The first SAIS Alumni College will be held on the Washington, D.C., campus Wednesday, October 10, through Friday, October 12. SAIS is launching this initiative in response to a recent survey indicating that many alumni seek more opportunities to reengage with the school.

"We’ve heard from alumni that a chance to come back to SAIS as ‘students’ is something they would welcome," said Dean Jessica P. Einhorn. "We believe the Alumni College program we are offering will be of great interest—and we hope to start a new annual tradition at the school."

Alumni College offers a unique and exclusive experience to reconnect with classmates as well as engage with senior SAIS faculty, other high-profile experts and current students during a specially designed series of classes, events and seminars. The program is designed to encourage an intellectually stimulating exchange on a chosen theme, while leaving ample time for alumni to socialize with other participants.

The theme of this year’s college is "Ideals and Self-Interest in American Foreign Policy: Reassessing Global Risks and Opportunities." The curriculum will highlight key recent developments, trends and economic conditions in international relations.

Roger Leeds ’70, Ph.D. ’77, research professor of International Finance and director of the SAIS Center for International Business and Public Policy, has been named faculty director of Alumni College and will host this year’s program.

Other participating SAIS professors include Francis Fukuyama, director of the International Development Program; Mary R. Habeck, associate professor of Strategic Studies; David M. Lampton, dean of faculty and director of the China Studies Program; Michael Mandelbaum, director of the American Foreign Policy Program; John McLaughlin B’66, ’66, Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies senior fellow; and Riordan Roett, director of Western Hemisphere Studies.

Invited keynote speakers include R. Nicholas Burns ’80, under secretary of State for Political Affairs, and John J. Hamre ’78, president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former under secretary of Defense.

"Perhaps even more valuable than the opportunity to gain an updated understanding of some of the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the nation in the coming years, we are designing this program to allow alumni to reconnect with SAIS in an entirely new way," said Leeds. "Participants can refresh ties with some of their former professors and be exposed to prominent additions to our faculty. We are even arranging a special invitation to a student-run Happy Hour so participants can compare and contrast their SAIS experience by chatting informally with the current generation of students."

For additional information, visit the Alumni College Web site at
www.sais-jhu.edu/alumnicollege or e-mail alumnicollege@jhu.edu.