Everett Eissenstat presented on managing international trade risks in today’s economy to OSU students and faculty during the Global Briefing Series.

Global Briefing Series: Everett Eissenstat, global trade expert welcomed home

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Media Contact: Alex Christy | Communication Specialist | 405-744-5496 | alex.christy@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s School of Global Studies hosted esteemed alumnus Everett Eissenstat on Oct. 26 to give the final lecture of the school’s Global Briefing Series. The series brings prominent speakers to campus to enable a campuswide understanding of important global trends. Eissenstat's presentation was on managing international trade risks in today’s economy.

Eissenstat, one of the nation’s foremost global trade experts, discussed with OSU students and faculty the ways global trade has shifted in recent years. Geopolitical risk, economic trends and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed significantly to how nations approach global trade relationships. Eissenstat helped to negotiate the original NAFTA agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and been involved in both government and corporate roles.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Eissenstat has served in a variety of senior-level positions in Congress, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the White House and a Fortune 50 company. While serving the U.S. government, Eissenstat coordinated interagency policy development, helped to implement international policy matters and led negotiations of numerous comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements.

A native of Stillwater, Eissenstat grew up blocks away from campus, where his father was a faculty member specializing in Russian history. He graduated from Stillwater High School and studied political science at OSU. He participated in a study abroad experience in Mexico that changed his life and inspires his international career to this day.

After receiving his degree in political science and Spanish from OSU, Eissenstat earned a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma and furthered his international interest with a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Eissenstat is currently a partner at Squire Patton Boggs international law firm.

In the spring semester, OSU Global will host Henry McLeish as the next Global Briefing Series speaker. McLeish is a Scottish politician, author, former professional soccer player and academic who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2000 to 2001.