Events
Senior Salon
Friday, October 23, 2026
4:00pm-5:30pm
Keck Center Library
Share perspectives, discuss global politics, and explore complex topics of global policy with IR faculty members!
Exploring Careers in the Foreign Service with Ambassador Maria Brewer
Join Ambassador Maria E. Brewer for a conversation about careers in diplomacy and international service.
Throughout her career, Ambassador Brewer has served in senior diplomatic and leadership roles around the world, including assignments in Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, and Washington, D.C. Her experience includes work in career development and assignments, embassy management, and senior leadership within the U.S. Department of State.
Hear about her experiences serving around the world and learn about pathways into the U.S. Foreign Service.
Gender and Security: A Personal Perspective with Ms. Shawn Skelly
Shawn Skelly, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, retired U.S. Navy officer, and member of the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, will share an appreciation of her life’s and career’s experience at the intersection of two of today’s most intractable issues, gender and security; having come of age in a Cold War world, rising to help to lead one of the largest and most visible enterprises in America, and now a part of the national struggle for LGBTQ+ civil rights.
Registration is required for this Athenaeum Dinner Program here.
A Celebration of the 81st Birthday of the United Nations: Diplomatic Prospects for Ukraine & Iran with Hilary Appel
A Celebration of the 81st Birthday of the United Nations: “Diplomatic Prospects for Ukraine and Iran” with Hilary Appel, Director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies and Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow, Claremont McKenna College.
Reservations Required by October 22 - seating is limited.
Register for this event here.
FREE for Claremont Colleges students with a reservation.
Sponsors: United Nations Association of Pomona Valley; UNA of The Claremont Colleges; Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies, CMC; European Union Center, Scripps College; International Relations Program, Pomona College; Rotary Club of Claremont; League of Women Voters of the Mt. Baldy Area; NAACP of Pomona Valley; and many other college and community organizations
CIRS Presents: State of the World Ath Event
The Claremont International Relations Society (CIRS) Presents: State of the World
Annual Ath Event: Join us for dinner and great conversations.
Come meet IR faculty and upperclassmen and learn more about spring courses and exciting opportunities in IR!
Registration is required at this link.
The Global Crackdown on LGBTQ Movements with Professor Phillip M. Ayoub
The Global Crackdown of LGBTQ Movements with Professor Phillip M. Ayoub, Director of International Public Policy, University College London
Professor Ayoub will discuss the global crackdown on LGBTQ movements: the networks driving it, and how activists are responding.
What an Unexpected Life of Service Taught Me with Miemie Winn Byrd '89
Join this important discussion about the significance of military service. Few of us can predict where life will take us. For Miemie Winn Byrd ’89, an unexpected decision to try Army ROTC led to Claremont McKenna College, an opportunity made possible by CMC’s decision to open its doors to women 50 years ago, and a journey spanning military service, business, education, national security, international relations, and Myanmar’s struggle for democracy. Drawing on her experiences as a soldier, leader, educator, immigrant, and Burmese American, Byrd shares lessons from an unconventional life of service: embracing unexpected opportunities and identities, defining success from within, persevering through failure, and leading with character, kindness, and respect. She invites students to consider not only what they hope to accomplish, but who they want to become in service to something larger than themselves.
Registration for this Athenaeum Dinner Program can be completed here.
The Realm: Muhammad bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia
In his presentation, Professor Bernard Haykel will focus on the modern political history of Saudi Arabia and analyze this country's decades long relationship with the United States. He will also examine the political restructuring of the kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS): how he has centralized power, engaged in economic reform, and developed a new form of nationalism. In so doing, the kingdom has undergone a reconfiguration of state religious relations under Vision 2030, the modernization program MBS has begun. Haykel's lecture will situate all these changes within broader historical patterns of Saudi state formation and regional geopolitics.
Please register here.
