x Patrick Brown

Amali Tower is a young and dynamic climate activist based in New York City who is a founder and executive director of Climate Refugees, an organization that focuses on the issue of climate change-induced resettlement. Working closely with prominent organizations such as World Economic Forum Expert Network in Migration, Human Rights & Humanitarian Response, and the UC Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law, She is a leading voice in the movement to raise awareness about the urgent need to address the issue of climate change. Amali has been actively involved in various climate campaigns, including working with local organizations to advocate for more sustainable energy solutions and policies. She is also known for her innovative and creative approach to activism, using art, music, and social media to spread the message about the importance of protecting the environment. Amali is also a regular speaker at climate conferences, and her activism has been covered by major media outlets such as CNN, NBC, and The New York Times.

Patrick Brown is an experienced climate and energy expert who has held various notable positions in academia and research. He serves as Co-Director of the Climate and Energy Team at The Breakthrough Institute and also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the Energy Policy and Climate Program at Johns Hopkins University. He has a Ph.D. in Earth and Climate Sciences from Duke University, a Master's degree in Meteorology & Climate Science from San Jose State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Throughout his career, he has conducted research at notable institutions such as the Carnegie Institution at Stanford University, NASA JPL at Caltech, NASA Langley, NASA Goddard, and NOAA’s GFDL at Princeton University. He is a published author in respected journals such as Nature, PNAS, and Nature Climate Change, and his research has been featured in various media outlets including CNN, The Washington Post, Newsweek, BBC Radio, New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, and The Guardian.

Neal Katyal x Jeffrey Rosen

Neal Katyal is a highly respected American lawyer and legal scholar, currently serving as a partner at the prestigious law firm of Hogan Lovells. He is widely recognized as a leading expert in the fields of national security and constitutional law, having argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. He holds the position of professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he imparts his knowledge and expertise in the areas of national security, constitutional law, and separation of powers. Katyal has also served as the Acting Solicitor General of the United States, and his contributions to the legal profession have been widely acknowledged, having received numerous awards including the American Bar Association's Thurgood Marshall Award for outstanding contributions to public service.

Jeffrey Rosen is a distinguished American lawyer and legal scholar, currently serving as the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. He is considered a leading authority in the field of constitutional law and has made significant contributions to the understanding of the Constitution and the Supreme Court through his extensive writing and research where he has won numerous awards including the Bradley Prize for Intellectual Achievement. He is a professor at George Washington University Law School, where he teaches courses on constitutional law and legal history. Mr. Rosen is a regular contributor to numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, and is a sought-after commentator on legal and constitutional issues, appearing on various television and radio programs. 

Chris Smalls, Maximillian Alvarez, Anna Word, Roxie Herbekian

Chris Smalls is the president and founder of Amazon Labor Union where he is respected as an eminent advocate for workers' rights. He is best known for his role in organizing a walkout of workers at the Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York in 2020, in response to what he and other workers saw as inadequate safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been an outspoken critic of Amazon's labor practices and has called for better working conditions and fair wages for Amazon workers. Smalls also works as a labor consultant and has been involved in various labor campaigns and advocacy groups.

Maximillian Alvarez used to work 12-hour days as a warehouse temp in Southern California, while his family struggled to survive after the Great Recession, resulting in the loss of their house. Realizing the importance of workers rights through experiencing extreme hardships first-handed, Alvarez has since dedicated their life to uplifting the voices and humanity of workers by starting the podcast Working People, working as an Associate Editor at the Chronicle Review, and currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief at The Real News Network.

ZEID RA’AD AL HUSSEIN

Through a steadfast commitment to justice, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein — the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 until 2018 — has established himself as one of the world’s most powerful advocates for human rights and open societies. Known for his outspoken criticism of fascism, religious radicalism, and threats to civil liberties, he has called upon powerful and small states alike to secure human rights, drawing notable attention to atrocities committed in Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Middle East, Libya, and Myanmar. 

A veteran diplomat with decades of experience, Al Hussein has served as President of the United Nations Security Council, Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Jordan’s Ambassador to the U.S. An expert in the field of international justice, Al Hussein was also a central figure in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), chairing complex negotiations to establish the exact terms of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He was subsequently elected the first President of the ICC’s governing body in 2002 and grew it into the internationally recognized court that it is today. 

Today, Al Hussein is the President and CEO of the International Peace Institute, a think tank dedicated to promoting peace, security, and sustainable development with policy research, strategic analysis, publishing, and convening. 

