Janus Forum: “What Are the Foreign Policy Challenges Facing the Next U.S. President?”
Janus Forum: “What Are the Foreign Policy Challenges Facing the Next U.S. President?”

Janus Forum: Ambassador Wendy Sherman and Admiral James Stavridis to discuss US foreign policy

by Jason B. Barone, CAS communications director

Miami University’s biannual Janus Forum will host Ambassador Wendy Sherman and Admiral James Stavridis, two prominent foreign policy experts. They will discuss “What Are the Foreign Policy Challenges Facing the Next U.S. President?” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the Armstrong Student Center’s Wilks Theater.

Sherman and Stavridis have received numerous accolades for their years of service to the federal government. The talk is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and must be picked up at the box office in 129 Campus Avenue Building.

“While this unusual and unpredictable presidential campaign has focused on a wide range of topics, it has often lacked serious discussion of the key foreign policy challenges that we face today,” said Patrick J. Haney, chair and professor of political science. “We are very fortunate to be able to have the Janus Forum put the spotlight on these issues.”

Ambassador Wendy Sherman

Sherman has served in numerous key roles at the Department of State, working under secretaries Warren Christopher (as assistant secretary for legislative affairs), Madeleine Albright (as special adviser) and Hillary Clinton (as undersecretary of state for political affairs). She oversaw key international bureaus and from 2011-2015 was the leader of the U.S. negotiating team for the landmark Iran nuclear agreement. A recipient of the National Security Medal by President Barack Obama, Sherman now serves as senior counselor at Albright Stonebridge Group, where she assists clients in the realm of geopolitical developments, international markets and policy challenges around the globe.

Admiral James Stavridis

Stavridis spent more than thirty years in the Navy, where he served as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and led operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans and piracy off the coast of Africa. He has also served as senior military assistant to both Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. In 1998 he was awarded both the Battenberg Cup for his command of the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet, as well as the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership. Stavridis has also received more than 50 U.S. and international medals and decorations and has published six books and more than 100 articles. He is now dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

“Ambassador Sherman and Admiral Stavridis will both be shedding light on extremely important issues for the next U.S. president,” said Ruben Garza, a 2016 Miami graduate who majored in political science and now serves as program coordinator for the Janus Forum. “Their discussion may even help persuade some undecided voters in how they will vote during the upcoming election.” Kirsten Fowler, a senior diplomacy and global politics major and master’s student in political science, is moderating the Janus Forum.

"The Janus Forum's mission to foster political discourse and encourage consideration of other points of view is more important now than ever,” said Fowler, who is also the president of the Janus Forum student club. “The U.S. faces incredible global challenges, and this presidential election could change how the U.S. interacts with the world. Ambassador Sherman and Admiral Stavridis will provide great insight into the foreign policy challenges of the next president that all students should hear before they vote."

Audience members: Tweet questions and comments during the event at #janusmiamioh

The Janus Forum is a catalyst for developing timely, interesting and rigorous discussion of public affairs. It is sponsored by The Thomas W. Smith Institute for Political Economy and the Miami University political science department. It is made possible through the generous support of The Thomas W. Smith (Miami ’50) Foundation. For more information, visit the Janus Forum website.