Join us for the opening session of a multi-part series examining the future of U.S. development leadership. This inaugural event brings together leading voices to unpack institutional changes, geopolitical pressures, and the perspectives of partners in the Global South as the U.S. redefines its role on the global stage.

Navigation in a New Era: Opportunities & Challenges in U.S.-Korea-China Relations

Panel: Dr. Min Jeonghun, The Korea National Diplomatic Academy; Mark Tokola, The Korea Economic Institute of America

Dr. Min Jeonghun is a Professor in the Department of American Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA).  He is interested in the US-China strategic competition, ROK-US relations, North Korea-US relations, and American Politics. He is a policy adviser to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea. Dr. MIN received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Georgia

Mark Tokola is Vice President of the Korea Economic Institute of America in Washington, DC. A retired U.S. Senior Foreign Service Officer, his last posting was as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy in London. He had served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassies in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Opening Remarks: Lim Jungtaek, Consul General of The Republic of Korea in San Francisco. A career diplomat with over 30 years of experience, he has served in Korean missions in Malaysia, Ireland, Ghana, India, the United Nations, and the OECD. He was formerly the Ambassador to Ghana and held senior positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Yonsei University and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Connecticut.

Moderator: Suisheng Zhao, a Professor and Director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. A Campbell National Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, he is the founder and editor of the Journal of Contemporary China and the author and editor of over two dozen books and hundreds of academic articles. His most recent book, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press, 2023, was named one of “Best of Books 2024” by Foreign Affairs magazine. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Missouri, and a BA and M.A. in economics from Peking University.

On Monday, September 29th, join the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy and the Ukraine Aid Fund as we welcome Alex Gorgan and Florent Marcie to Korbel to share their perspectives and first-hand experiences on the war in Ukraine. Gorgan, a Ukrainian attorney-turned-army volunteer, and Marcie, a French documentary filmmaker and war correspondent, will join Professors Rachel Epstein and Hilary Matfess for a conversation about the realities of war at the frontlines, global security implications of the ongoing conflict, and the state of Ukraine today.

Doors will open at 5pm with programming beginning at 5:30pm.

Food will be provided; please RSVP to ensure that our order is correct!

In the 20th century, the United States and the Soviet Union, the two remaining superpowers on Earth at the time, waged a Cold War for more than 40 years in which economic, political and military tactics tested the boundaries of warfare without ever coming into direct conflict. Today, the United States and China, are facing off on a different terrain, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. From low earth orbit to the lunar surface, Beijing, Washington and a host of others are on a potential collision course that could transform a conflict in space into a full-scale war on Earth. But a critical question remains: Is there still an opportunity to pull back from the brink, or will humanity go toppling over the edge?

Please join the Josef Korbel School and Bertelsmann Foundation for a screening of the documentary "Astropolitics," followed by an expert panel and Q&A on the geopolitical implications of space exploration. The film offers a compelling look at how space may become the next theater of conflict—or a new model for cooperation. The event begins with a reception at 5:00 pm and screening at 5:30 pm. The film runs approximately 60 minutes.

We invite you to join the Center for Middle East Studies (CMES) at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs for a book signing and evening of discussion with Professor Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins. Nasr will discuss his new book, "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History".

Read more about this newly-published book here.

This session will showcase the work of the African Futures & Innovation (AFI) programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), a pan-African think tank with a long-standing partnership with the Pardee Institute. AFI applies Pardee Institute's International Futures (IFs) to explore long-term development trajectories, test policy choices, and inform strategic decision-making on the African continent.

The event will open with a 15-minute presentation led by senior researchers Alize le Roux and Dr Blessing Chipanda, highlighting how the AFI team uses data-driven scenario modelling to examine Africa’s development prospects, from economic growth and governance to security, demographics, and energy access. This will be followed by an interactive panel discussion, exploring:

- How futures Modeling can inform and influence African policy agendas
- The challenges and opportunities of engaging policymakers with foresight tools
- The growing appetite for foresight in Africa

Learn more about the ISS and African Futures here: https://issafrica.org

Join Korbel Professor Singumbe Muyeba for a special look at his new book: The Homeowner Ideology: Economic (F)Utility of Real Property Rights in Four African Cities. He will discuss his book with Korbel Teaching Professor Stefan Chavez-Norgaard.

The Climate Conscious Conference aims to provide a learning platform about the ways in which climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, emphasizing the intersection of environmental issues with social justice, economic inequality, equity, and human rights. The conference will make connections across stakeholders in academia, NGOs, and government agencies and highlight the efforts of graduate student groups in the Korbel School of International Studies. The scholars and experts invited to this conference will have multidisciplinary backgrounds to provide unique perspectives on the intersectional nature of climate change issues and their global impact.

*If you register to attend, please let us know what your dietary restrictions are, if any.

Day 1, May 1st, 2025 (Thursday)

2:30 PM - 3:10 PM
Arrival and Registration
Location: Sie Complex, Room 5025, Maglione Hall

3:10 PM - 3:15 PM
CCC Opening Remarks

3.15 PM-3.20 PM
Dean Frederick Mayer's Welcome Speech

3.15 PM-3.40 PM
Keynote Speaker Introduction and Presentation

3:40 PM-3:50 PM
Presentation by CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)

3:50 PM-4:00 PM
Q&A session

4.00 PM-5.00 PM
Opening Plenary: Climate as a Threat Multiplier
Location: Sie Complex, Room 5025, Maglione Hall, 2201 S Gaylord St.

5.00 PM-7.00 PM
Networking (Dinner will be served)

Day 2, May 2nd, 2025 (Friday)

8:00 AM- 9:00 AM
Breakfast

9:00 AM-10:15 AM
Plenary II: Rewriting the Script: Transforming masculine norms to address the climate crisis
Location: Sie Complex, Room 5025, Maglione Hall, 2201 S Gaylord St.

10:15-10:30 AM
Coffee Break

10:30 AM-11:45 AM
Plenary III: Religious Perspectives on Environmental Crisis
Location: Sie Complex, Room 5025, Maglione Hall, 2201 S Gaylord St.

11:45 AM-12:30 PM
Lunch Break

12:30 PM-1:45 PM
Research Presentations

2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
Social Justice Solidarity: Community As Preparedness, Sie1020
Conflict Engagement and Resolution Institute: Climate Conference Discussion, Sie1150
Sustainability and Human Health: Collective Impact Cohort, Sie2015
CDPHE, Sie3015

3:30 PM-4:45 PM
Plenary IV: Money Talks, But Can It Save The Planet
Location: Sie Complex, Room 5025, Maglione Hall, 2201 S Gaylord St.

4:45 PM-5:20 PM
Closing speeches

5:30 PM-7:30 PM
Social Hour and Appetizers