Please join us on Thursday, February 17, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Al Hussein in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

TONY FERNANDES

Tony Fernandes — the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Trade Policy and Negotiations in the U.S. Department of State — is on the forefront of the U.S. government’s efforts to open new markets, resolve trade disputes, protect intellectual property rights, and promote agricultural innovation. He plays a leading role in navigating issues that impact U.S. economic growth, such as supply chain disruptions, 5G, and the global minimum tax. 

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Tony brings decades of experience in diplomacy with overseas assignments in Turkey, Nigeria, Russia, Canada, and China. Outside of the U.S. Department of State, he has also served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Diplomatic Readiness Task Force, and the Operations Center.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Fernandes in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

DEXTER FILKINS

Called the “premier combat journalist of his generation,” Dexter Filkins is an award-winning correspondent who has reported on the front lines of U.S. intervention in the Middle East. In 2009, he won a Pulitzer Prize as part of a team of New York Times journalists. Joining The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2011, he has written about the murder of a journalist in Pakistan, the uprisings in Yemen, and the crises in Syria and Lebanon. 

As the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, Dexter brings unparalleled insights into the conflict. His influential book, The Forever War, traces the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s, the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. His reporting from the front line brings to life deserts, mountains, and streets of carnage; a public amputation performed by Taliban; children frolicking in minefields; skies streaked white by the contrails of B-52s; a night’s sleep in the rubble of Ground Zero. The Forever War won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Best Nonfiction Book and was named a best book of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, and The Boston Globe.

In addition to his Pulitzer Prize, Filkins has received two George Polk Awards, given annually by Long Island University to honor contributions to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting. He has also won two National Magazine Awards and three Overseas Press Club Awards. 

Please join us on Thursday, March 10, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Filkins in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

AMANDA NGUYEN

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, Amanda Nguyen is a civil rights activist who wrote and unanimously passed the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights through Congress after having to navigate the broken criminal justice system following her own rape. As the Founder and CEO of Rise, a social movements accelerator, she has drafted and pushed through 33 laws that codify the civil rights of 84 million sexual assault survivors. 

Her 2021 viral video ignited global coverage on anti-Asian hate crimes and is credited as a pivotal moment for the Stop Asian Hate movement. In recognition of her ceaseless dedication to civil rights, Amanda is a Forbes 30 Under 30, Time 100 Next, Heinz Laureate, Nelson Mandela Changemaker, Foreign Policy 100, Frederick Douglass 100, and Marie Claire Young Woman of the Year. 

Nguyen is the recipient of our annual Smedinghoff Award, which commemorates U.S. Foreign Service Officer Anne Smedinghoff (JHU ‘09), a young Johns Hopkins alumna who was killed in a suicide bombing in southern Afghanistan on April 6, 2013 while delivering books to underserved school children. To honor her memory, we recognize a leader who embodies her compassion and spirit through our annual award. 

Please join us on Thursday, March 17, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Nguyen in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

CASSIE FLYNN

A champion for the environment, Cassie Flynn is the Strategic Advisor of Climate Change at the United Nations Development Programme and heads its Climate Promise, the world’s largest offer of support for 120 countries to enhance their pledges under the Paris Agreement. In that capacity, she spearheads efforts to help nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenges of climate change.

Previously, she worked to provide technical advice to countries on finance, capacity building, adaptation, and technology during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, advised the Prime Minister of Fiji when the country held COP 23’s presidency, and most recently, helped facilitate the Paris Accord negotiations.

Flynn’s expertise in environmental advocacy and policy has also allowed her to help companies and civil society groups tackle climate change and sustainability issues. As a fierce advocate of our environment, her work directly impacts the narrative of climate change and our world’s health.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Flynn in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

GEORGES C. BENJAMIN

Georges C. Benjamin has been the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association (APHA) — the nation's oldest and largest organization of public health professionals — for the past twenty years. In that role, he has championed preventative care and fought to expand healthcare access to all Americans. As former Secretary of Health of Maryland, he also oversaw the expansion of coverage and improvement of the state’s Medicaid program.

Benjamin has authored more than 100 scientific articles and served as the publisher of the American Journal of Public Health, the profession’s premier scientific publication. In 2008, 2014, and 2016, he was named one of the top 25 minority executives in healthcare by Modern Healthcare Magazine, in addition to being voted among the 100 most influential people in healthcare from 2007-2017. In April 2016, President Obama appointed Benjamin to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, a council that advises the president on how best to assure the security of the nation's critical infrastructure.

