Marist University hosted Dr. Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and chancellor of Durham University, for a discussion on global affairs with students, faculty, staff, and local residents. The event was moderated by Marist President Kevin Weinman and associate professor of political science Dr. Juris Pupcenoks.
Dr. Hill shared insights from her experience on the National Security Council and her memoir, “There Is Nothing for You Here.” She discussed current issues such as the war in Ukraine and recent military actions in Venezuela. Dr. Hill also addressed broader themes related to power, policy, and democratic responsibility.
During the conversation, Dr. Hill highlighted the importance of international education: “Kudos to Marist, frankly, to have these opportunities to go and study and to visit abroad and to learn about other cultures, because we have to really understand the context in which other people are operating,” she said. “If you have a chance to study another language, even if you’re not going to be able to kind of use it for professional purposes, it opens up your mind because people think differently in other languages.”
She encouraged students to stay engaged with global issues: “Start with where you are and what you know from your own surroundings. And then just be extremely curious about asking a lot of questions about the world. And if you get the opportunity to study abroad and to get internships abroad, you definitely should take it.”
Prior to the lecture, Dr. Hill met with students and toured campus facilities including the Marist Institute for Public Opinion.
The event was part of Marist’s ongoing lecture series that features prominent figures from media, global affairs, and the arts throughout each semester. Earlier this term, actor and comedian Aasif Mandvi was among those who spoke at Marist. The series is supported by several campus departments such as Student Affairs; Special Events; Media Center and Information Technology; Campus Safety; First-Year Seminars; Honors College; Deans’ Circle; Student Government Association; as well as the Offices of the President and Provost.
