Thursday April 10th, 5:30 at the Harkin Center – Mr. Eric Shrimp
Eric Shrimp manages international government affairs for Principal Financial Group, advising the company’s global asset management and pension businesses on geopolitical risk and regulatory issues. He also coordinates the company’s advocacy before foreign governments and international organizations on asset management and pension industry regulatory matters.
Eric’s career began as an officer in the U.S. Foreign Service with diplomatic assignments in China and Hong Kong. He also served in Washington in crisis management in the Operations Center of the State Department, and as a trade negotiator in the Clinton and Bush 43 Administrations.
Following his government service, Eric managed a public policy consultancy practice at major law firms in Washington, DC where he advised sovereign governments on trade negotiations, and foreign and economic policy issues.
Eric has a B.A. in International Relations from Drake University and an M.A. in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.
Tuesday March 25th, 5:30 at the Harkin Center – Ambassador Ryan Crocker
Ambassador Crocker’s 37-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service spanned some of the most volatile and critical regions of the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Lebanon. His service included six U.S. ambassadorships in Afghanistan (2011-2012), Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993).
In recognition of his service, Crocker was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2009, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He retired from the Foreign Service as a Career Ambassador, the highest rank within the U.S. State Department. Throughout his tenure, he received multiple prestigious awards, including the Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Civilian Service and the CIA’s Director’s Award.
Tuesday February 11th, 5:30 at the Harkin Center – Dr. James Ketterer
Dr. James Ketterer, Senior Fellow for Civic Engagement at Bard College in New York will speak to the unique topic of Jazz Diplomacy: America’s Conversation With the World. The discussion will focus on the important role jazz musicians and jazz music had during the Cold War. Dr. Ketterer last spoke to our group in September of 2022; his topic during that presentation was on Egypt/US Relations during the time of the Egyptian revolution. Additional information about Dr. Ketterer is found below.
Information about Dr. James Ketterer
Web Link – CURRENT: Linked-in profile for Dr. Ketterer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-ketterer-4025aa1
Web Link – from September 2022: GDMCFR web page about Dr. Ketterer https://gdmcfr.org/974-2
James Ketterer is Senior Fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College in New York state. At Bard, he previously served as Dean of International Studies and Director of the Bard Globalization and International Studies program in New York City. Ketterer also served as Dean of the School of Continuing Education at the American University in Cairo and as Egypt Country Director for AMIDEAST, a large educational NGO represented across the Middle East and North Africa. He was at the State University of New York for several years, serving as Vice Chancellor for Policy and Planning, Deputy Provost, and Director of the Center for International Development, where he implemented large capacity building projects supported by the US Agency for International Development. These projects worked with parliaments and other institutions in many countries across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. He has also worked in government, including at the National Security Council, the New York Senate, and the New York Commission on Higher Education.
James Ketterer moved to Egypt at the time of the Egyptian Revolution in early 2011 and was there through the regime change in 2013 and then returned in 2019-23. He was director of an educational and cultural affairs NGO that strengthens ties between the U.S. and the Middle East and worked closely with the U.S. embassy and the Egyptian government and later served as a dean at the American University in Cairo. This gave him an up-close view of the turbulent events, misread circumstances, and missed opportunities that strained U.S.-Egyptian relations.
Jazz Ambassadors:
https://www.pbs.org/show/jazz-ambassadors
What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears?
Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President:
https://www.jimmycartermovie.com
Louis: