Former U.S. ambassador to deliver public address

Former congresswoman and U.S. ambassador Connie Morella will be giving an address to the Troy community on April 6.

Morella’s career includes time as a representative for Maryland’s 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003, and U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, from 2003 to 2007.

“A political and personal journey through minefields and milestones—in heels,” is the topic of her lecture, which will take place at MSCX room 114 at 4:30 p.m. She was previously scheduled to speak at Troy in January, but her talk was postponed due to weather.

Morella is visiting Troy as part of the political science department’s ambassador-in-residence program, which brings former U.S. ambassadors to campus.

“Ambassador Morella’s dedication to advancing the cause of civil rights, human rights, women’s health, and domestic violence will translate into a unique learning opportunity for our students,” said Jonathan Harrington, professor of political science and director of the graduate program in international relations, in a press release.

Morella has a master’s degree from the School of Public Affairs at American University and an undergraduate degree from Boston University. She is also former president of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress.

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed her to the American Battle Monuments Commission.

She in an inductee of the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame and has received the Ron Brown Standards Leadership award. For her work to increase the Congressional Study Group in Germany, she received the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.  

While in Troy, she will be meeting with classes and faculty. In addition to her public address, she will be participating in a panel discussion about Russia’s political climate on TrojanVision.