Please join us on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 when the Foreign Affairs Symposium will host Dr. Benjamin in Shriver Hall from 7-8PM.

Radya Al-Mutawakel

Radya Al-Mutawakel is a Yemeni political figure and human rights champion. With a focus on women's rights and anti-corruption initiatives, she has established herself as a leading advocate for human rights in Yemen. Al-Mutawakel founded the Yemeni Association for Human Rights, contributing significantly to the advancement of human rights in the country. In addition to her activism, she has held multiple government positions, including serving as the Minister of Human Rights. Through her relentless efforts, Al-Mutawakel remains a powerful voice for the marginalized and oppressed communities in Yemen.

Amy Goodman

Amy Goodman is an investigative journalist and reporter serving as the main host of Democracy Now!, an independent internet news program that has amassed widespread acclaim for its focus on social activism and its coverage and critique of corporate influence and American foreign policy. She is the author of six books and has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Robert F. Kennedy Prize for International Reporting (1993), the George Polk Award (1998), the Gandhi Peace Award (2012), and the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence (2014).

Amy Goodman | March 4th | 8:00 p.m. EST | Zoom

Fatimah Nyeema Warner

Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known professionally as Noname, is a rapper and poet whose work often explores topics of race, politics, and identity. First attracting attention in 2013 for her features on Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Acid Rap, Noname has since gained worldwide acclaim for her debut mixtape, Telefone (2016), and album, Room 25 (2018). Noname has used her platform to advocate for ongoing social justice issues, and has created the Noname Book Club, a community-driven project with chapters nationwide, aimed at uplifting POC voices and encouraging support for small bookstores. 

Noname | March 18th | 8:00 p.m. EST | Zoom

The Global Response to the Uyghur Crisis

The Global Response to the Uyghur Crisis features Nury Turkel, Rushan Abbas, and Louisa Greve, and will examine the ongoing genocide and oppression of the Uyghur people. Nury Turkel, a Uyghur American attorney, serves as Chairman of the Board for the Uyghur Human Rights Project, and a Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Rushan Abbas, a Uyghur American activist, is the founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs and is responsible for leading the global ‘One Voice, One Step’ march. Louisa Greve, an academic and Uyghur American, is the Director of Global Advocacy for the Uyghur Human Rights Project, serving as an expert on human rights issues and the nonprofit sector.

Uyghurs Panel | April 6th | 8:00 p.m. EST | Zoom

Dr. Angela Yvonne Davis

Dr. Angela Yvonne Davis is an academic, author, and activist. Through her scholarship and advocacy, Dr. Davis has explored the range of social issues associated with incarceration and the criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination. Dr. Davis is a founding member of Critical Resistance, a national organization dedicated to the dismantling of the prison industrial complex. Over the years, Dr. Davis has been awarded the Lenin Peace Prize for her work, inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and received honorary doctorates from institutions around the world.

Angela Davis | April 22nd | 8:00 p.m. EST | Zoom

Cosponsored by the Program in Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship

Joshua wong and nathan law

Joshua Wong and Nathan Law are two leading activists in the ongoing Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. They have both played a crucial role in garnering overseas attention for what has become the largest protests in Hong Kong’s history. In September 2019, they successfully advocated for the U.S. Congress’s passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. Though Wong and Law are only 23 and 26, respectively, this is not their first stint with political organizing; they rose to international prominence in 2014 as student leaders of the Umbrella Movement, which demanded elections be independent from Beijing interference. In 2016, they helped found Demosistō, a pro-democracy political organization. Throughout their struggle for democracy, they have been arrested, charged for illegal assembly, imprisoned, and nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2018.

Wong currently serves as the Secretary-General for Demosistō. He was arrested again this past August but continues protest activities while under bail.

Law was elected as the youngest-ever legislative councilor for the Hong Kong Island Constituency in 2016. He is still actively pushing for democratic reform in Hong Kong while pursuing a Master’s at Yale University. 

Thursday, February 20 // Shriver Hall // 8 PM

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is an indigenous climate activist pushing for change at home and abroad.  He began his activism career at 5-years old and has now spoken around the world, including several times at the United Nations. He is the current youth director for Earth Guardians, a worldwide conservation organization fostering youth leadership in climate and social justice movements. Martinez also uses his music to shed light on environmental issues. He released his first hip-hop album in 2014, which featured songs about fracking and deforestation, and another solo album in 2018. He has also collaborated with Talib Kweli and Jaden Smith.