Professor Appel Presents Keck Center Weekend IR Film Series: The Death of Stalin (2017)
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Please register at this link. The event location will be shared with registered attendees prior to the screening.
When tyrannical dictator Joseph Stalin dies in 1953, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. Among the contenders are the dweebish Georgy Malenkov, the wily Nikita Khrushchev and Lavrentiy Beria -- the sadistic secret police chief. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains -- just who is running the government?
Professor Bou Nassif Presents Keck Center Weekend IR Film Series: A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia (1992)
A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia (1992)
This unofficial sequel to the classic 1962 Lawrence of Arabia follows Lawrence and his ally Prince Faisal to the 1919 peace conference in Versailles. There, the dream of creating a new Arab state under the leadership of Faisal faces the hard realities of power and colonial designs on the Middle East.
A Keck Center Speaker Series on Race, Gender, & Identity with feminist legend Cynthia Enloe, on Zoom
Please join us for this in-person Zoom-hosted event. Refreshments will be served.
Cynthia Enloe is Research Professor of Political Science in the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, with affiliations in Women’s and Gender Studies and Political Science, all at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Cynthia Enloe’s career has included Fulbrights in Malaysia and Guyana, guest professorships in Japan, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland. In 2022, Cynthia served as The Middlebrook/Djerassi Visiting Professor of Gender Studies at University of Cambridge, UK. She has presented lectures in Japan, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Colombia, Bosnia, Turkey, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland, Ukraine and at universities around the U.S. Her writings have been translated into Ukrainian, Spanish, Bosnian, Arabic, Turkish, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Swedish, Czech, Icelandic, Finnish, German and Chinese.
Professor Bou Nassif Presents Keck Center Weekend IR Film Series: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
T.E. Lawrence was a British intelligence officer, scholar, and an ally of the Arab movement who fought against the Ottomans in WWI. This classic epic biographical drama follows Lawrence as he organizes guerilla warfare against the Ottoman troops in Arabia, and works with Prince Faisal (the first King of modern Iraq) to pursue their shared dream of building an Arab state on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire.
Kirin Narayan on Excavating Family Stories: The God of Making and the Ellora Caves
Join us for this presentation featuring Kirin Narayan as she shares her experience on growing up as a half-American child in India, and being captivated by her father’s tales of an ancestral connection to the rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. The stretch of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves at Ellora, today recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, were chiseled from basalt between the sixth and tenth centuries CE. Among these caves is a magnificent seventh-century Buddhist worship hall that across centuries has been celebrated by artisans of Western India as the home of Vishwakarma, the God of Making.
Kirin Narayan's Athenaeum presentation is co-sponsored by the Kutten Lectureship in Religious Studies, Center for Writing and Public Discourse, and Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies, all at CMC.
Kravis Center Research Institutes Open House
Join the Keck Center, the Mgrublian Center, and the Salvatori Center for an Open House on the third floor of Kravis Center, 888 Columbia Ave. Learn more about these Institutes and how you can get involved! Food and refreshments will be served. Swag will be available while supplies last. All are welcome! No registration necessary.
Celebration for IR Graduates
Please join the IR faculty with your families to celebrate all international relations students who are graduating this year! The event will be held on the Kravis 4th Floor North Patio. Celebratory refreshments and snacks will be provided.
State of the Thesis Celebration
Seniors in IR, Gov and Public Policy will share their thesis research in a celebratory research fair on the Gann Quadrangle. Come join us! All welcome!
Vinod Aggarwal Athenaeum Event
Come to the Athenaeum to learn about New Economic Statecraft with Professor Vinod Aggarwal (Berkeley)!
Ambassador Michael McFaul on China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder
Ambassador Michael McFaul will give the Adams Family Distinguished Lecture at the Athenaeum and share insights from his best selling book Autocrats versus Democrats (2025) drawing from the cases of China, Russia, and the United States.
