Renowned foreign policy expert and University of Iowa (UI) alumna Debra Cagan (BGS ‘75, MA ‘77), will deliver a timely lecture leading up to the 2024 general election, offering critical insights into the current landscape of U.S. geopolitics. With decades of experience in international security, including in zones of conflict, Cagan's talk will explore the intricate dynamics shaping America's role on the global stage. This event presents a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to engage with evolving issues in international relations, from shifting alliances to emerging security challenges.

Cagan will explore different perspectives on contemporary geopolitics and more as part of International Programs’ annual Commitment to Internationalization Lecture Series. Cagan's talk will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2024, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. (CDT), in the International Commons, room 1117 of the University Capitol Centre.

Pre-register to let us know you’re coming

“The first two industrial revolutions occurred over two centuries,” said Cagan. “Now we are witnessing one every few months. But in the modern battlespace where wars are being fought in every conceivable domain, ground, air, sea, space and cyber space, we are witnessing a technological revolution occurring every two to three days. Today's wars are more widespread and, in many ways, infinitely more lethal.  Some aspects of war will remain as they always have been. But as I explore the topic of current geopolitics, it is imperative we recognize just how disruptive, rapid and all-encompassing these conflicts are and why isolationism as a foreign policy is no longer, if it ever really was, realistic."

“With 40% of the world’s population eligible to vote in elections this year, the relevance of geopolitics has never been greater,” said Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of UI International Programs. “Debra Cagan’s expertise in the realm of U.S. foreign policy is an invaluable resource in helping our UI community make sense of the current global landscape. We are very fortunate to have such a distinguished Iowa alumna deliver this year’s Commitment to Internationalization Lecture.”

Debra Cagan is a senior advisor at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, providing expertise on security and energy issues. She is also a distinguished fellow at the Transatlantic Leadership Network and senior advisory board member for StrategEast, a nonprofit dedicated to developing high-tech education, training, and jobs in Eurasia and the Caucasus. She is a regular opinion contributor to multiple publications and television and radio media on national security issues. A retired career senior U.S. State Department and Defense Department official working from the Reagan to Trump administrations, Cagan served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Coalition, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian, and Disaster Relief; senior director for European, Russian, and Eurasian security issues; special advisor for strategic and nuclear policy; political and diplomatic advisor to senior U.S. and NATO military officials, including the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, several combatant commanders, and U.S. and Allied commanders deployed in operations.

While completing post-graduate work at the University of Chicago towards her doctorate, Cagan was named the first woman fellow for the prestigious Armed Forces and Society Consortium. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Iowa.

Cagan's visit is co-organized by UI International Programs, UI Graduate College, UI Department of Political Science, and the University of Iowa Center for Advancement.

International Programs’ Commitment to Internationalization Lecture Series features experts in the field of international education. These experts help to foster ongoing, campus-wide conversations about the UI’s vision and strategic themes for campus internationalization.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Daniel Vorwerk in advance at daniel-vorwerk@uiowa.edu or 319-467-1619. 

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.