Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to give Anderson Lecture

Madeleine Albright

By Addie Rosenthal, Farmer School of Business

Madeleine Albright, America's first female secretary of state, is the speaker for the 2016 Anderson Distinguished Lecture Series presented by Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. She will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at Millett Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The original “Madam Secretary,” Albright is chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets.

Albright was the 64th secretary of state of the United States. When she was named secretary of state in 1997 she became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As secretary of state, Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

From 1993 to 1997, Albright served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President’s Cabinet. She is a professor of diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.

Albright serves on the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Policy Board, a group tasked with providing the secretary of defense with independent, informed advice and opinion concerning matters of defense policy. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute. In 2009, Albright was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to chair a group of experts focused on developing NATO’s New Strategic Concept.

In 2012, President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation's highest civilian honor — to Albright citing the inspiration her life is to all and that her scholarship and insight continue to make the world a better, more peaceful place.

Albright is the author of five New York Times best-sellers: her autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003); The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs (2006); Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership (2008); Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box (2009); and, her most recent book, Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948, (April 2012), in which she tells the story of her experiences and those of her family during and immediately after World War II.

The Jack R. Anderson Distinguished Lecture Series, funded through an endowment established by Jack R. Anderson (Miami ’41) in 2000, exposes students, faculty and staff to people and ideas that are impacting business and society.

ASL interpreters will be provided for the lecture. Other accommodation requests should be directed to student disability services at (513) 529-1541 or SDS@MiamiOH.edu at least 48 hours prior to the event.