An impressive group of Occidental College alumni prominent in foreign and national security affairs will honor long-time politics professor Larry Caldwell on Saturday, February 19 with a day-long conference on current challenges in international affairs.
Caldwell, the Cecil H. and Louise Gamble Professor in Political Science, has taught at Occidental for 44 years, longer than any faculty member in the school's 124-year history. "Outstanding mentors like Larry and the College's 53-year-old diplomacy and world affairs program are two key factors behind Occidental's outsized success in producing leaders in international fields," said conference co-organizer Roger George '71, a career CIA official now teaching at the National War College.
An expert in Russian foreign and military policy, arms control and U.S. national security policy, Caldwell has taught at the National War College in Washington, D.C., been a scholar-in-residence at the Central Intelligence Agency, advised major foundations and political candidates, and testified before both houses of Congress.
Former Caldwell students who will participate in four panel discussions include George; Gloria Duffy,'75, a nuclear arms negotiator during the Clinton administration; Coit Blacker '72, former senior director of Clinton's National Security Council, now director of Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies; Richard Falkenrath '91, former deputy homeland security advisor to President George W. Bush; Ambassador William Bellamy '72, former U.S. envoy to Kenya; senior New York Times correspondent Erik Eckholm '71; Jessie Evans '06, of the U.S. State Department Office of the Special Coordinator for Stability and Reconstruction; and Duane Muller '92, senior climate change specialist at the United States Agency for International Development.
Caldwell will be honored at a dinner Saturday evening. A noted scholar and long-time colleague, Robert Legvold, the Marshall D. Shulman Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, will be the keynote speaker. There will also be an open-mic opportunity for participants to share their thoughts on the issues and the contributions the College has made to the study and practice of international affairs.
On Sunday morning, February 20, panelists and other alumni attending will be welcomed back to the College for a light breakfast, and current Occidental students will be invited to join them to discuss international career interests. This will be a way to help mentor future Occidental alumni in setting their sights on the interesting and rewarding international careers now available to graduates.
Cost: $100 per attendee, $75 per GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade, 2001-2010) alumni attendee. The conference fee covers the cost of meals and other event logistics.
For more information, a complete schedule of events, and to register, go to http://alumni.oxy.edu/s/956/index.aspx?sid=956&gid=1&pgid=1119.