Martinez is listed as one of 21 plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States, a lawsuit against the United States government over the failure to act on climate change. He is also a plaintiff in Martinez v. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, a lawsuit with the same aims as the federal suit but on the state level.  Martinez has been awarded numerous times for his work, including the U.S. Volunteer Service award in 2013 from President Obama, the Generation Change Award from the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2018, and most recently one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Next.

Wednesday, March 4 // Shriver Hall // 8 PM

Muzoon Almellehan

At 19-years old, Muzoon Almellehan was the youngest and first person with official refugee status to become a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund. Born in 1999 in Daraa, Syria, Almellehan and her family fled to Jordan due to protests and violence facing the local population. During the three years that her family lived in Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps in Jordan, Almellehan started her campaign to educate girls after noticing that many refugee girls faced child marriage and were dropping out of class since they were unable to continue their education. Her efforts to improve female educational opportunities and school retention gained the attention of many relief organizations, and Almellehan became a UNICEF campaigner. 

As a prolific education activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Almellehan has addressed the United Nations General Assembly and the 2017 meeting of the Group of Twenty. Her work has been recognized through Glamour’s 2017 Women of the Year Award, BBC 100 Women, and other publications. As she continues her studies in the United Kingdom today, Almellehan continues to fight tirelessly to ensure children around the world can access quality education.

Thursday, March 26 // Mason Hall Auditorium // 8 PM

Angela Davis

Through her activism and scholarship over many decades, Angela Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world.  Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – has always emphasized the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial, and gender justice.

Angela Davis is the author of ten books and has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.  In recent years a persistent theme of her work has been the range of social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination. 

In addition to serving as Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness and of Feminist Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, Angela Davis is a founding member of Critical Resistance, a national organization dedicated to the dismantling of the prison industrial complex. Having helped to popularize the notion of a “prison industrial complex,” she now urges her audiences to think seriously about the future possibility of a world without prisons and to help forge a 21st century abolitionist movement.

Thursday, April 16 // Shriver Hall // 8 PM

ERLENDY CUERO BRAVO

SOLMAZ SHARIF

In cosponsorship with the Johns Hopkins Alexander Grass Humanities Institute

Born in Istanbul to Iranian parents, Solmaz Sharif’s astonishing debut collection LOOK (Graywolf Press) was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Award and 2017 PEN Open Book Award. In LOOK, she recounts some of her family’s experience with exile and immigration in the aftermath of warfare—including living under surveillance and in detention in the United States—while also pointing to the ways violence is conducted against our language. Throughout, she draws on the Department of Defense’s Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, the language used by the American military to define and code its objectives, policies, and actions. The New Yorker writes of her work: “By turns fierce and tender, the poems are a searing response to American intervention—‘Hands that promised they wouldn’t, but did.’”


The former managing director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Sharif’s work has been recognized with a “Discovery”/Boston Review Poetry Prize, scholarships the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, a winter fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, an NEA Fellowship, and a Stegner Fellowship. She has most recently been selected to receive a 2014 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award as well as a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship. She holds degrees from U.C. Berkeley, where she studied and taught with June Jordan’s Poetry for the People, and New York University.
She is currently a Jones Lecturer at Stanford University.

Monday, February 25, 2019 at 8 PM – 9 PM | Arellano Theater

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS | BEATRICE FIHn

In co-sponsorship with the Johns Hopkins Women & Gender Resources and the Johns Hopkins International Studies Program

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a global coalition of non-governmental organizations that promotes adherence to a treaty-based ban on nuclear weapons. With 532 partners in 103 countries, ICAN has led the movement against nuclear weapons through organizing public awareness campaigns and advocating for an international agreement within the United Nations. Throughout 2013 and 2014, ICAN coordinated three major conferences in Oslo, Nayarit, and Vienna, all of which focused on the humanitarian impact of detonation. In 2016, ICAN lobbied for the UN General Assembly to accept its proposed Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was eventually passed in July 2017. ICAN then won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for its steadfast commitment to a nuclear weapons ban treaty.

