By William Coffman, Opinions and Editorials Editor

Tomorrow, Xavier University will host the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) for a conversation titled “America’s Global Leadership: What’s It Worth to Cincinnati.” Located in Cintas Center, the event will focus on U.S. foreign policy as it navigates crises in the world today, and how that response impacts Ohioans.

The conversation will feature four speakers, each from an important field that relates or falls into domestic and foreign U.S. policy. Congressman Greg Landsman, a Democrat representing Ohio’s 1st Congressional District–of which Xavier is a part–will speak, as will the Honorable Heather M. Hodges, former U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador and Moldova, Vice Admiral (Ret.) Carol M Pottenger of the United States Navy and Senior Manager of State Government Relations at Procter & Gamble Bobbi Dillon.

Conversations like this one showcase the USGLC’s goal of partnering with businesses and nonprofits to work alongside the field of defense. Through the connections built by this partnership, the USGLC advocates for America’s international affairs programs and encourages them to grow into a larger part of U.S. foreign policy as a whole.

With this diverse set of speakers, attendees will hear thoughts on U.S. global engagement from the perspectives of the government, the armed forces, the foreign service and the business world.

This event will also allow students the opportunity to see how Ohio is affected by these global changes. With the seventh-highest nominal GDP of all U.S. states and its role as a home to 24 Fortune 500 companies. Ohio has been held as an important player in the U.S.’s global engagement. 

 “I am excited to learn about how big picture foreign policy relates to me in Ohio,” sophomore Philosophy, Politics and the Public major (PPP) Emma Rehse, who plans on attending the event, said. 

Some students believe that these speakers taking the time to come here is a great example of public service that demonstrates how Ohio leaders should interact with their communities. 

“Congressman Landsman continues to represent his constituents. Going into the community speaks to his ability of delivering results and being a practical leader that stays above the partisan fray,” sophomore business analytics and PPP major and president of Xavier’s College Democrats Gavin Steele said. 

The upcoming event caters to a variety of student interests. Speakers like Landsman, Hodges and Pottenger may excite those interested in political science and policy, while business-oriented students have a chance to hear from Dillon of Procter & Gamble speaking as well. 

The event allows Xavier to host influential figures on campus, but also gives students the opportunity students to get information on the ever-changing world they live in today.