LATROBE, PA — The Saint Vincent College Threshold Series will host a lecture and discussion with Ambassador John T. Hennessey-Niland, a retired US diplomat with more than 35 years of service, at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 in the Fred M. Rogers Center on campus.
Hennessey-Niland’s lecture, “The State of the World in Turbulent Times: What Happens Abroad Matters at Home,” incorporates various aspects of his lengthy career, including as US Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, where he helped advance initiatives that reinforced regional stability and US credibility.
Admission is free but registration is required. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email Maria Meyers or call 724-805-2268.
About the Threshold Series A platform for intellectual and cultural engagement, the Threshold Series for decades has brought a diverse array of distinguished speakers—scholars, experts, authors, artists and public figures—to the Saint Vincent College campus.
Established in 1981 through a generous grant from the Kennametal Foundation, the Threshold Series inspires intellectual curiosity, fosters meaningful dialogue and enriches the region’s cultural landscape. By deepening their understanding of the subject matter, attendees can connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications and seek additional knowledge beyond the lecture.
Read more about the Threshold Series.
Hennessey-Niland took on a variety of senior assignments, including as acting deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Australia; foreign policy advisor to the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific commander; and leadership roles in Fiji, Ireland and Pakistan, and service at the White House National Security Council as director for the G-8, G-20 and International summits. The retired US diplomat also played a vital role in negotiations that redefined US, Denmark and Greenland relations, and served as a prosecutor for cases at the United Nations International Tribunals for the former Rwanda and Yugoslavia.
In addition to his diplomatic record, Hennessey-Niland’s scholarly works have been published in a wide variety of journals, including The Foreign Service Journal, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, addressing US engagement and credibility in the Pacific Islands.
Hennessey-Niland earned a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and graduated summa cum laude from the International Cycle of the École Nationale d’Administration in France. He currently serves as director of the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs at Texas A&M University, senior fellow at the National Defensive University Joint Staff College and visiting scholar at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
