Senator George J. Mitchell Distinguished International Lecture Series
Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs
Colby’s hub for politics, policy, and the press.
Senator George J. Mitchell Distinguished International Lecture Series
Every other year, the Mitchell Series brings a prominent policy leader each year to Colby College for a discussion designed to foster interaction with students, faculty, and members of the greater Waterville community. The series is in honor of former U.S. Senator, statesman, international negotiator, and Waterville native George Mitchell.
The series was launched by generous contributions from Mitchell family members and friends of the senator who were eager to bring a high-profile event to the Waterville area. They include Paul Mitchell, the senator’s brother and a lifelong businessman in Waterville; his son Bill Mitchell, also a Waterville businessman and the senator’s nephew; and three of Senator Mitchell’s cousins, Bob Baldacci, a Portland consultant and brother of Maine’s former governor, and Waterville attorneys John and Mark Nale.
The Military and the Presidency: War, Peace, and U.S. Power: A Conversation with Secretary William S. Cohen
William S. Cohen served as U.S. Secretary of Defense (1997–2001), U.S. Senator from Maine (1979–1997), and U.S. Congressman (1973–1979). Over 31 years in public service, Cohen earned a reputation for integrity, results, and steady leadership at home and abroad. Early in his career, the House Judiciary Committee asked him to help build the public case during the Nixon impeachment proceedings, and he cast a pivotal vote to impeach. In 1997, President Bill Clinton tapped Cohen to lead the Department of Defense—making history by bringing a Republican elected official into a Democratic cabinet.
- Ambassador (retired) Robert Gelbard ’64, LL.D ’02; former US Ambassador to Indonesia, East Timor, and Bolivia (September 12, 2023) The International War Against Democracy: Current Threats and Building a Stronger Future
- Gayle E. Smith, CEO of the ONE Campaign (April 7, 2022) The Global Pandemic Response: Reflections and Next Steps
- Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer, S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Middle East Policy Studies, Princeton University (Sept. 10, 2020) Middle East Conundrum: A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma
- Executive Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch, José Miguel Vivanco (April 15, 2019) Populism and Double Standards: Growing Challenges to Human Rights in the Americas
- World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva (May 6, 2018) The Role of the World Bank: Why We Dare to Confront Global Challenges.
- U.S. Senator for Maine Angus King (April 19, 2017) Lessons in Foreign Policy, from North Korea to Syria and back to Washington
- Former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell (March 15, 2016)
- U.S. Senator for Maine Susan Collins (April 9, 2015) Why Moderation and Bipartisanship Lead to Progress
- Former U.S. Senator Thomas A. Daschle (April 16, 2014)
- Former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson (April 10, 2013)
- U.S. Department of State Legal Adviser Harold Koh (Feb. 26, 2012) International Lawyering for the U.S. Government in an Era of Smart Power
- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg (Oct. 21, 2010) American Leadership and International Cooperation in the 21st Century
- Senator George J. Mitchell, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East (Oct. 22, 2009) Conflict Resolution: George Mitchell Reflects on Personal Experiences
- The Honorable Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State (Oct. 25, 2007)
- President Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights (Oct. 12, 2006) The Challenge of Human Rights in the 21st Century
- Senator George J. Mitchell (Sept. 22, 2005) America’s Role in the 21st Century