ICAN’s executive director, Beatrice Fihn, leads and oversees a wide variety of the organization’s activities. Fihn is responsible for representing ICAN in the media and before world governments and international organizations, as well as leading the campaign’s political and fundraising endeavors. She has led ICAN since 2013 and has played a key role in mobilizing international actors for the development of the 2017 treaty banning nuclear weapons. Following the agreement, ICAN has continued to work with other countries in signing and ratifying the treaty, as well as advocating for full implementation of the treaty’s goals.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 7 PM – 9 PM | Shriver Hall

BOOTS RILEY

In co-sponsorship with the Johns Hopkins Second Decade Society

Raymond Lawrence Riley, better known by his stage name Boots Riley, is a Chicago-born activist-artist who has received critical acclaim for his groundbreaking director debut Sorry to Bother You. Using a fantastical lens, this film takes place in the world of telemarketing to explore the intersectional consequences of capitalism and racism in the United States. Sorry to Bother You, according to Riley, is not meant to be an indictment on the Trump era but rather a social commentary on the exploitive systems that have existed throughout American history. Celebrated by The Guardian as Riley’s “gleefully disruptive entrance into the world of film-making,” the film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Fest and opened to strong critical acclaim in theaters nationwide later in 2018.

Prior to his film’s debut, Riley was already a trailblazer in the artist-activism scene, performing as the lead vocalist for Street Sweeper Social Club and his hip-hop group, The Coup, which has released politically-charged albums for the last three decades. Fervently dedicated to social change, Riley has been a lifelong ally and advocate for marginalized communities, especially in his hometown of Oakland, California. He was deeply involved with the Occupy Oakland movement and was one of the leaders of the activist group, The Young Comrades. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Tell Homeland Security - We Are the Bomb.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 8 PM – 9 PM | Shriver Hall

Panel on Law and Social Movements:

In co-sponsorship with the Johns Hopkins Career Center

Most Western democracies have few or no people serving life sentences, yet here in the United States more than 200,000 people are serving such prison terms. Ashley Nellis, co-author of The Meaning of Life: The Case for Abolishing Life Sentences, will discuss the major developments in life sentencing the United States, including patterns over time, the individuals affected, and how policies rather than crime trends caused these disturbing trends. The Sentencing Project recently launched a nationwide campaign to end life sentences based on practical and moral grounds. Sentences longer than 20 years have shown little effect on crime rates and place undue burdens on limited state and federal budgets. Extreme punishments also have an inflationary effect on sentences across the spectrum, helping to account for severe mandatory minimums and other harsh punishments.

Founded in 2004, the Lakota People’s Law Project (LPLP) has launched a number of campaigns dedicated to protecting Lakota land, resources, and people. In 2016, the organization’s Standing Rock legal defense fought the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. After their lead counsel Chase Iron Eyes, was arrested for peacefully protesting against the pipeline, LPLP worked to successfully defend him. They continue to engage in efforts of Lakota cultural revitalization and ancestral land protection.

The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) is an NYC-based nonprofit organization that leads impact litigation, legal training, post-conviction relief, and community defense efforts to protect America’s vulnerable immigrants. Among their many projects, they have partnered with the Center for Constitutional Rights to develop the “ICEwatch: Raid Tactics Map.” Their relentless advocacy over the past two decades has proven indispensable for the immigrant community in the United States.

ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a nonprofit civil rights law firm that provides pro-bono criminal and civil legal services in St. Louis, Missouri. They strive to make social services more accessible for individuals facing chronic homelessness and poverty, and use impact legislation to push for criminal justice reform. The organization estimates that their class action legal work over the last five years has impacted over 45,000 people.

Check out this article!

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 8 PM – 9:30 PM | Shriver Hall Auditorium

PANEL ON COMEDY & POLITICS

Exploring the Influence of Satire in the Current Political Landscape

That comedy and politics have become increasingly intermingled and intertwined in recent years is something that has been highlighted by politicians, comedians and academics alike. Whether we think back to the infinite memes that were circulated in the wake of the infamous KONY 2012 campaign, or the satirical twitter accounts that surfaced during the United States’ most recent presidential election, the role and influence of comedy appears to be undeniable in how politics is being commentated, absorbed, and critiqued. Indeed, satire, mockery, and self-deprecation have all become commonplace elements of political conversations on-screen, online and in person.

To this end, we are honored to host SNL writer and acclaimed comedian, Nimesh Patel, Penn State’s Center for Global Studies founder and author of Is Satire Saving our Nation? Mockery and American Politics, Dr. Sophia McClennen, and the Newseum’s Curator of Collections, Carrie Christoffersen. Through a lively, moderated discussion, we hope to learn more about these key individuals’ perspectives on the necessity of humor in our current political landscape, if and where lines get crossed within the sphere, and how their experiences have evolved over time. 

