Members in the News

Pacific Council Fellow Dr. Jack Miles is interviewed by Australian Broadcasting Corporation
September 6, 2010 - Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist and presenter of the World Today programme Eleanor Hall interviews Pacific Council Fellow Dr. Jack Miles on the polarization of the United States.
Read and listen to the interview HERE.

Director Nancy Aossey & International Medical Corps Presents RUINED at Geffen Playhouse
August 2, 2010 - The most acclaimed play of 2009 and recipient of The 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RUINED is a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in a war-torn country. Following the performance, Nancy A. Aossey, President and CEO of International Medical Corps, will join the cast on stage for a ‘Talk Back’ conversation with the audience about the play as well as International Medical Corps’ work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Edgerton Foundation has graciously underwritten this event.
Learn more and register HERE.

Council Director Geoff Cowan Named President of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
August 2, 2010 - With a $300 million endowment, the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands will advance the Trust's mission of promoting world peace, facilitating international agreements, improving the functioning of the three branches of government, and providing the widest possible range of opportunities for high-level interaction and communication in the public interest.
Learn more HERE.

Council Member Sidney Harman Purchases NEWSWEEK from The Washington Post Company
August 2, 2010 - The Washington Post Company announced today that it has signed a contract to sell NEWSWEEK to Sidney Harman, a successful businessman who made his fortune in audio equipment and is a well-known philanthropist.
Learn more HERE.

Pacific Council Member George Shultz Honored in Documentary
July 12, 2010 - Pacific Council Member George Shultz is honored in documentary, Turmoil & Triumph. Turmoil & Triumph premieres in a three-episode television event on PBS Mondays July 12, 19 and 26 at 10pm EST.
Read more HERE.

Pacific Council Member Amy Zegart Comments on Presidental Commissions
July 1, 2010 - Pacific Council Member Amy Zegart comments on President Obama's commission on the federal deficit in the context of a long history of federal commissions, and the political value but realistic shortcomings of these.
Read more and listen to the NPR piece HERE.

Council Member Jack Chen Announces Role in the Sale of Nexteer Automotive
July 8, 2010 - Pacific Council Member Jack Z. Chen, Founder & CEO of Transworld Capital Group (“TCG”), announced TCG's role as special advisor on what is being hailed as the largest move by a Chinese company into the U.S. auto-parts industry – the sale of Nexteer Automotive, the steering and driveline business of General Motors, to Pacific Century Motors.
Read more HERE.

Council Board Member Nancy Aossey Appointed to Catalysis Foundation for Health's Board of Directors
June 16, 2010 - Pacific Council Director Nancy Aossey has been appointed to the Catalysis Foundation for Health's Board of Directors.
Read more HERE.

Council China Committee Chair Dr. Robert Kapp Scheduled to Speak at Annual Oksenberg Lecture
June 4, 2010  - China Committee Chair Dr. Robert Kapp, former president of the US-China Business Council, will speak at Stanford University's Oksenberg Lecture, entitled "Friction Points: Colliding Interests in US-China Relations".
Read more HERE.

Council Board Member Nancy Lieberman honored with 2010 Burke Award
June 2, 2010  - Nancy Lieberman, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and a Council Board member, has been named one of three recipients of the 2010 Burke Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Burke Medical Research Institute.
Read more HERE.

Council Members to Speak at UCLA Burkle Center's "China & The World in the 21st Century" Conference
May 24, 2010  - Council members Richard Baum, Nina Hachigian, Kal Raustiala, and Kantathi Suphamongkhon will participate in panel discussions at the one-day conference entitled "Responsible Stakeholder or Revisionist Superpower? China & The World in the 21st Century" hosted by the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations, UCLA Center for Chinese Studies, UCLA International Institute, and the Center for American Progress.
Learn more HERE.

Council Executive Vice President Dawn Nakagawa to attend International Cooperative Conference on Green Economy and Climate Change
May 7-8, 2010 - At the invitation of the China Center on International Economic Exchanges, Council Executive VP Dawn Nakagawa is attending this International Conference in Beijing in connection with the Climate Change Adaptation project at the Pacific Council, which recognizes climate change as an issue of special significance on the international policy agenda.
For more on the Climate Change Adaptation project, click HERE.

