World Affairs Councils of America announced early today, December 19, the selection of Matthew Hughes as its next President & Chief Executive Officer. Hughes will join WACA effective January 17, 2023.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Hughes, an accomplished nonprofit leader with an exciting vision for WACA’s future and the credentials to achieve it. Matthew’s proven record of building organizational capacity, creating innovative programs and partnerships, and delivering results is exactly what WACA needs in our next chapter. His experience leading a WACA Council for the past seven years and his previous work managing global education programs for People to People International have prepared Matthew well for this role,” stated WACA Board Chairman Glenn Creamer.

The full press release may be found here.

Join the Montana World Affairs Council for a virtual International Career Week on Monday, February 6th - Thursday, February 9th. All programs are free and open to all councils!

Featured Speakers:

General Wesley Clark

Monday, February 6th, 10:30-11:15 AM MST

Rania Dagash

Tuesday, February 7th, 8:30-9:15 AM MST

Ambassador Ted Osius

Wednesday, February 8th, 1:15 - 2:00 PM MST

Director Carol Spahn

Thursday, February 9th, 8:30-9:15 AM MST

International Career Week schedule will be available on montanaworldaffairs.org in early January. For questions, please contact Nikki Geiszler, Programs Director, at ngeiszler@montanaworldaffairs.org.

World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay will host Colonel Bruce Sweeney on December 19, 2022 at 12:45 PM PT to discuss "Ethiopia: Understanding the Conflict and the Prospects for Peace".

Colonel Bruce Sweeney, served as Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2012 to 2014. In his talk, Colonel Sweeney will discuss the strategic area of the Horn of Africa, with a special focus on Ethiopia, its history, and the difficulty of keeping its neighbors and provinces at peace

WACA's January 2023 Cover to Cover webinar will feature Daniel F. Runde, senior vice president and director of the Project on Prosperity and Development at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), to discuss his new book, The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power, on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2 PM ET.

The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power is the first book in decades to look at our non-military power through the lens of great-power competition. It calls for: supporting broad-based economic growth, supporting good governance and anti-corruption, long-term training, differentiating our approaches in middle-income countries and fragile states, and stronger US leadership in the multilateral system. 

ICYMI! On December 9, WACA hosted renowned philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum on tor this month's issue of Cover to Cover. Dr. Nussbaum, sat down with WACA CEO & President Bill Clifford to discuss her new book, Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility. Watch the Video!

The World Affairs Council of Albuquerque will continue its 73rd Program Year on January 12, 2023 with The Middle East & American Policy: An Update The presentation will address the major developments and challenges in the Middle East in 2022. Discussing the protests in Iran, war in Yemen, the impact of Russia's war, and more. US policy in the region, especially with Saudi Arabia, is being tested and

challenged.

Presented by Dr. Emile Nakhleh, former Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) Officer (CIA), a Founding Director, Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program at CIA, and a Consultant on the Middle East.

The WorldQuest Weekly quiz will end its run as a WACA Weekly Newsletter feature at the end of the month. Councils that would like to subscribe to the customized “What in the World? Weekly Quiz" service offered by the Tennessee World Affairs Council should check TNWAC.org/quiz or email Pat Ryan at Pat@TNWAC.org

WACA thanks the Tennessee WAC for providing this always interesting current events quiz in 2022.

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh seeks to hire a Strategic Programming Manager and a Youth Programming Coordinator. Applications will be 

reviewed as received.

World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana seeks a Membership & Development Coordinator. Applications will be

reviewed as received.

International Institute of Buffalo seeks to a Special Programs Manager.

Applications will be reviewed as received.

World Affairs Council of South Texas hosts Dr. Manochehr Dorraj, professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University, for “Women in Hijab - Iran’s Crisis & Its Global Impact on the U.S. and the West” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area hosts Colonel Bruce Sweeney, U.S. Army (retired), for “Ethiopia: Understanding the Conflict and the Prospects for Peace” (In Person)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston presents “Mexico City Express: Travel Info Session” (Virtual)

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston presents “Japan Express: Travel Info Session” (Virtual)