February 22nd, 8 PM - Hodson 110 

SAMANTHA POWER

Former United Nations Ambassador

In collaboration with the Aronson Center for International Studies

After graduating from Yale University, Ambassador Samantha Power began her career in foreign politics as a war correspondent, covering the violence in Yugoslavia between 1993 and 1996. Upon returning to the United States, Power received a law degree from Harvard University and joined the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy as a Founding Director. Her first book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Non-Fiction in 2003 and railed against the political establishment for its “toleration of unspeakable atrocities, often committed in clear view.” Power served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017 under the Obama administration, during which she played a key role in shaping international humanitarian intervention. She has been named one of the world’s most influential figures by both Time and Forbes.

March 13th, 8PM - Hodson 110   

CHELSEA MANNING

Whistleblower & Activist

In collaboration with LGBTQ Life and Women and Gender Resources

In 2013, Chelsea Manning was convicted of disclosing more than 700,000 files of classified government information to WikiLeaks while serving as an intelligence analyst in the Army. The classified material documented U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan later to be known as the “Iraq War Logs” and the “Afghan War Diary.” Manning was charged with a 35-year prison sentence – the longest sentence ever received for a leak conviction. After receiving her sentence, Manning publicly identified as a trans woman and asserted her legal rights to hormone therapy while in prison, sparking nationwide debate about transgender rights. In January of 2017, President Barack Obama commuted Manning’s sentence from 35 years of confinement to 7 years, effectively granting clemency for her release the following May.

Since her release, Manning has emerged as an outspoken political and social activist and continues to advocate for government transparency and transgender and queer rights. Most recently, Manning announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate elections in Maryland, stating “The establishment needs to be challenged, and it needs to be challenged in their footholds and in the places where they feel safe.” She will run as a Democratic candidate against the party incumbent, Benjamin L. Cardin.

April 2nd, 8 PM - Hodson 110

Greg Asbed and Laura Germino

Coalition of Immokalee Workers, 2017 MacArthur Fellow, Anne Smedinghoff Award Recipients

In April 2013, Johns Hopkins alumna and former FAS director Anne Smedinghoff ('09) was killed in a suicide bomb attack in southern Afghanistan while delivering books to underserved school children. The eponymous award aims to Remember Anne Smedinghoff and acknowledge those committed to her values to improve the world. This year, Greg Asbed and Laura Germino of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers will be accepting the 2018 Anne Smedinghoff Award for their contributions to human rights and their lifelong dedication to improving the conditions of vulnerable populations.

Johns Hopkins alumni Greg Asbed and Laura Germino are co-founders of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), created in 1993 to eliminate injustices in the agriculture industry, including forced labor, sexual assault, and wage theft of workers. The couple moved to South Florida in the mid-1990s after Asbed worked for a community development organization in Haiti and Germino volunteered for the Peace Corps in Africa. Asbed and Germino have been widely recognized for their dedication to labor activism and human rights. As a founding member of the Worker-Driven Social Responsibility Network and principal architect of the coalition’s Fair Food Program, Asbed received the MacArthur Fellowship in 2017. Germino is a creator of the coalition’s Anti-Slavery Campaign, trainer of law and government personnel, co-founder of the Freedom Network Training Institute, and a 2010 recipient of the Trafficking in Persons Report Award.

April 24th, 8PM - Mason Hall Auditorium

Pussy Riot || Nadya tolokonnikova

Conceptual Artist & Political Activist

In August 2012, three members of Pussy Riot - a feminist punk rock band - were sentenced to a 2 year imprisonment following an anti-Putin performance in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. This protest attracted international media attention and support from the likes of Amnesty International and former President Barack Obama.

Led by the founding member Nadya Tolokonnikova, Pussy Riot has continued to challenge the Putin administration, condemning LGBT discrimination and human rights abuses since their founding in 2011. Tolokonnikova has spoken before the US Congress, British Parliament, European Parliament and received the Lennon Ono Grant for Peace.

Most recently, Tolokonnikova produced and starred in a music video mocking the Trump campaign’s socially conservative rhetoric, entitled "Make America Great Again." Tolokonnikova stated that the purpose of the the video was to protest both President Donald Trump and the influence of Putin’s authoritarian regime.

