Community USF to Host 3rd Annual World Affairs Conference at St Pete Campus This Month

ST. PETERSBURG — An impressive panel of diplomats, military and intelligence officials, and media and academic experts will address topics of international concern when the University of South Florida hosts its 3rd annual Conference on World Affairs, February 26-28, at its St Petersburg campus.

“This year's conference, as always, will focus on the most timely issues of the day," said Dr. Thomas Smith, director of the USFSP Honors Program and a conference founder. "Panelists will address geopolitical issues of Syria, Cuba, and Ukraine, as well as the challenges of climate change, infectious diseases, and women's rights."

St Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman greets attendees at the 2014 conference

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in France and Nigeria, the collapse of Iraq and the rise of ISIS, the conference will place special emphasis on the U.S. foreign policy towards Islamist extremism. Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, will be among speakers addressing terrorism.

Other speakers include Damon Wilson, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council; Ilkka Ahtokivi, chief editor of Finland’s political weekly newspaper and biggest political online portal; Ambassador Lawrence Butler, former Political Advisor to the US Commander of Forces in Europe; and Norine MacDonald, President and Lead Field Researcher of ICOS, an international research organization.

"As we look to our future, there are many ambitious but attainable goals for our campus, and one of them is enhancing opportunities for global initiatives," said Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska. "It is my hope that USFSP will be the region's leader in diversity and globalization."

The conference will take place at the University Student Center, 200 6th Avenue South in downtown St Petersburg. Complimentary parking will be available at the USFSP parking garage. All sessions are free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged.

Seating is limited, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, including a complete schedule of speakers, please visit the event website.