Former CIA agent will present for Global Perspective Speaker Series

Lee Hamilton will kick off the Global Perspectives Speaker series at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Indiana Memorial Union’s State Room East with a banquet following. Hamilton is currently a member of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, CIA External Advisory Board and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Task Force.

He is also a Maurer School of Law graduate. He will be speaking about the topic of coexistence and conflict mediation across the globe, according to a press release. Hamilton has previously worked for Homeland Security, CIA and as a part of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The speech, sponsored by the IU School of Global an International Studis, is the beginning of a series that will take place this semester. According to the press release, the speeches’ aim is to embody the leadership qualities that the campus aims to develop in students as they continue with their education at IU.  

Hamilton said he wants to share his expertise with students.

“I’m going to share my observations about how to solve conflict,” he said. “It’s one of the most important political skills to be able to solve conflicts.”

Associate Dean for International Programs Maria Bucur-Deckard said Hamilton was chosen for the first speech because he could share his great wisdom and reputation in global conflicts.

“There will be three semesters of speeches, and the first semester had to represent the best that Indiana has to offer,” Bucur-Deckard said.

In addition to his involvement in politics and government, Hamilton is also the director of the IU Center on Congress. The Center is a nonpartisan educational institution seeking to improve the understanding of Congress and hopes to inspire young people to be an active part in revitalizing the representative government in America.

“I appear before classes with invitation from professors,” Hamilton said. “The Center is geared more toward younger students, like middle and high schoolers, than IU students.”

The center has developed out of Hamilton’s 34 years of service to the U.S. House and out of his desire to have the public be more familiar with the Congress’ strengths and weaknesses, according to a press release.

Hamilton said a lot of what he will speak about comes from what the Center teaches.

“What I will say will come from experience from the Center on Congress and service on many commissions,” he said. “What I’ll talk about is related to the function of the Center on Congress.”

The international relations series will have four speakers this semester, including Maya Jasanoff, Michael Guest, Hamilton and a fourth surprise speaker who will be announced later this semester.