JMC News: Madison to host diplomat and alumna

On April 19 and 20, James Madison College will host two luncheons involving JMC alumna Riina Kionka (IR '83), currently Undersecretary for European Union Affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Tuesday, she will be speaking along with Thomas Weston (US State Department) on the topic "The EU and US/EU Relations." On Wednesday, Ms. Kionka will meet alone with Madison students and alumni on the topic "Reflections on a Diplomatic Career After Madison." Both luncheons will take place at noon in the 1961 Room of Case Hall. Meals can be brought from the Case Hall Dining Room, and lunch tickets will be available for those without a meal plan.

Both discussions will be excellent opportunities for those with interests in the European Union, in US and Estonian foreign policy, in careers in diplomacy, and in the interesting career paths taken by Madison alumni after graduation.

Brief bios:

RIINA RUTH KIONKA, Undersecretary for European Union (EU) Affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and formerly Estonia's Ambassador to Germany (2000-2004) (1983 B.A. MSU, with dual majors in International Relations (James Madison College) and German Literature (Arts and Letters). More detailed information can be found by going to the Featured Madisonians portion of the JMC web-page (http://www.jmc.msu.edu/mom/).

THOMAS G. WESTON, currently Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, he was U.S. Special Coordinator for Cyprus (1999-2004) and previously held high-level posts on relations with Europe and Canada, including service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, responsible for multilateral diplomacy with Europe (1966 B.S. in Social Science and 1969 M.A. in Political Science, Michigan State University).