Saad Quasem, a junior, engages with Sorensen after the event.
“In this age of globalization, of global crises and global responses, if you are talking about peace, disarmament, democratization, human rights, women’s empowerment and gender equity, or the environment, you are talking about the United Nations.”
That was the message from Gillian Martin Sorensen, senior advisor at the United Nations Foundation, speaking on Oct. 16 at a colloquium sponsored by Temple’s Center for Force and Diplomacy (CENFAD). The United Nations Foundation was launched in 1998 to implement public-private partnerships to address the worlds’ most pressing problems and to broaden support for the United Nations through advocacy, education and public outreach.
Sorensen’s visit, an indication of CENFAD's high profile in the field of international history and international politics, was well-timed to fit in with Temple’s heightened focus on global engagement. Said William Hitchcock, CENFAD’s acting director, “As the university emphasizes an international perspective, we can look to leaders like Ms.
Sorensen to help us connect our daily lives to global issues that face us all.”
Students who attended seemed to agree. “After earning my medical degree, I am hoping to steer my career in the direction of public health,” said Juana Romelus, who expects to graduate next year. “Learning about the work of the UN and UN Foundation opened my eyes to some possible career paths.”
