Wes Watkins Distinguished Lectureship to feature Dr. Peter McPherson

Thursday, April 10, 2008

(April 10, 2008  Stillwater, OK) - As a part of the Wes Watkins Distinguished Lectureship, the School of International Studies at Oklahoma State University will host the president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), Dr. Peter McPherson on Thursday April 24.

In addition to his responsibility as president of NASULGC, Dr. McPherson is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Dow Jones and Company.  Prior to his service with NASULGC, Dr. McPherson was president of Michigan State University for more than eleven years.  While there, he built one of the country’s largest study abroad programs and made MSU one of the most distinguished international universities in the United States.

McPherson was appointed to chair the recent Lincoln Commission by the U.S. House and Senate.  The role of the commission was to consider ways to greatly increase the number of students who study abroad.  Based on the commission’s recommendations, the Paul Simon Study Abroad Act was drafted.  This act, which aims to open opportunities for over one million students to study abroad each year, is awaiting approval before the full Senate (it has already passed the House).  

Dr. McPherson will deliver a lecture on study abroad and other international educational initiatives at 2 o’clock in the afternoon in the Wes Watkins Center located on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus.

Recent speakers for the Wes Watkins Distinguished Lectureship include Congressman Ben Gilman (NY), Harriet Fulbright of the Fulbright Center, and Dr. Duck-Woo Nam, former prime minister of South Korea.