G. John Ikenberry on “Can the International Liberal Order Survive Trump 2.0?
Come to the Athenaeum to learn about the future of the global order from the leading political scientist John Ikenberry (Princeton) and hear his perspective on whether the institutions and norms of liberal order will survive to fight another day. This lecture honors the legacy of Ambassador George Kennan.
Gender and Security: A Personal Perspective with Ms. Shawn Skelly
Please join the Keck Center for an engaging discussion on gender and security with Ms. Shawn Skelly, the former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The event will occur in Kravis Lower Court 63, with pizza and salad provided for lunch. Register here.
Hot Topic Discussion on the US War on Iran with Professors Taw, Malekzadeh, Bou Nassif, and Appel
Professors Taw, Malekzadeh, Bou Nassif, and Appel will engage in a panel discussion and Q&A about the ongoing US War on Iran. Register here. Pizza and salad will be served at 11:35am, and the event will be located in Freeburg Forum (Kravis Lower Court 62). This event is jointly sponsored by CMC’s Open Academy.
James Stocker (Trinity) on Lebanon's Political-Security Challenges
Professor Stocker will speak at the Athenaeum on current political conditions and security realities in Lebanon today.
Jessica Zarkin on US-Foreign Policy in Latin America
Professor Zarkin will offer her insights on the current relationship between Mexico and the United States under the Trump and Sheinbaum administrations and US foreign policy in other Latin American countries. Come to Freeburg Forum (KRV 62). Signup required to reserve lunch.
Career Event with Stephanie Henning
Join us for a career discussion with Stephanie Henning, Head of International Policy at Johnson and Johnson, who will share her professional journey and her insights about careers in business and law for IR and Gov majors. Come join us in KRV 321—Some Crust Treats provided!
Difficult Conversations after October 7
Join us for a lunch talk with Ahmed Faouad Alkhatib as he shares a bold empathy-centered vision for the Israeli-Palestinian future, grounded in coexistence, realism and shared dignity. Please register for this talk here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOpNZBYp1d8P18etSrN4DwmEMAnXbAB50CfVEQFMXM5gXuLw/viewform
Anna Romandash on Russia’s War in Ukraine: The Last Days of Genocidaires
Come to lunch at the Athenaeum and learn about Putin’s Endgame in Ukraine in Historical Perspective.
David Goldblatt on the Impacts of the Global Sporting Spectacle
Are you interested in Sports and International Diplomacy? One day before the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, David Goldblatt, Ph.D., will reflect on the multiple impacts of the Olympic Games and the World Cup, which will take place this summer in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. David Goldblatt is the author of several books on the Olympic Games and international football/soccer, including the 2015 William Hill Sports Book of the Year, “The Game of Our Lives: The Making and Meaning of English Football.” Come join us in Kravis 102.
The Broken China Dream: How Reform Revived Totalitarianism
Come learn about Professor Pei’s book The Broken China Dream, which demystifies China’s great democratic leap backward under Xi Jinping, revealing why the country’s embrace of capitalism has given rise to hard authoritarianism, mass surveillance, and one-man rule instead of democracy as many in the West had hoped. Boba provided!
Saturday Salon: Is there a Legal Basis for the US Action in Venezuela?
Is there a Legal Basis for the US Action in Venezuela? What does Maduro’s Capture Mean for Venezuela? What does this mean for US foreign policy in Latin America and Beyond? Come join the discussion with Professors Jean-Pierre Murray (CMC), Deborah Norden (Whittier), David Pion-Berlin (UC Riverside) and Hilary Appel (CMC) Sign up here: SaturdaySalonOnVenezuela
Dr. Yoshiko Herrera - Russia's War on Ukraine
Dr. Herrera will examine the question of why Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale war in 2022. The answer does not seem to be related to many of the usual explanations that IR scholars privilege, like economic interests or threats to security. Instead, Russia’s imperial ambitions and sense of Russian national identity heavily shaped President Putin’s decision to launch the full-scale invasion. Dr. Herrera will shed light on these topics and provide a sense of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the ways in which national identity and war intersect.