February 1st,  7 PM - Shriver Hall

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Novelist and Feminist Activist

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist and non-fiction writer who has authored major works, including Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah (2013). A MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellow, Adichie has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. Adichie also wrote The Thing Around Your Neck, a critically acclaimed collection of short stories, and her most recent work, We Should All Be Feminists, was sampled by popular artist Beyoncé in her eponymous 2013 album. Adichie’s works have been translated into thirty languages and her TED talk, “The Danger of A Single Story,” has over 11 million views. Adichie earned a Master’s Degree in African Studies from Yale University in 2008 and a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins in 2003. She now divides her time between teaching in Nigeria and working in the United States.

February 8th, 8 PM - Shriver Hall

Junot DIAZ

Pulitzer Prize Winning Novelist

Junot Díaz is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. He draws on his experiences as a Dominican American as inspiration for his dynamic and powerful stories, which include themes of nationality, race, family, and ethnic identity that often confront first generation Americans. Díaz has garnered praise for his work with some critics citing him as one of the most prolific and influential writers of the 21st century. In 1999, he co-founded The Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation (VONA), a platform for writers of color to share their voices and experiences through literature, engage with and support each other, and hone their writing. Díaz is a 2012 MacArthur Fellow.

Alongside his literary pursuits, Díaz is a committed social justice, community and immigration reform activist. He serves as honorary chairman of the DREAM Project and as a member of various political organizations within both the Dominican Republic and the United States. Díaz is currently a creative writing professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the fiction editor at Boston Review.

February 22nd, 8 PM - Shriver Hall

Aneesh Chopra

First Chief Technology Officer of the U.S.

Aneesh Chopra served as the first Chief Technology Officer of the United States under the Obama Administration from 2009 to 2011. Chopra previously served as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology under Governor Tim Kaine. At the White House, he worked to advance the President’s technology agenda and promoted the integration of technology and government. His efforts included the Strategy for American Innovation, Startup America, Open Innovator’s Toolkit, and Blue Button and Green Button. During his time as Chief Technology Officer, Chopra executed an “open innovation” strategy focused on improving public-private collaboration, which he described in his 2014 book Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government.  Chopra received his B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University, and his M.P.P. from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Chopra currently serves as the co-founder and executive vice president of Hunch Analytics, an incubator that improves the productivity of health care providers and educators with data analytic services, and Senior Advisor at the Albright Stonebridge Group.

March 8th, 8 PM - Mudd Hall

AI WEI WEI : AN EXHIBITION

Contemporary Artist & Social Activist

Ai Weiwei is a contemporary artist, filmmaker and social activist, most famously serving as the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 olympics. Having spent most of his childhood in China in exile, Ai moved to the United States in 1981 where he studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Berkeley. He was introduced to the works of Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, who inspired his use of readymade objects for conceptual art. Today, Ai heavily focuses on criticizing the Chinese government and its views on democracy and human rights.

In 2011, Ai was unjustly imprisoned for 81 days, during which he created documentaries and installations. Two of his most iconic works include Study of Perspective (1995-2003), a photo series that features his middle finger pointed toward historical monuments; and Remembering (2009), a 1,000 square meter installation of backpacks mourning the deaths of children in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Veterans Writing project || ron Capps

Anne Smedinghoff Award Recipient

The Veterans Writing Project is a Washington D.C-based nonprofit founded upon the core belief that every veteran has a story worth telling. VWP provides no-cost writing seminars to veterans, service members, and military family members and commits itself to helping veterans cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Founder and director Ron Capps ‘95 (MLA), ‘11 (MA) served 25 years in government service between the Army and the Foreign Service. Capps has been published on Time and The New York Times, and served as a consultant for Time, Rolling Stone, and PBS Frontline. His memoir, Seriously Not All Right: Five Wars in Ten Years - outlining his time in the service and his personal struggles with PTSD - was published in 2014.

April 5th, 8PM - Mudd Hall

Suroosh Alvi

Acclaimed Journalist & Founder of VICE Media

Suroosh Alvi is Founder of VICE Media, a critically acclaimed journalist, and an Executive Producer of numerous films. Under Alvi’s guidance, VICE, which initially launched in 1994 as a punk magazine, has expanded into a multimedia network, including the world’s premier source for original online video, VICE.COM; an international network of digital channels; a television & feature film production studio including the Emmy winning series VICE on HBO. In February, VICE launched VICELAND, VICE’s first 24-hour television channel, in both the US and Canada featuring original cultural and lifestyle programming.

