A former U.S. Ambassador will offer a nonpartisan assessment of the of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs under President Trump in a Lawrence University address.
Christopher Murray, a foreign service officer with more than 40 years of experience, including serving three years as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo, presents “What to Expect in the Trump Foreign Policy” Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the Wriston Art Center auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
A 1975 Lawrence graduate, Murray will examine the top 10 foreign policy challenges that President Trump will likely face, discuss the importance of collaboration and contributions from our allies, and underscore the need to develop a strong foreign policy team at the White House and in the State Department as the country seeks support for our goals, such as achieving peace in the Middle East and defusing tensions with North Korea.
Murray will spend part of spring term as Lawrence’s Visiting Scarff Professor of International Affairs for 2017. In addition to his public lecture, Murray will lead discussions in eight different courses in four departments and meet with students to talk about foreign service careers.
He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo from 2010-2013 and spent the final three years of his career as the Political Advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander for NATO forces in Europe before retiring in 2016. He currently makes his home in Brussels, Belgium.
Other assignments abroad during his career have include deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut; chief of the political section at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria; political officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Communities in Brussels; economic officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.
Murray was presented Lawrence’s Lucia Russell Briggs Distinguished Achievement Award in 2015 in recognition of his outstanding career in public service.
About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.
