Aspen Wye Fellows Host Chesapeake College Leadership Academy

March 6, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Judith W. Price
Manager, Aspen Wye River Campus
The Aspen Institute
410-820-5432 | judy.price@aspeninstitute.org

Aspen Wye Fellows Host Chesapeake College Leadership Academy
Students, Fellows Meet with Noted Expert on Iran 

Queenstown, MD, March 6, 2015 – The Spring 2015 Chesapeake College Leadership Academy held a recent class at the Aspen Institute’s Wye River campus in Queenstown on February 19. The 12 students in attendance participated in an engaging dialogue with award-winning author Dr. Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council located in Washington, DC.  An expert on the geopolitics of the Middle East, Dr. Parsi discussed with the students a range of current issues affecting the US and Iran, including the pending negotiations on Iran’s nuclear weapon capability and efforts to battle ISIS.

The class took place within the historic setting of the Houghton House Library, where summit talks were held in 1998 between President Bill Clinton and the leaders of Israel and Palestine, resulting in the Wye Accord for Peace. Situated on property once known as the Wye Plantation, Houghton House and the surrounding acreage was donated to the Aspen Institute by Arthur Houghton, Jr. and his wife, Nina Rodale Houghton, beginning in 1979. The Institute is an educational and policy studies non-profit organization whose mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues.

The Aspen Wye Fellows Program was established in the summer of 2006 as an organization to connect the Aspen Institute’s Wye River campus in Queenstown with Eastern Shore residents who have an interest in becoming more engaged in the critical issues facing our country and the world. The Fellows participate in eight programs and receptions as well as two concerts yearly between September and June on the Wye River campus; monthly book talks at the Aspen Institute headquarters in Washington, DC; other Washington-based events such as the annual Washington Ideas Forum; and summer events at the campus in Aspen, Colorado.

 “The Institute’s Aspen Wye Fellows were extremely pleased to host the Chesapeake College Leadership Academy’s class with such a renowned international relations authority as Dr. Trita Parsi,” said Judy Price, Manager of the Aspen Institute’s Wye River campus. “We look forward to partnering in other leadership building opportunities with the College in the future.” 

In preparation for the session with Dr. Parsi, the Leadership Academy students read his most recent book, A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran.  Born in Iran, he moved to Sweden at the age of four with his family to escape political repression. Parsi moved to the US as an adult and earned his PhD in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is a frequent guest on CNN, “PBS NewsHour”, NPR, and BBC.

Following the session with the college students, Dr. Parsi participated in a dialogue program with the Aspen Wye Fellows and guests on the topic of “Iran’s Emerging Relationship with the United States.”

To learn more about the Aspen Wye Fellows, contact Judy Price at judy.price@aspeninstitute.org or by calling 410-820-5432. 

Dr. Trita Parsi, center, with members of the Spring 2015 Chesapeake College Leadership Academy and their advisors. From left to right: Michael Beverly, Benjamin Callahan, Jessica Todd, Luis Jackson, Eliza Mendoza, Student Life/Career Planning Office Associate Harriette Lowery, Dr. Trita Parsi, Kristen James, Jarrod Nagy, Shawn Wobbe, Director of Student Life Rohry Flood, Dacia Nurse, Vincee Demateo, Tejay Greenwood, Brianna Wooden

Dr. Trita Parsi, center, with members of the Spring 2015 Chesapeake College Leadership Academy and their advisors. From left to right: Michael Beverly, Benjamin Callahan, Jessica Todd, Luis Jackson, Eliza Mendoza, Student Life/Career Planning Office Associate Harriette Lowery, Dr. Trita Parsi, Kristen James, Jarrod Nagy, Shawn Wobbe, Director of Student Life Rohry Flood, Dacia Nurse, Vincee Demateo, Tejay Greenwood, Brianna Wooden 
 


Chesapeake College Leadership Academy students appear with Dr. Trita Parsi and his recent book, “A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran.” From left to right: Luis Jackson, Jessica Todd, Dr. Trita Parsi, Brianna Wooden

About The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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