Texas Tech University

American Academy of Diplomacy, Texas Tech Host 5th Annual Ambassadors' Forum

Date & Time: March 9, 2020 | 5 PM

The panelists will discuss the China Challenge.

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The American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD) and the Texas Tech University Office of International Affairs will host the fifth annual Ambassadors' Forum at 5:00 p.m. Monday (March 9) in the International Cultural Center auditorium, 601 Indiana Ave. The panel is free and open to the public and will discuss the challenges and possible solutions to the US relationship with China.

During their time in Lubbock, the Ambassadors will meet with members of the leadership of the Lubbock Independent School District and about 200 local high school students. The Ambassadors will also have sessions with Texas Tech students and faculty.

"This year's Ambassadors Forum at Texas Tech provides the opportunity to engage in dialogue related to the role of China from the academic challenges such as intellectual property and scholarly exchange to trade, security, and other related issues in international relations and affairs," said Sukant Misra, vice provost for International Affairs. "Having these incredible practitioners on our campus is a unique opportunity, and we encourage members of the Texas Tech and Lubbock community to take part in the discussion."

This year's panel of Ambassadors will feature perspectives of four distinguished, high-ranking former U.S diplomats including:

Panelists are:

Ronald

Ronald Neumann

Ronald Neumann AAD board president and former deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, will serve as moderator for the debate. Neumann has served as ambassador to Algeria, Bahrain and Afghanistan.

Charles A. Ray served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Zimbabwe. In addition, he was the first U.S. Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. During his diplomatic career, Ray served at consular posts in Guangzhou and Shenyang, China, and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Charles A. Ray

Charles A. Ray

Catherine A. Novelli

Catherine A. Novelli

The Honorable Catherine A. Novelli, who served as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment and is now president of Listening for America, an organization dedicated to forging a new vision of U.S. international trade engagement.

Ambassador (retired) Sylvia Gay Stanfield, a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, focused on China for much of her 30 plus years in the in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taiwan. She also served on the State Department's “China desk” at the time of the normalization of US relations with the People's Republic of China.

Sylvia Gay Stanfield

Sylvia Gay Stanfield