Council Board of Directors Co-Chair Robert H. Tuttle to join the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy advisory board
May 4, 2010 - Council Board of Directors Co-Chair Robert H. Tuttle is one of four leaders from media and public policy who have joined the advisory board of the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.
Read more HERE.

Council President Emeritus Abraham F. Lowenthal awarded for accomplishments in world trade and global relations in Southern California
May 3, 2010 - Abraham F. Lowenthal, Pacific Council President Emeritus, received the annual World Trade Week 2010 Stanley T. Olafson Bronze Plaque Award. The award will recognize his exemplary accomplishments in international trade in Southern California. Past recipients include Walt Disney and Rufus von Kleinsmid, among others.
Read Dr. Lowenthal's remarks HERE.
To view the flyer for World Trade Week, click HERE.

Council member Janet Yellen nominated by Obama administration to serve as Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve
April 29, 2010 - Janet Yellen, current President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Pacific Council member, was nominated to the Federal Reserve Board together with MIT economist Peter Diamond and Maryland state banking regulator Sarah Bloom Raskin.
Read more HERE.

Council Member Bob Pisano to chair board of Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF)
April 28, 2010   - Council member Bob Pisano, current acting chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), has now also been elected as chairman of the corporate board of the MPTF for his "unique combination of experience, dedication, integrity and compassion."
Read more HERE.

Council Member Monu Joseph chosen as US delegate for American Council on Germany Young Leaders Conference
April 16, 2010   - Council member Monu Joseph will serve as one of a group of 50 delegates, composed of American and German professionals, in the American-German Young Leaders Conference. The conference, which this year will focus on "The Transatlantic Relationship: Irrelevance or Opportunity in a Post-Western World," convenes once a year for an intense dialogue on current global affairs.
For more on the Conference, click HERE.

Council Member Robert C. O'Brien co-chairs La Verne symposium on Afghanistan and state-building
April 15-17, 2010   - Council member Robert O'Brien will co-chair a University of La Verne-hosted symposium that seeks to examine what makes states successful and develop policy guidance for future directions in Afghanistan.
To see the conference flyer, click HERE.

Council President Jerry Green speaks at Nixon Center conference in Italy
April 10, 2010   - Council President & CEO Jerry Green spoke at a conference on "Asia's Role in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean: Implications for the Region and the U.S." His talk analyzed policy avenues open to the U.S. to constructively engage the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
For more on the conference and Dr. Green's talk, click HERE.

Council Member Lawrence Bender's new film on nuclear weapons met with wide anticipation pre-release
April 6, 2010 - The Christian Science Monitor discusses Lawrence Bender's newest film, "Countdown to Zero," which will be released in July. Lawrence, a Council member and producer of "An Inconvenient Truth," among other films, hopes that the film will boost the cause of disarmament in a key time.
Read the Monitor piece HERE.

Council member Alan D. Bersin appointed Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection
March 27, 2010 - Alan D. Bersin, Council member and current "Border Czar" of the US Department of Homeland Security, was appointed by President Barack Obama to be Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.
Read the White House press release HERE.

Council President Jerry Green discusses human rights in Iran with World Affairs Council
March 11-12, 2010 - Council President and CEO Jerry Green participated in the World Affairs 2010 conference of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, moderating a panel on human rights in Iran that included Iranian journalist Omid Memarian and the Director of International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi.
Watch a video of the session HERE.

Council Board Member C. L. Max Nikias named 11th President of USC
March 11, 2010 - C. L. Max Nikias, Council Board Member since 2005 and current USC Executive Vice President and Provost, was elected by a unanimous Board of Trustees vote to serve as the 11th President of the University of Southern California. He will succeed Steven B. Sample, current USC President and Pacific Council member, who will retire in August 2010.
Read the University press release HERE.

Council member Philip Seib speaks to the Chatham House in London
March 3, 2010 - Philip Seib, Director of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and Pacific Council member, presented remarks on "Public Diplomacy and the Obama Moment" before London's Chatham House, arguing that the current administration still lacks a truly systematic approach to 21st century public diplomacy, but has an important opportunity to formulate this under President Barack Obama.
Read his remarks HERE.

Council President Jerry Green selected to participate in DoD Joint Civilian Orientation Conference
March 3, 2010 - Council President and CEO Jerry Green is one of the 80 individuals nominated and selected to participate in the Department of Defense 2010 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC). This October he will attend Conference 80, hosted by the United States European Command.
To see the JCOC website, click HERE.

