Presentations will be given by international humanitarian Alison Thompson and two Fulbright foreign language teaching assistants, Bahia Braktia from Algeria and Ayumi Yamamoto from Japan. The forum will be moderated by Maria Cristina Santana, director of 91�Թ���’s Women’s Studies Program.

Thompson’s international volunteer work earned her the Order of Australia, the highest civilian medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II of England. Her documentary film, The Third Wave, focuses on her experience volunteering in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami. It premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival in New York and was shown at at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

Braktia and Yamamoto are teaching Arabic and Japanese, respectively, this year at 91�Թ���. Both host periodic cultural events that help students learn more about language and culture outside the United States.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners of this forum include Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay Garner, 91�Թ��� Student Government Association, 91�Թ��� Women’s Studies Program, 91�Թ��� Women’s Research Center, 91�Թ��� Burnett Honors College, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, 91�Թ��� Political Science Department, 91�Թ��� LIFE, 91�Թ��� Book Festival 2013 in Association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.

The presentations are part of the office’s mission to sharpen 91�Թ���’s international focus. Global Perspectives recently celebrated 10 years of advancing global initiatives at the university and is entering its second decade with a robust programming schedule.

Each event connects to the office’s annual theme for 2012-2013, “The Changing Face of Freedom in Today’s Turbulent Times.” The theme is a natural development from last year’s: “People Power, Politics and Global Change.”

Kicking off the season are two speakers who soften serious observations about political crises with a bit of humor. Doug McMarlin and Jason Recher will share their experiences as conservative political strategists and former White House aides. Drawing from their inside look at how the White House handles national and global crises, the duo will discuss lessons for political leaders.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.  4, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the 91�Թ��� Student Union.

This semester’s other highlights, which are free and open to the public, include:

For a full list of upcoming events or to learn more about the Global Perspectives Office, visit .