The Young Initiative invites foreign policy experts and guest speakers to campus to engage in discussions on international relations and the global political economy with students and faculty.

Upcoming Events

Annually: United Nations Week

With the William and Elizabeth Kahane United Nations Program, the Young Initiative supports the annual United Nations Week at Occidental College, each spring. We are passionate in maintaining students involvement and engagement in sustainable development. Our students choose topics that link Global Political Economy, Social Justice, and Sustainable Development.

Ongoing Young Speakers Events

Young Initiative speakers give students and faculty an opportunity to expand their understanding of global issues. The Young Initiative sponsors several speakers each academic year highlighting particular aspects of global affairs and the global political economy.  The Young Speakers program is devoted to highlighting the work and success of eminent international affairs experts and Oxy alumni in public service and academia.

 

Image for Consul General of Australia Karen Lanyon
Consul General of Australia Karen Lanyon

Karen Lanyon, the Australian Consul-General, visited the McKinnon Center today to speak to Professor Derek Shearer's class on Sports and Diplomacy. Karen Lanyon commenced as Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles in July 2012.

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Image for Leon Grice, Consul General of New Zealand, visits
Leon Grice, Consul General of New Zealand, visits campus

Leon took up the role of New Zealand Consul General Los Angeles in June 2012. His career in the private sector as a business owner and entrepreneur was interrupted in 2009 when he was asked to establish the New Zealand 2011 Office which was responsible for the leverage and legacy programme delivered for Rugby World Cup 2011.

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Image for Geoff Cowan, former head of Voice for America visi
Geoff Cowan, former head of Voice for America visits campus

Throughout his career, Geoffrey Cowan has been an important force across a spectrum of communication and public policy arenas - as a lawyer, academic administrator, government official, best-selling author, distinguished professor, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning producer.

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Image for Ambassador Rudi Veestraeten
Ambassador Rudi Veestraeten

Ambassador Rudi Veestraeten, the Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles, visited the McKinnon Center today to visit Professor Derek Shearer's class on Sports and Diplomacy. 

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Image for Grace Kim and Octavio Herrera visit DWA 151:  Entr
Grace Kim and Octavio Herrera visit DWA 151: Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Young Initiative is excited to welcome Octavio Herrera and Grace Kim to DWA 151: Entrepreneurial Leadership. These two successful, but very different entrepreneurs, will speak about their journey and what it took to get there.

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Image for Nayan Chanda: Visualizing Globalization
Nayan Chanda: Visualizing Globalization

Nayan Chanda visited campus today to give a talk entitled "Visualizing Globalization." Nayan Chanda is the Director of Publications and the Editor of Yale Global Online Magazine at the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.

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Contact the John Parke Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy
Johnson Hall

The McKinnon Center for Global Affairs