Great Decisions lecture series
Hosted by North Georgia College & State
University
Free eight-week series begins Jan. 23 and continues until March. 15. Two meetings will be held each week.
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Mondays: at the Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St., Gainesville
Thursdays: Forsyth County at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming
Week 1: Middle East realignment with Dr. Victoria Hightower, assistant professor of history
Week 2: Cyber security with Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and North Georgia’s chief information officer
Week 3: promoting democracy with Jonathan Miner, associate professor of political science
Week 4: Exit from Afghanistan and Iraq with Dr. Chris Jespersen
Week 5: Indonesia with Dr. J.T. Kwon
Week 6: Mexico with Dr. Tamara Spike
Week 7: State of the oceans with Dr. Nancy Dalman
Week 8: Energy geopolitics with Dr. Anna Rulska
North Georgia College & State University returns for the third year with The Great Decisions lecture series produced by the Foreign Policy Association.
The eight-week series will begin tonight and continue until March 15 in Hall and Forsyth counties. The sessions will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at the Gainesville Civic Center and Thursdays at the Cumming Library.
The lectures give participants the chance to learn from the university's expert faculty members about global issues that impact the economy and world politics.
"We get faculty who've done this in the past who enjoyed it so much they sign up to do it year after year," Chris Jespersen, dean of the School of Arts and Letters at NGCSU, said.
This year's series will cover topics ranging from Middle East realignment to energy geopolitics.
Jespersen said attendees should expect a lively and entertaining presentation.
The speakers will present a 45-minute lecture. After the lecture the audience has the opportunity for questions and community discussion.
"One of the great things about the audience is many of them bring real experience either from their work or travels and it becomes the second half of the event," Jespersen said.
As many as 75 people attended the meetings last year. The event is free and open to the public. Jespersen said the people who come to the event are there because they enjoy having an intellectual discussion with others who are interested in these topics.
"People who've become involved with the series really enjoy it. Some of (the lectures) in the past have had standing room only," Jespersen said.
The eight discussion topics are chosen by the national Great Decisions editorial board and are based on the most pressing global issues and regions.
An accompanying book with articles on the discussion topics will be for sale at the series for $20. The book is not required for participation. The topics will also be airing nationally on the Great Decisions Television series on PBS stations.