Location: Athenaeum
Senior Salon
We look forward to hosting a salon discussion with current International Relations seniors and Professors Minxin Pei, Jennifer Taw, and Hilary Appel. The discussion will cover a range of topics, including current flashpoints in Sudan, Venezuela, and Taiwan. Registration required at this link (only current seniors are eligible to participate).
Location: Keck Center Library
Hot Topic Discussion on US-Venezuela Relations
Register here for a Hot Topic discussion of recent U.S. military activity and buildup in the Caribbean and the implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations. We will be joined by experts to analyze the ways in which U.S. intervention may impact Venezuela’s stability and political future.
Location: Kravis 102
General Vincent Brooks – Security Challenges from the Indo-Pacific and Beyond, Memorial Lecture in Honor of General William Crouch ’63
General Brooks (ret.) will draw from his deep military experience and regional expertise to share his thoughts on America’s greatest security challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region and beyond. This Memorial Lecture honors the late General William Crouch ‘63, former Chair of the Keck Center Board of Governors. General Vincent Brooks, a now retired four-star general with extensive military experience in the Indo-Pacific and the Korean peninsula, believes that the quality of American foreign policy in the region depends greatly upon the quality of our understanding of the issues and history. He advocates for our assumptions being tested, for relationships being refreshed, and for perspectives being informed by the ways others see the region.
Location: Athenaeum
Hot Topic Discussion on Russian Violations of NATO Airspace and Their Strategic Implications
The Keck Center will host a hot topic discussion of recent, repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russia and their strategic implications for European Defense. Professors Hilary Appel (CMC), Mietek Boduszynski (Pomona), and Jennifer Taw (CMC) will be in discussion and will answer student questions. Boba from Sunright will be provided for those who register.
Location: Kravis 321
Professors Minxin Pei and Peter Uvin - China in Africa Saturday Salon
The Keck Center is co-sponsoring a Saturday Salon on China in Africa with the Open Academy, featuring CMC’s own Professors Minxin Pei and Peter Uvin. Professors Pei and Uvin will discuss the role of Chinese investment and involvement in Africa, along with its implications for the continent, Chinese power, and the Global Order. The salon will be followed by dinner with the opportunity to continue robust discussion.
Location: Kravis 321
Christian Oestlien '99 - Careers in the Tech Sector
Christian Oestlien, CMC ‘99 and Vice Chair of the Keck Center Board of Governors, will share insights about his successful trajectory from being an international relations and economics major at CMC to product management at YouTube. He is Vice President for Product Management, and has led teams across YouTube TV, Sports, Video Infrastructure, Privacy, and Identity. He previously worked at Google, Twitter, and Yahoo. This student Q&A will address how to conceptualize the changing nature of technology jobs, opportunities and challenges from AI, and the potential of a CMC education.
Location: Bauer Center North, Founders Room
Dr. Šumit Ganguly - The Unresolved Question of Kashmir
The dispute between India and Pakistan over the state of Jammu and Kashmir has persisted since the emergence of the two countries in 1947 following the end of the British Indian Empire in 1947. The dispute has resulted in three wars (1947-48, 1965 and 1999) and multiple crises. Multiple attempts at conflict resolution at multilateral and bilateral levels have failed to end this protracted conflict. This lecture will trace the origins of the dispute, discuss the attempts at conflict resolution and suggest possible scenarios under which it could eventually come to a close.
Location: Athenaeum
Dr. Hussein Banai - Iran's Rise and Retreat in the Shadow of American Missteps
Come to the Athenaeum to learn about the dramatic rise and gradual unraveling of Iran’s regional influence between 2005 and 2025. This talk will discuss how Iran leveraged regional instability to project power, only to face coordinated containment efforts by Israel and the U.S., and ultimately find itself in geopolitical retreat.
Location: Athenaeum