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This Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions program will discuss America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy with Patrick Connell, Retired Foreign Service Officer and Senior Diplomatic Fellow, UNF
Topic Description: Trump’s return has marked a break from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This topic explores the risks of isolation and diminished influence in relation to Trump 2.0 foreign policy.
Facilitator: Patrick Connell is a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service. He has served as the Senior Diplomatic Fellow at UNF since August 2024, where he teaches foreign affairs, international relations, and global hotspots. Previously, he was the Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs and before that was the Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See from January 2021 to April 2022 and Deputy Chief of Mission beginning July 2020. Prior to the Vatican, Mr. Connell led a team of diplomats, USAID officers, and U.S. Army Special Operations Forces inside Syria.
Earlier assignments include as the Political and Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus; the Senior United Kingdom and Ireland Desk Officer at the State Department in Washington, D.C.; a Political Officer at the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; a Political-Military Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq; the Human Rights Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece; a Consular Officer and Political-Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia; and as an Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the then U.S. Office in Pristina, Kosovo. Before joining the State Department, Mr. Connell was a practicing attorney who served as a state prosecutor.
Mr. Connell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and English from Villanova University and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law.
About Great Decisions:
Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book (optional), and meeting in a discussion group to discuss critical global issues facing America today. Each meeting begins with a video lecture on the discussion topic presented by Jeffrey S. Morton, the Pierrepont Comfort Chair in Political Science at Florida Atlantic University and a Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association and is followed by facilitator commentary and facilitator-led discussion.
Registration is required for this event, and must be completed two hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN is required for registration. If you do not have a card, click HERE to obtain one.
All registered seats will be forfeited at BLANK and made available to waitlisted and walk-in attendees. Registered attendees arriving after this time will be seated if seats are available.
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1–2 business days to process. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or email JPLPrograms@coj.net.