As a journalist, Alvi has reported from locations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Rwanda and the Gaza Strip. He is a regular host of VICE on HBO and contributor to Vice News. Alvi also hosts Terror, a five-part series examining terrorism in radical Islamic groups throughout the world today. For the series Alvi reported on the ground from Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Yemen. Prior to founding VICE, Alvi attended college at McGill University in Montreal, where he studied Philosophy. He currently resides in New York City.

April 25th, 8 PM - Shriver Hall

PIPER KERMAN

Piper Kerman is the author of the bestselling novel, Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman's Prison, which was later adapted for the hit Netflix series, Orange is the New Black (2013-present). Beyond her writing, Kerman is a staunch supporter of prison reform. She serves on the board of the Women's Prison Association and has testified twice before Congress on the subject of solitary confinement as well as other issues within the American penal system. 

February 10th - 8 PM

EDWARD SNOWDEN

Special thanks to the International Studies Department for their support of this event.

In 2013, Edward Snowden sparked a worldwide debate on the government collection of private information when he revealed documents detailing the NSA's surveillance practices to journalists from The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel and Le Monde in 2013. Frequently hailed as a hero, Snowden has received many awards for his actions, including The Guardian's Person of the Year Award, the German "Whistleblower" Prize, the Sam Adams Award, and a spit on TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World. 

Moderated by Daniel J. Solove, the John Harlan Marshall Research Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School. He founded TeachPrivacy, a company providing privacy and data security training. One of the world’s leading experts in privacy law, Solove is the author of 10 books and more than 50 articles.

February 17th - 8 PM

NAOMI KLEIN

Co-sponsored with the President's Office.

Naomi Klein is the author of This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate, which debuted at #5 on The New York Times bestseller list, was named to multiple Best of 2014 lists, including The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2014, won the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction, and is being translated into over 20 languages.  

February 23rd - 6 PM 

EZRA KLEIn

Ezra Klein is an American journalist known for his extensive coverage of policy and politics, and for his work at Vox, the news website he founded in 2014. Klein has written for the Washington Post, he managed its economic and domestic policy-oriented blog, "Wonkblog", which became the news paper's most read blog in 2011. This achievement led GQ to name Klein as one of Washington D.C's 50 Most Powerful People. 

March 9th - 8 PM

tHE FUTURE OF POLICING IN AMERICA: A MODERATED PANEL

In America today, the role of police as civil servants is under heightened public scrutiny as a result of recent cases of police brutality committed by everyday law enforcement officers gaining national attention. In order to meaningfully address the police abuse of power and force and how to combat twitch constructive policy solutions, FAS will be hosting a panel discussion on the future of policing in America. From the tragic deaths of Freddie Gray to Tyrone West, the acts of violence and intimidation committed against Baltimore citizens greatly affects our community.

FEATURING: Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Pulitzer Prize-Nominated Investigative Journalist at the Baltimore Sun Mark Puente, Journalist Donovan X. Ramsey and Arab-American Activist Linda Sarsour. Moderated by Margaret Huang, Interim Executive Director of Amnesty International USA.

March 22nd - 8 PM 

World bicycle relief

Anne Smedinghoff Award Recipient

Founded in 2005, the World Bicycle Relief (WBR) is an international non-profit specializing in bicycle distribution in rural Africa. Founders F.K and Leah Day developed WBR in 2004 to increase the availability of transportation and grant individuals better access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.  

Leah: Leah Missbach Day is currently a documentary photographer based in Chicago, IL. Day’s artistry extends to the written word with notable accomplishments including the forward to National Geographic’s, Wheels of Change: How Women Road to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy. In 2005, Ms. Day along with her husband F.K., co-founded World Bicycle Relief, a global non-profit organization.

FK: Frederick (F.K.) Day is a long time Chicago businessman, entrepreneur and humanitarian. In 1987, Day, his brother Stan and some friends founded leading bicycle component supplier, SRAM Corporation, which was crucial to the founding of World Bicycle Relief. SRAM produces high-end bicycle components including drive-trains, brakes, suspension and wheels; brands include RockShox, Avid, Truvative, Zipp and Quark. Today, SRAM operates 20 facilities in the US, Europe and Asia and employs over 3,000 people. 

April 7th - 8 PM- Mudd Hall

THE ONION

Staff writers from the satirical newspaper

JESSICA JACKLEY

Co-Founder, KIVA.org

JOHN BOLTON

Former US Ambassador to the UN

anne smedinghoff award recipient

Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Founder and President of the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA)

PRESIDENTIAL EVENT: Re-evaluating the NSA

General Michael Hayden, Former Director, CIA and NSA

Professor David Cole, Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University