Spring 2026 Events
Sponsored by the University of South Carolina's Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures and the Walker Institute
Speakers: Troy Messick (Rutgers); Diti Bhadra (University of Minnesota); Sameer ud Dowla Khan (Reed)
Dates: In-person component on April 10-11; Fully online component on April 18
Location: Russell House, Room 322
Sponsored by the Walker Institute and the Folks Center for International Business
Speakers: James Story (Former US Ambassador to Venezeula); Ed McMullen (Former US Ambassador of Switzerland); Jerry Cheatham (Vice President of Financial Planning for Sonoco)
Date: April 8, 2026
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Location: DMSB 101 (Hootie Johnson Hall)
A Presentation of New Research and Expert Panel Discussion
Sponsored by the University of South Carolina's Rule of Law Collaborative and Walker Institute
Speakers:
• Dr. Matthew Erie (American University Washington College of Law)
• Michael Kugelman (Atlantic Council)
• Dr. Aparna Pande (Hudson Institute)
• Nilanthi Samaranayake (East-West Center in Washington)
• Crispin Smith (Centre for Information Resilience)
Date: March 24, 2026
Time: 10:30am-12:00pm
Location: United Methodist Building (100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, DC)
Date: February 12, 2026
Time: 7:00
Location: The Nick
Fall 2025 Events
Michael McFaul: Former US Ambassador to Russia, Stanford Professor, and New York Times best-selling author
Date: October 22, 2025
Location: Hootie Johnson Hall (DMSB 101)
Co-Sponsors: The Walker Institute, Folks Center for International Business, Department of Anthropology, with generous support from the Rachel and Jim Hodges Fund
Courtney-Savali Andrews (Oberlin College)
Date: October 17, 2025
Time: 1:10 PM
Location: School of Music Room 006
Courtney-Savali Andrews (Oberlin College)
Date: October 16, 2025
Time: 10:05 - 11:20 AM
Location: Music Building 210 or Zoom QR Code
Co-Sponsors: The Walker Institute, School of Music, and Dept. of African American Studies
Spring 2025 Events
Date: Tuesday March 25th, 6:00 PM
Location: Walker Conference Room, Gambrell Hall 431
Fall 2024 Events
Kwame Dawes: Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Novelist, Guggenheim Fellow, Emmy Award Winner
Date: November 1, 2024
Location: Gambrell Hall
Co-Sponsors: The Walker Institute, Dept. of African American Studies, Center for Civil Rights History and Research
Date: October 28, 2024
Location: Virtual Event
Ambassador James Story
Date: October 14, 2024
Location: Gambrell 431
Description:
James “Jimmy” Story served as the Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota from November 18, 2020, to May 19, 2023. He is now a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and has held various diplomatic roles, including Chargé d’Affaires in Curacao, Eswatini, and Angola, as well as in Venezuela during its operational suspension. Story's previous positions include Consul General in Rio de Janeiro and Director for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. A Senior Foreign Service Officer, he has served in multiple international roles and received numerous awards for his service. He grew up in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, holds degrees from the University of South Carolina and Georgetown University, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. He is married to Susan West Story