Guest Speakers
A hallmark of the SEGL student experience is exposure to a variety of fascinating, influential, and experienced leaders from many walks of life. As a nonpartisan institution, we strive to provide students the opportunity to hear perspectives that both inspire and challenge, regardless of a student’s ideology or political leanings. Within the classroom, we consider viewpoints through a critical lens, deepening understanding of our own and others’ beliefs.
Below is a list highlighting only a few of the incredible speakers SEGL students have heard from over the years.
![David Abshire](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/david_abshire_eb557s.jpg)
David Abshire
- President, Center for the Study of the Presidency
![Tom Adkins](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Tom Adkins
- Social Entrepreneur
- Founder, and Principal, Open Organize
![Simon Allison](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Simon Allison
- Africa Editor, Mail & Guardian
![Frank Anderson](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Frank Anderson
- President, Middle East Policy Council
![Ghaith Al-Omari](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-13__14252712775_b6025712aa_o_hfyq4b.jpg)
Ghaith Al-Omari
- Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute
- Executive Director, American Task Force in Palestine (ATFP)
- Former Palestinian negotiator
![Capt. Mark Bedrin](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Capt. Mark Bedrin
- Legislative Liaison, United States Army
![Josh Bolten](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Bolton_Bush_Chief_of_Staff_pgeqaw.jpg)
Josh Bolten
- White House Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush
![John Brennan](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-44__DSC_0081_cqwjlg.jpg)
John Brennan
- Former Director Central Intelligence Agency
![Kurt Campbell](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Kurt Campbell
- Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
![Tucker Carlson](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Tucker-Carlson-22.jpg)
Tucker Carlson
- Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, Fox News
![Khary Cauthen](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-42__DSC_0396_w6lkxu.jpg)
Khary Cauthen
- Former Special Assistant to the Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
![Sasha Chanoff](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Sasha Chanoff
- Founder and Director, M’pendo International
![Lt. Col. Daniel Coe](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-8__6500966663_c48ca8ef0a_o_ybcxm2_ex1ehk.jpg)
Lt. Col. Daniel Coe
- Chief of the Conventional Arms Control Branch, Pentagon
![Brandi Colander](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Brandi Colander
- Former Deputy General Counsel, White House Council on Environmental Quality
![Amb. Mamady Condé](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Amb. Mamady Condé
- Guinean Ambassador to the United States
![Hon. Tom Coburn (R-OK)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/640px-Tom_Coburn__12987709443_fssiuj.jpg)
Hon. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
- United States Senator, Oklahoma
![Fernando Cutz](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-25__DSC_0179_lqurfs.jpg)
Fernando Cutz
- Former Director for South America, National Security Council
![Amb. Mark Dybul](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Student-with-Ambassador-Mark-Dybul.jpg)
Amb. Mark Dybul
- Former United States Global AIDS Coordinator
![Wendy Edelberg](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Wendy Edelberg
- Associate Director for Economic Analysis, Congressional Budget Office
![David Ettinger](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
David Ettinger
- Research Librarian, The George Washington University
![Amb. Daniel Fried](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Screen_Shot_2021-10-05_at_3.08.40_PM_dsu4hd.jpg)
Amb. Daniel Fried
- Special Envoy for Closure of the Guantanamo Detainee Facility
![Hon. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-38__DSC_0188_oil2us.jpg)
Hon. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)
- United States Senator, New York
![Nitin Gajria](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Nitin Gajria
- Managing Director for Google Africa
![Justin Goforth](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Justin Goforth
- Director, Medical Adherence United and STD Services, Whitman-Walker Clinic
![Bailey Hand](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Bailey Hand
- Special Assistant/Acting Chief of Staff, United States Secretary of Defense
![Hon. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-89__HJ7_yucf7o.jpg)
Hon. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
- United States Representative, New York
![Kevin Jennings](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Kevin-Jennings-makes-a-point.jpg)
Kevin Jennings
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
![Jeh Johnson](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Jeh_Johnson_Sec_Homeland_Security_kuo3f8.jpg)
Jeh Johnson
- (Former) U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
![David Keene](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/David_Keene_Former_President_NRA_fdwsqh.jpg)
David Keene
- (Former) President, National Rifle Association
![Steve Killelea](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/640px-Steve_Killelea_2GABM_2011_b_ckeefk.jpg)
Steve Killelea
- Founder, Global Peace Index
![Egil “Bud” Krogh](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Bud-Krogh-SEGL-Fall-11.jpg)
Egil “Bud” Krogh
- Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress Senior Fellow and Chair on Leadership, Ethics, and Integrity
