On the evening of October 23, Vanderbilt had the privilege of hosting an illuminating fireside chat featuring Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the United States, and Morgan Ortagus, former spokesperson for the United States Department of State.
As the university focuses on expanding its global presence through research, dialogue, and relationship building as part of its Sesquicentennial celebration, this event provided an opportunity for the Vanderbilt community to hear firsthand from a global leader on critical issues facing our world.
“Welcoming Ambassador Pierce tonight signifies Vanderbilt’s commitment to being a global university in every sense of the word — engaging with people and issues around the globe, and bringing our scholarship and innovative capacity to bear on urgent challenges that have and know no boundaries,” said Chancellor Daniel Diermeier.
The fireside chat touched on a range of critical topics, including global conflicts and alliances, security, trade and U.S./U.K. relations.
Notably, Ortagus and Pierce delved into the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Pierce emphasized the importance of a two-state solution and the need to bring both sides back to the negotiation table to prevent the conflict from becoming a regional war.
The Ambassador also highlighted the significance of Britain’s support of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, stressing that Europe's stability hinged on this support.
Pierce noted that the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine could have implications for Taiwan. She spoke of Britain’s efforts to ease tensions between China and Taiwan, underlining the importance of avoiding a wider crisis and maintaining open channels of communication.
At the conclusion of the event, the Ambassador graciously fielded questions from the audience, providing students and other attendees with the unique opportunity to actively participate in the discussion.
Vanderbilt's role in hosting this public event showcases the university's global reach and its commitment to providing students and the wider community with the opportunity to engage in open dialogue on pressing global issues.
Event sponsors included the Division of Government and Community Relations and the Max Kade Center for European and German Studies.