Branstad is the longest-serving governor in American history, chairman of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and president of the World Food Prize Foundation. He will share insights on international affairs and national security. This event is part of the Hipp Lecture Series on International Affairs and National Security. It is free and open to the public.
Event Details
Date: Monday, April 22
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Leonard Auditorium, Wofford College
Admission: Free and open to the public
Livestream: wofford.edu/hipp/terry-branstad
Attendees are invited to a reception immediately following Branstad’s chat.
Van Hipp ’82, chairman of American Defense International, expressed his enthusiasm for Branstad’s visit: “Ambassador Terry Branstad is truly one of America’s great statesmen. We are honored to have him on campus.”
About Terry Branstad
Throughout his career, Branstad has been deeply involved in food and agriculture. He navigated Iowa through the 1980s Farm Crisis and played a pivotal role in revitalizing the state economy driven by agriculture. As a supporter of the World Food Prize Foundation, he has been instrumental in addressing food insecurity issues. Branstad holds the record for the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving Iowa from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017.
During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2020, Branstad achieved significant milestones, including the historic Phase-One Trade Agreement and efforts to combat the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
A founding partner of Branstad Churchill Group LLC, Branstad continues his commitment to public service and education, serving as “Ambassador-in-Residence” at Drake University. Other philanthropic endeavors include the modernization of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.
Born and raised in Leland, Iowa, Branstad graduated from Forest City High School and the University of Iowa. He and his wife, Chris, have three adult children and eight grandchildren.
About the Hipp Lecture Series on International Affairs and National Security
Founded in 2011, the Hipp Lecture Series on International Affairs and National Security is designed to create signature events at Wofford College. The goal of these events is to capture the attention of students and the public and draw them into important conversations on applying American leadership and ideals to the challenges of international affairs past, present and future. The lecture series is made possible by 1982 Wofford graduate Van D. Hipp Jr., who is personally involved in the selection of each speaker.