Former U.S. Ambassador Donna J. Hrinak will speak about the cliches and realities of Latin America in the 21st century at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 at Duke University.
Her lecture, "Latin America: More Than Just an Asterisk?" will explore what Latin American countries are doing to compete and contribute in a global world. The Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. Lecture on International Studies is free and open to the public and takes place in room 04 at the Sanford School of Public Policy.
The current president of Boeing Brazil, Hrinak previously served as U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, and as deputy assistant secretary of state for Mexico and the Caribbean. She has also held assignments in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Poland and was vice president of global public policy and government affairs at PepsiCo, Inc.
Hrinak's honors include the U.S. government's Distinguished Public Service Award and the State Department's Career Achievement Award. In 2005, she was named international businesswoman of the year by the Miami chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade. Hrinak serves on the board of directors of the Inter-American Dialogue and on the board of counselors of McLarty Associates. She is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. Lecture on International Studies was established by Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and James H. Semans and their family to honor Mrs. Semans' father, who had a distinguished career as a diplomat serving the United States and was an original signer of The Duke Endowment.
The lecture symbolizes Duke University's continuing commitment to promoting international understanding and the foreign service as a career option.