Welcome to GDISC XI
The 11th iteration of the Georgetown Diplomacy and International Security Conference will be hosted on April 17, 2026, at Georgetown University. This year’s theme is Rules in a Changing World. Our featured Keynote Speaker is William Davis, Director of the United Nations Information Center.
Event registration is now open!
Join us for an afternoon of international affairs conversations
Featuring two panels with experts from the fields of diplomacy, democracy, and international security, we are bringing international relations experts to the Hilltop. Come engage with and learn from leading thinkers, policymakers, and legislators within and beyond the DMV area!
AGENDA
Conference Location: Reiss Science Building, Room 112
10:30 - 11:00 Registration & Check-in
11:00 - 11:10: Opening Remarks
11:15 - 12:00: Keynote Speech — Why Information Matters: Communication as a Tool of Diplomacy
William Davis, Director of the UN Information Center in Washington, DC
12:10 - 13:00: Panel 1 — Evolving Threats and Enduring Challenges to International Security
Amb. Alexander A. Arvizu, Former Ambassador to Albania
Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security
Brian Weeden, Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation
Moderated by: Bridget Galibois, Director of Academic Programming at the Georgetown International Relations Club
13:00 - 13:45: Lunch
13:50 - 14:40: Panel 2 — Democracy Under Pressure: Global Leadership in the 21st Century
Amb. Cynthia Schneider, PhD, Former Ambassador to the Netherlands
Brian Joseph, Vice President for Programs at the National Endowment for Democracy
Michelle Liu, Deputy Director of the Human Rights Institute
Moderated by: Elizabeth Koenck, Director of International Advocacy and Service at the Georgetown International Relations Club
14:40 - 15:00: Closing Remarks