![Laura Lane](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/With-Laura-Lane-who-was-in-charge-of-evacuating-Americans-during-the-Rwandan-genocide.jpg)
Laura Lane
- President, Global Public Affairs, UPS
- Former United States Embassy official, Kigali, Rwanda
![Hon. John Lewis (D-GA)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Congresman-Lewis-poses-with-SEGL-students-after-our-one-hour-meeting.jpg)
Hon. John Lewis (D-GA)
- United States Representative, Georgia
- Civil Rights Leader
![Lawrence Manzi](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Lawrence Manzi
- First Counselor, Embassy of Rwanda to the United States
![Mike McCurry](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/McCurryBanner.jpg)
Mike McCurry
- Former White House Press Secretary
- Co-Chair, Commission on Presidential Debates
![General Stanley McChrystal](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-6__8274010013_6d94e98cb4_o_ukumic.jpg)
General Stanley McChrystal
- Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
- Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A)
![Derek Mitchell](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Mitchell-29.jpg)
Derek Mitchell
- United States Special Envoy to Rwanda
![George Moose](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/George-Moose-13.jpg)
George Moose
- Former Assistant Secretary of State, African Affairs
![Amb. Dan Mozena](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Dan_Mozena_our5fg.jpg)
Amb. Dan Mozena
- Senior Coordinator for Boko Haram, United States State Department
![Lissa Muscatine](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-52__DSC_0062_ggstm6.jpg)
Lissa Muscatine
- Senior Advisor and Chief of Speechwriting, United States State Department
![Ian Neilson](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Ian_Neilson_rnhgc0.jpg)
Ian Neilson
- Former Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa
![Mary Neumayr](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Mary_Neumayr_qmpk10.jpg)
Mary Neumayr
- Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
![Dr. Joseph Newhouse](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Dr. Joseph Newhouse
- Director, PhD in Health Policy, Harvard University
![President Barack Obama](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/barak-obama_hjtyyc.jpg)
President Barack Obama
- Former President of the United States of America
![His Highness Reza Pahlavi](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/640px-Reza_Pahlavi__21661821523_ubo4ec.jpg)
His Highness Reza Pahlavi
- Former Crown Prince of Iran
![Hon. Tom Perriello (D-VA)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Tom_Perriello_yezxts.jpg)
Hon. Tom Perriello (D-VA)
- United States Representative, Virginia
![Abby Phillip](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-45__DSC_0122_yyaczk_h92fjb.jpg)
Abby Phillip
- White House Correspondent, CNN
![Hon. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Jamie_Raskin_tlijt4.jpg)
Hon. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
- United States Representative, Maryland
![Megan Rooney](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Lissa-and-Megan-9_rct7ag.jpg)
Megan Rooney
- Speechwriter to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama
![Carine Rusesabagina](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Carine Rusesabagina
- Activist, daughter of Paul Rusesabagina of “Hotel Rwanda”
![Abdul Aziz Said](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/640px-Abdul_Aziz_Said__5572336231_x11ljm.jpg)
Abdul Aziz Said
- Mohammed Said Farsi Professor of Islamic Peace, American University
![Robert Satloff](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/640px-Dr._Robert_Satloff_speaking.__5617194561_xvjvpb.jpg)
Robert Satloff
- Executive Director, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
![Eric Schmitt](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Eric-Schmitt-19.jpg)
Eric Schmitt
- Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, The New York Times
![Hon. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Website_FullRes-19__11470535975_f861a677d1_o_ndb4m6.jpg)
Hon. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
- United States Senator, New York
![L. Michael Seidman](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Seidman7.jpg)
L. Michael Seidman
- Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center
![Elodie Shami](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Elodie Shami
- Education Officer, Embassy of Rwanda to the United States
![Elad Strohmayer](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Elad Strohmayer
- Spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel to the United States
![Trigg Talley](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Trigg Talley
- Director of the Office of Global Change, United States Department of State
![Justice Clarence Thomas](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Thomas7.jpg)
Justice Clarence Thomas
- Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court
![Amb. Melanne Verveer](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/Amb._Melanne_Verveer_sjus3r.jpg)
Amb. Melanne Verveer
- United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues
![Joe Weinstein](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/segl-board_vczhoh.png)
Joe Weinstein
- Senior Partner, Global Social Enterprise Initiative
![Cornell West](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/DSC_0125_joutkf.jpg)
Cornell West
- Philosopher, Activist
![Carl Wilkens](https://res.cloudinary.com/segl/image/upload/w_400,ar_1:1,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,q_auto:good/With-Carl-Wilkens-and-Rebecca-Davis.jpg)
Carl Wilkens
- Executive Director, World Outside My Shoes
- Former Director, ADRA in Rwanda
- Medal of Valor, Simon Weisenthal Center