Joseph F. Nye Jr., Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, will visit Waterville and Fairfield on September 24 and 25 to talk about international affairs.

At 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, Nye will speak on "China and the Future of Asia" in Olin O1 at Colby College in Waterville. That lecture is open to the public free of charge. For information contact Guilain Denoeux at 207-872-3426.

At 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, he will speak on "Power and Interdependence in the Information Age" at the first fall meeting of the Mid-Maine Global Forum at John Martin's Manor. That luncheon meeting is open to the public. Reservations for the lunch, which costs $9, must be made in advance by calling the REM office at 207-873-4444.

Before becoming dean of the Kennedy School, Nye was the Assistant Secretary for Defense for International Affairs in 1994-95, and in 1993-94 he was chair of the National Intelligence Council. He has written and edited many books, including Understanding International Conflicts (1997) and Why People Don't Trust Government (1998).

Nye's family has long roots in central Maine. His ancestors settled in northern Fairfield, and the intersection of Route 23 and Route 201 is still called Nye's Corner. At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, Nye will be guest of honor at a reception at the History House in Fairfield, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

At 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, Nye will meet with area students to discuss careers in international relations and opportunities at the Kennedy School. That meeting, in the Whitney Room of Colby's Roberts Union, is open to all high school or college students.