Feb. 2: Strengthening Public Diplomacy: The Council of American Overseas Research Centers Join the State Department

The February 2 First Monday Forum will focus on the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) is a network of American overseas research centers (ORCs) assisting American scholars who conduct research in 29 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. CAORC and the ORCs have been supported in the past by the Departments of Education and State. Last year, the Department of Education Title VI American Overseas Research Centers Program was transferred to the State Department. This change presents a new public diplomacy opportunity to build stronger international ties through a closer partnership with American scholar-specialists, engaging their domestic and international networks.
 
Many of the ORCs are venerable institutions that have long supported programs and services helping Americans conduct research and teaching abroad in partnership with host countries. In many countries, the ORCs supplement State Department exchanges and cement long-term engagements with governments and institutions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic stability. New patterns of funding, management and innovative programs will be set in the next few months and deserve careful consideration. 
 
The Public Diplomacy Council of America’s February 2 program will take place at Noon at the GWU Elliot School, chaired by PDCA Board Member Larry Schwartz.

A panel of speakers representing overseas research centers will include:  Heidi Wiederkehr, Executive Director, Council of American Overseas Research Centers; former PD officer Mary Jeffers, Board Chair of the Tangier Legation in Morocco (TALIM), the ORC based in Morocco; and distinguished Amb (ret) Edward Gnehm, GWU Elliott School Professor Emeritus and Board Chair, American Center of Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan.

The event will take place at noon at GWU's Lindner Family Commons (1957 E Street, NW, Room 602, Washington, D.C. 20052) and will also be available via Zoom. For those who arrive before 11:40 a.m., a light lunch will be provided.

To register to attend in-person, click here.
To register to watch the Forum via Zoom, click here.

The First Monday Forum is co-sponsored by PDCA and its partners the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy and the GWU Institute for Public Diplomacy & Global Communication.