The Towson University Journal of International Affairs is honored to host Dr. Linda Bishai in the 11th presentation of the Eric A. Belgrad Speaker Series on Monday, October 23rd from 6:00-8:00pm in LA 4310. The topic of Dr. Bishai’s lecture is:
“Experiencing IR: Notes from a career in peace and security“
Primed by the classroom experiences that developed her knowledge of international relations, Dr. Linda Bishai reflects on how her knowledge of IR and classroom experience translated into her success as a practitioner in the field. From Darfur to Iraq to Kosovo, Dr. Bishai has worked tirelessly to protect human rights, enhance mechanisms to deter and mitigate violent extremism, and promote civil-military relations. Dr. Bishai has over twenty years of experience in teaching, training, and writing on international law, peacebuilding and security sector reform, in addition to working with prominent IGOs such as the United Nations, and NGOs like USIP. Whether as a scholar or a practitioner, Dr. Bishai’s goal has been to actively prevent and counter violent extremism while enhancing the dignity of the people in the countries she has served. As a former professor at Towson University, Dr. Bishai accredits her tenure at TU with the provision of the skills needed for her successful work with civil society organizations, security forces, lawyers, and educators across the globe. In her talk, Dr. Bishai will share her experiences working in some of the world’s most unstable and vulnerable locations while connecting her activities to the lessons that Towson students learn in their international relations courses every day.
Dr. Linda Bishai’s Biography
Dr. Linda Bishai monitors international security issues including African regional economic communities, security cooperation, and instability at the Institute for Defense Analyses. She has 20 years of experience teaching, training, and writing on international law, peacebuilding and security sector reform, and preventing/countering violent extremism. In her previous positions at the American Bar Association and at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), Dr. Bishai designed and delivered workshops on teaching human rights in Iraq, preventing violent extremism in Nigeria and Kenya, and developing effective responses to radicalization and violent extremism in Kosovo and Tajikistan. As Director of North Africa programs at USIP, she facilitated dialogues on just and sustainable security sector responses to violent extremism and border security with high-level officials and civil society actors from the Sahel and the Maghreb. Dr. Bishai holds a B.A. in History and Literature from Harvard University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, an LLM in International Law from the University of Stockholm, and a Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
INFORMATION ABOUT PARKING
The best place to park for this event is the Towsontown Garage, which is located on University Avenue just off Towsontown Boulevard. If you are coming from Bosley Avenue or West Burke Avenue, the garage will be on your left. If you are coming from North Charles Street, the garage will be on your right. Once you enter the garage through the commuter entrance to the left, you will need to purchase a visitor permit at the paystation as soon as you enter on the right. The paystation is used as follows:
Push any button on the paystation to begin. Paystation accepts cash in the amount of $10, $5, $1, quarters and nickels (dimes and pennies are not accepted) and no change/refund is given. Debit/Credits cards are also accepted. Place the ticket from the paystation, face up on the dash of the vehicle. There are free 5 minute spaces to use in order to retrieve the permit from the paystation.
The visitor parking rate is $3 an hour, but after 3:30 PM, visitors also have the option to pay $5 to park for the rest of the day. Once you have a visitor permit, you must park in the designated visitor spots on the ramp leading up to floor 2 of the garage. They will be designated with these signs:
After you have parked, walk up the ramp and take the main walkway into the College of Liberal Arts. You should be seeing this entrance:
Once you have entered the building, take a left turn and walk to the elevators across from Room 2310. Take them to the 4th floor, and you will end up right outside Room 4310.
