SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA — Former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Ed McMullen will speak at Wofford College at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the Papadopoulos Room of the Papadopoulos Building. A reception will follow.
The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.
McMullen will discuss “21st Century Diplomacy: An Ambassador’s Perspective.” He will take questions following the speech.
McMullen’s visit is part of the college’s Hipp Lecture Series on International Affairs and National Security, established and funded by Van Hipp ’82, chairman of American Defense International Inc.
“Ambassador McMullen was one of our nation’s most effective ambassadors,” says Hipp. “He did much to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Switzerland, which resulted in increased Swiss investment in America and increased opportunities for American companies overseas.”
McMullen served as ambassador of the United States to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from November 2017 through January 2021. He has been recognized for developing strong bilateral relationships. During his service, he met with more than 300 CEOs and chairs of boards of directors throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein, building relationships and a favorable environment for economic growth. Switzerland was the eight-largest foreign direct investor in the United States when McMullen became ambassador. The country has now moved to sixth.
Currently, McMullen services as senior policy advisor for Adams and Reece LLP law firm. He also serves as a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and as vice chairman of the American Swiss Foundation.
Prior to his service as ambassador, McMullen worked in public policy as president of a state think tank. He was also founder and president of McMullen Public Affairs, a South Carolina-based corporate advertising and public relations firm that provided government affairs, grassroots campaigns, advertising, PR services, data analytics and polling to a broad range of companies.
The Hipp Lecture Series on International Affairs and National Security is part of the Hipp Center for National Security and Foreign Policy. It was founded in 2011 to create signature events at Wofford College with the goal of capturing the attention of students and the public while drawing them into important conversations on applying American leadership and ideals to the challenges of international affairs past, present and future.
Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of 1,800 undergraduates. Nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, study abroad participation and successful graduates, Wofford is recognized consistently as a “best value” and for its commitment to student success and accessibility for low- and middle-income students. The college community has 12 sororities and fraternities as well as 20 NCAA Division I athletics teams.