The Ford School of Public Policy is honored to have Ambassador Julianne Smith as this year’s Arthur Vandenberg Lecture speaker. Ambassador Smith has a long and impressive career in foreign affairs, having served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO since November 2021, as Senior Advisor to Secretary Antony Blinken at the Department of State, and as Director of the Asia and Geopolitics Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Her experience in international relations makes her an ideal candidate for this lecture series dedicated to exploring global issues from multiple perspectives. We look forward to her insights on moving towards a more peaceful world order through diplomacy and cooperation among nations.

Ambassador Smith, the distinguished representative of the United States to the United Nations, will give a short speech. He will then be joined in conversation by John Ciorciari, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center at Yale University. During their discussion, Ambassador Smith and Mr. Ciorciari will discuss topics relating to international diplomacy and the role of the United Nations in promoting global peace and stability.

How to Attend

The University of Michigan is proud to offer a limited number of in-person attendance slots for this event, exclusively available to current students, faculty, and staff. To attend, participants must present a valid MCard upon entry. Those unable to attend in person can watch the event via live streaming on this page – and no cost is involved.

The esteemed speaker’s Biography

Ambassador Julianne Smith was appointed U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in November 2021. Before that, she worked as a senior advisor to Secretary Antony Blinken at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, Ambassador Smith was the director of the Asia and Geopolitics Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. From 2014-2018 she was director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Ambassador Smith has a long and distinguished record in international relations and security. Before her government service, she held several positions at research institutions specializing in transatlantic and European affairs. These positions included the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the German Marshall Fund, the American Academy in Berlin, and the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin.

Ambassador Smith has published several books and articles on transatlantic relations, European security, German foreign policy, and other related topics. She is a respected field expert and an important voice in the international community.

Ambassador Smith has had an impressive academic journey. She began with her Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University and then earned her Master of Arts degree from American University. She spent a year studying German at the University of Munich to strengthen her language skills. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded the Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship at the Bosch Academy in Berlin and the Fredin Memorial Scholarship for study at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Moreover, her accomplishments were recognized when she was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2017. Ambassador Smith is immensely proud to have received this honor and continues to strive for academic and professional excellence. She is an inspiration to all those striving for greatness.

Vandenberg Lecture

The Meijer Family established the Vandenberg Lecture Fund in 2017 to commemorate the contributions of Senator Arthur Vandenberg, who represented Michigan in the United States Senate from 1928 until 1951. During his time in office, he championed several critical foreign policy initiatives that are still important today, including the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO, and the formation of the United Nations.

In keeping with Senator Vandenberg’s legacy of collaboration, The Meijer Family has used the Vandenberg Lecture Fund to bring together an impressive roster of speakers who have made vital contributions to our global understanding. These include U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ambassador Samantha Power, and foreign policy experts from numerous other countries. The Vandenberg Lecture Fund has provided an ongoing platform for exchanging ideas that help shape our world today. In doing so, it honors Senator Arthur Vandenberg’s commitment to international affairs and his remarkable record of public service.

The 5th annual Vandenberg Lecture will be held on March 28, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at 735 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109. It is a free event open to the public and features Ambassador Julianne Smith as the guest speaker.

We are honored to have Ambassador Smith as this year’s guest speaker, who will undoubtedly provide us with valuable insight into current affairs and how we can continue building bridges between countries across the globe.

For more information regarding the lecture, check out The 5th annual Vandenberg Lecture.