To the Secretary: Leaked Embassy Cables and America’s Foreign Policy Disconnect with Dr. Mary Thompson-Jones

This event is free but registration is required.

Join the World Affairs Council for a discussion with Dr. Mary Thompson-Jones on her recent book, "To the Secretary:  Leaked Embassy Cables and America's Foreign Policy Disconnect."

A networking reception with light refreshments will be held  at 5:30pm.  The formal program will begin at 6:00pm.

Students with a valid I.D. are welcome to attend, free of charge.

About the book:

The WikiLeaks scandal certainly stirred tempers around the world, but it was not the implosion that many leaders expected: rather, it shed a new spotlight on the work of the U.S. foreign service. In To the Secretary, Mary Thompson-Jones explores the most fascinating and overlooked of these cables to offer an unparalleled window into the day-to-day work of U.S. diplomats, demystifying the lives of those who implement America’s foreign policy across the globe. From the story of Bulgaria’s Aleksi “the Tractor” Petrov to disappearing ballot ink in Ukraine, a Honduran coup d’état, or disaster relief for a devastated Haiti, To the Secretary depicts the work of ambassadors and foreign service officers through their firsthand narratives dealing with crises, corruption, and testy world leaders. To the Secretary also reveals the disconnect that diplomats face at home, guided by conflicting approaches from multiple Washington stakeholders intent on their own agenda, often unaware of realities on the ground. In an honest assessment of America’s foreign policy challenges, Thompson-Jones describes the deepening gulf between decision makers in Washington and their diplomats in the field.

About the speaker:

Dr. Mary Thompson-Jones is a faculty member and the faculty director of the Master of Science in Global Studies and International Relations program and Professor of the Practice. Her research interests include international diplomacy, the intersection of cultural diplomacy and international higher education, and U.S. foreign policy in the geographic regions of Europe and Latin America.

Previously, Dr. Thompson-Jones was a career diplomat and foreign policy practitioner with 23 years of experience in the U.S. Department of State. She served in embassies and consulates in Madrid, Prague, Quebec, Guatemala, Sarajevo, and in Washington, D.C. Dr. Thompson-Jones attained the rank of minister counselor while serving as chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, where her portfolio included missile defense negotiations, the Czech entry into the visa waiver system, and the Czech presidency of the European Union. She oversaw two visits from President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, several cabinet secretaries, and numerous congressional delegations. In other overseas postings, she was a counselor for public diplomacy who orchestrated embassy work on media outreach programs and academic exchange programs. Dr. Thompson-Jones also served as the State Department’s Diplomat in Residence for the New England region, and she was the former dean of International Graduate Programs at Endicott College.

About the moderator:

AJ Rei-Perrine began her professional career a US diplomat, implementing foreign policy and providing first-hand reporting and analysis in Eastern Europe and South America.  Later she helped run an international film company, producing television, short films, and documentaries overseas.  She practiced law for several years upon her return to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and is now in management consulting.  She is from Seattle.

Additional event information:

To access this event please enter the university on the corner of Terry Ave N. and Republican Street. Parking is available after 5pm for $2 plus tax at 320 Westlake and 321 Terry, both or which are accessible from the alley between Harrison and Thomas.

This event is co-sponsored by Northeastern University.