Past Themes and Speakers
Past WAS Themes
- Democracy and Governance: Evolving Global Perspectives (2024)
- Climate Change: Youth Take Action (2023)
- Reimagining Global Health and Wellness: Contagious Ideas (2022)
- Cities: Urban Life in a Changing World (2021)
- Hunger in a World of Plenty (2020)
- The Promise & Perils of Social Media (2019)
- Innovation: Shaping the World You Will Inherit (2018)
- Education & Social Justice: Creating Change Around the World (2017)
- Water: Global Resource to Share & Protect (2016)
- Global Energy: Who has the power (2015)
- World Health: Issues and Responsibilities (2014)
- Gender Equity/Social Justice (2013)
- Global Communications 2.0: Technology’s Impact on International Understanding (2012)
- Sustainable Development (2011)
- The Global Fresh Water Challenge (2010)
- World Hunger: Ethical Dilemma of our Time (2009)
- Global Leadership Rising Powers: Who Counts?
- Globalization and Traditions: Two Worlds Divide
- World Energy Crisis
- Human Rights & World Politics
- Nuclear Arms Control & Disarmament
- Conflicts in the Post Cold War World
- International Politics and Global Environmental Issues
- Race, Politics and the Future of South Africa
- The Cost of Security
- Making Peace by Understanding Conflict
Past Keynote Speakers
- Dr. Magda Peck – Dean, UW Milwaukee School of Public Health
- Will Allen – Former Professional Basketball Player/head of “Growing Power.”
- Peter Anin – author of The Great Lakes Water Wars
- Neal Patel – Principal Product Manager, Amazon Inc.
- Barry Rassin – 2018-2019 President, Rotary International
- Chuck Quirmbach – Reporter, Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR)
- Alex Runner – Director of Thought Leadership & Executive Communications, Johnson Controls
- Dr. Jon Riehl – Transportation Systems Engineer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Dawn Borowski, Alice Lundstrom, Diane Voit – Plowshare Fair Trade Marketplace and Education for Peace Center
- Dr. John Walz – President, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
- Pete Prodehl – Director of Interactive Media, Brinn Labs
- Michael Barber – President & CEO of Molecular Imaging and Computed Tomography, General Electric (GE) Healthcare
- Maddy Power – Producer & Visual Journalist
- Michael Swedish – Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
- Dr. Stephen Hargarten – Chair, Medical College of Wisconsin World Health Program
- Peter Sawyer – Pulitzer Foundation
- Fred de Sam Lazaro – PBS NewsHour Correspondent.
- Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau (Retired) – IBM Corporation, former Dean, National Defense University
- Peter Menzel & Faith D’Aluisio – Authors of “The Hungry Planet”
- Dr. Oscar Arias – former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Prize Winner
- Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed – Ibn Khaladun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
- Eric Plantenberg – President, Freedom Personal Development
- Wendy Baumann – President, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp.
- RADM David P. Aucoin – USN Director, Programming Division, US Navy
- Sahar Maher El-Issawi – Egyptian journalist & blogger
- Geneva Bolton Johnson – Retired President, Family Service America
- Dr. Cary Silverstein – International Organizational Consultant
- Jay Burdette – Sears China Division
- Dith Pran – New York Times photojournalist
- Dr. William Schultz – Executive Director, Amnesty International
- Elaine Chao – Distinguished Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington D.C.
- Jean-Michel Cousteau – France, Environmentalist
- Jeanne Kirkpatrick – former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and Cabinet Member
- Giandomenico Picco – former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Evan Thomas – Assistant Managing Editor, Newsweek Magazine,