World Views


October 11, 2010

GW global forum save the date with NYC skyline

The George Washington University will host its second annual Global Forum in New York City later this month, bringing together alumni, faculty and world leaders to discuss timely global issues, including global finance and global women’s issues.

Alumni will hear from Carlos Slim, chairman and chief executive officer of Telmex, Telcel and America Movil; and John W. Snow, J.D. ’67, chairman of Cerberus Capital Management and former U.S. secretary of the treasury. The two leaders will be interviewed by Frank Sesno, director of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs.

The forum will be held Oct. 28-29 at the Waldorf Astoria. Alumni, faculty and other GW community members are invited to attend. Last year, the inaugural forum was held in Hong Kong.

"The Global Forum provides a unique opportunity to bring the resources of the George Washington University to bear on some of the most urgent issues of our time," says President Steven Knapp. "I am delighted that some of our most distinguished alumni, parents and friends are joining with our expert faculty in these important discussions."

Mr. Slim received the GW President’s Medal in 2009 in recognition for his significant contributions to business and community development in Mexico and Latin America and his extensive philanthropic work around education, health, employment and the fine arts.

Mr. Snow served as the 73rd U.S. secretary of the treasury under President George W. Bush. In 2006, he was appointed chairman of Cerberus Capital Management, one of the largest private equity investments firms in the U.S.

First Lady of Haiti Elisabeth Preval, M.B.A. ’88, will speak about reconstruction efforts in Haiti nine months after the earthquake and the role of women in economic development.

The forum will also include remarks by Anwar Gargash, B.A ’81, M.A. ’84, the minister of state for foreign affairs for the United Arab Emirates.

Forum participants will have the opportunity to hear from various panels analyzing global issues.

Raj Jain, CEO of Walmart India and a GW parent, and Cagatay H, Ozdogru, M.S. ’91 and CEO of ESAS Holding, the second largest industrial and financial group in Turkey, will join Doug Guthrie, dean of GW’s School of Business, for a discussion on the impact of the global financial crisis.

A second panel examining the health, education, rights and security of women around the world will be led by Barbara Miller, associate dean for faculty affairs at GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs and professor of anthropology, and will include: Lynn Goldman, dean of GW’s School of Public Health; Heike Niebergall, L.L.M. ’03, senior legal officer for the International Organization of Migration; and Peter Hotez, GW’s Walter G. Ross Professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine.