Biddle Lecture April 7 to Focus on Protecting Civilians

The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

This year’s Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr. Lecture on International Studies speaker is Lise Grande, president and CEO of the U.S. Institute of Peace. Her in-person talk Thursday, April 7, will focus on “Protecting Civilians in an Age of Instability.”

“I can’t think of a more urgent moment for a conversation on what will be possible with the role of the institute than right now,” said Patrick Duddy, a former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela who directs Duke’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

“Certainly in the last 20 years there has rarely been a moment of greater concern globally. I think engaging the president of the U.S. Institute of Peace about how her institute can contribute to building and sustaining peace in Eastern Europe, but also elsewhere, is really a special opportunity.”

The talk is open to the public and takes place at 5:30 p.m. in Goodson Chapel in the Duke Divinity School. Parking is available in the garage next to the Bryan Center off Science Drive.

“The Biddle Lecture is designed to promote international understanding and inspire the young generation to consider careers in international affairs and public service, and she’s a good inspiration for them,” said Giovanni Zanalda, director of the Duke University Center for International & Global Studies (DUCIGS).

Grande has 25 years of continuous overseas experience leading, managing and coordinating complex operations for the United Nations. She has held leadership positions in humanitarian, stabilization, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and development operations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caucasus.

The nonpartisan U.S. Institute of Peace is a national, independent institute founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential for U.S. and global security.

The institute links research, policy, training, analysis and direct action to support those in conflict zones who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.

Duddy said the institute is one of the world’s most effective yet least known organizations working on international affairs.

He added that the institute could play a significant role in the future of Ukraine.

“It will be critically important that the United States and its allies, and certainly around the world, that the international community be committed once fighting ends to sustaining the peace, and sustaining the peace is going require the insight the institute specializes in,” Duddy said.

“They look at things like justice, diversity, equity and development. There is not a one-dimensional view of the world but rather multi-dimensional.”

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 and was an original signer of The Duke Endowment.

This lecture series symbolizes Duke University's continuing commitment to promoting international understanding and public service.

The program is made possible by the Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Lectureship Endowment and by the Mary Trent Jones-Sarah Trent Harris-Rebecca Trent Kirkland Endowment.

A list of previous speakers can be viewed at Biddle Lecture Speaker Archives.