A panel discussion on the world-changing impact of 9/11 is set for Tuesday at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega.

The public is invited to hear four instructors give a range of perspectives as part of an ongoing observation of the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

“Obviously, 9/11 is one of those events that shaped American history and shaped world history,” said Chris Jespersen, dean of the School of Arts & Letters and the event’s organizer.

“We’re very fortunate that we have a good number of faculty who have professional expertise or personal or professional experience with matters relating to 9/11.”

The event, which is free, is set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Gloria Shott Auditorium in the Nix Performing Arts Building.

Featured speakers are:

Col. Philip Rosso of the Department of Military Science. Rosso, who served in the Middle East, will speak on “The Impact on Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Jon Miner of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. He will speak on “The Wider Geographic Region and the Impact of 9/11.”

Ron Martz of the English and History & Philosophy departments. Speaking on “Media Responses to 9/11 and the Aftermath,” he was embedded as a reporter with one of the military units during the war in Iraq.

Victoria Hightower of the Department of History & Philosophy. She will speak on “Arabs and Muslims in America After 9/11.”

Each instructor will speak for about 15 minutes.

Panelists will field questions from the audience for an hour.

“I think we will find a very lively and engaging discussion,” Jespersen said. “I’m expecting an array of people.”

He expects that the audience will include people who have either served in the region or know others who have, “and they’re going to want to talk about it.”

Jespersen said he has to be “mindful” that the audience may feature 18-year-old freshmen, who were 8 or 9 when the terrorist attacks occurred.

“That’s a much different age to be at when something of this magnitude happens,” he said. “For our incoming students, it’s beneficial to hear from people who have reflected on this and experienced it.”

Edie Rogers, spokeswoman at the college, noted in a press release that “this is a poignant anniversary for the university, as many members of its Corps of Cadets and alumni have served in the military operations resulting from the 9/11 attacks.”

Seven North Georgia students and alumni have been killed in military action in the decade since 9/11, she added.

North Georgia is one of only six senior military colleges in the U.S. and is designated by state law as the Military College of Georgia. The university’s Corps of Cadets numbers nearly 800 and represents about 15 percent of the student body.