U.S. President Barack Obama nominates Council Member Michael Camuñez for key administration post
March 1, 2010 - President Obama announced his intention to nominate Council Member Michael Camuñez to the position of Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance in the Department of Commerce. Currently, Camuñez serves as Special Counsel to the President in the Office of the White House Counsel. Read the White House press release HERE.

Council Board Member Nancy Aossey discusses the earthquake in Chile on Larry King Live
February 27, 2010  - Board Member Nancy Aossey, President and CEO of International Medical Corps, appeared on Larry King Live to discuss the IMC's continuing work in Haiti and its potential role in Chile following the 8.8 earthquake that shook that country in the early morning of February 27.

Council member Antonio O. Garza addresses the San Antonio World Affairs Council on "Hemispheric Truths"
February 24, 2010 - The Honorable Antonio O. Garza, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Pacific Council member, commented on the U.S. role in the Western Hemisphere in a presentation at the San Antonio World Affairs Council. He argued that Latin America and the Caribbean need more attention from Washington, not less, and need partnership, not dominance. Read his remarks HERE .

Council Board Member Geoffrey Cowan launches Top Secret play with NYC benefit performance
February 24, 2010 - Board Member Geoffrey Cowan's play, Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon papers, made its debut at the New York Theatre Workshop February 24-March 28. Many of the shows, including the March 6 benefit for USC Annenberg, were followed by post-show discussions with leading journalists, political leaders and scholars.
Read the Pacific Council feature on Geoff Cowan and this play HERE .

Council Member Charles Carmona and USAID host Afghan miners, dealers and retailers at conference in Tucson
February 2010 - Charles Carmona (Pacific Council member) worked together with the Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development (ASMED) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to bring 25 members of the mining and gemstone industry in Afghanistan to the AGTA GemFair Tucson show for the first time.

Council Board Member Geoffrey Cowan's new report receives wide media coverage
January 28, 2010 - Council Board Member Geoffrey Cowan (together with colleague David Westphal) released a study of the subsidies that have assisted the American press since the colonial era.They consider the timely question: Is there a role for the government in helping ensure that citizens continue to get the news and information they need in American democracy?
Press coverage: | Financial Times | New York Times | ABC |

Council Senior Fellow Mikkal E. Herberg discusses Asia and the global oil market at Houston conference
January 27, 2010 - Mikkal E. Herberg, Council Senior Energy Fellow, presented his research on China and Asia's future impact on regional oil markets at a Houston oil industry conference -- the Argus Americas Crude Summit 2010.
Download his PowerPoint presentation HERE.

Council Member Lawrence Bender screens new film at Sundance on the heels of Oscar nominations
January 25, 2010 - Variety favorably reviewed "Countdown to Zero," a new film on nuclear weapon proliferation that was produced by Council member Lawrence Bender and shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Bender's 2009 film "Inglourious Basterds" was recently honored with eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Council President Emeritus Abraham F. Lowenthal addresses Ambassadors to Latin American and Caribbean countries
January 21, 2010 - Abraham F. Lowenthal, Pacific Council President Emeritus, addressed all U.S. ambassadors and chiefs of mission to Latin America and the Caribbean, and was honored by the State Department with a Certificate of Appreciation for his contribution to enhanced understanding of U.S.-Latin American relations.

Pacific Council members lead Haiti earthquake relief efforts
January 2010 - After the devastating 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti this month, organizations run by Nancy Aossey, Richard Walden, Thomas Tighe, Mark Danner, Craig Shepherd, Judy Miller, Ed Cain, Robert Eckert and others provided an immediate response.

Council Member Philip Seib and the USC Center on Public Diplomacy launch new publication
January 2010 - This month the USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) published the first issue of PDiN Monthly, an aggregation of each month's most significant public diplomacy-related news items. Pacific Council member Philip Seib, who directs the Center, has spearheaded this new project.

Council President Jerry Green will serve on the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel
December 8, 2009 - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has invited Council President Jerry Green to serve on his Advisory Panel for a two-year term. The Panel's members are authorities in the fields of national security policy, intelligence, science, engineering, or business and industry.
| List of panelists | Panel Charter |