Conference on World Affairs
April 9–12, 2024
Big ideas.
Endless discoveries.
Celebrating 75+ years.
This event is free and open to the public. We encourage registration to receive personalized emails and event updates.
CWA printed programs will be available at the University Memorial Center during the conference, and will be distributed on April 9th around the city of Boulder.
Macky Auditorium | Tuesday, April 9 at 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The Funny Story Behind the Funny Stories
Cry with laughter at the opening keynote by founding editor of The Onion, Scott Dikkers. Dikkers is bound to ignite thought-provoking discussions and provide valuable insights into the world of media, humor and social commentary.
Live Stream Link: https://livestream.com/LoclyzMedia/KickoffKeynote
Macky Auditorium | Friday, April 12 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Leadership on and off the field: A Conversation with Coach Prime
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders will be a keynote speaker this year in a co-hosted event with the Center for Leadership. The center’s director, Stefanie Johnson, will engage coach in a discussion about his leadership on and off the field. The event is free and open to the public, with 40 percent of the tickets reserved for CU students. Ticket is required to attend.
Description: Join us for a vibrant street art event with speaker Nico Holderbaum on April 8–10.
Presented by BMoCA
Description: A beloved tradition of the conference, Ebert Interruptus is a four-part event showing a film along with in-depth analysis. This year’s edition of Interruptus will feature The Babadook, the 2014 Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. Learn more
Speakers:
Josh Larsen
Wednesday, April 10
Description: Some people say that the world is more peaceful than ever. Others say that World War III is imminent. Is international peace achievable?
Moderator:
Charlie Stein
Speakers:
Joe Cirincione
Morgan Keay
John Spencer
Sarah Yager
Description: How will new technologies be a service to humanity and make the world a better place.
Moderator:
William Doe
Speakers:
Amber Case
Moses Ma
Eliot Peper
Jake Sally
Description: How we communicate and relate to each other is important. This panel will explore the importance of developing the capacity to have empathy with others. In a world that is both technology connected and socially distant, how do we build community for a better future?
Moderator:
Annie Margaret
Speakers:
Heidi Basch-Harod
Rengin Firat
Ted Schmitt
Ty Tashiro
Description: How will urban planning, policy and new technologies transform the cities of the future and make them more livable? In particular a focus on urban mobility and other technology that makes cities more livable, equitable, efficient, safe and inclusive.
Moderator:
Harmon Zuckerman
Speakers:
Christine Chang
Hunter Leggitt
Aarian Marshall
Natalie Stiffler
Description: In 1924, Henry Gerber, a German immigrant, founded the first gay rights organization in Chicago, Illinois. One hundred years later, a century of progress is threatened as anti-inclusion sentiments rise worldwide. What is the current state of the LGBTQIA+ rights today, and what are the challenges to overcome by 2124.
Moderator:
Sonja Benton
Speakers:
Mardi Moore
Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Eli Hans
Description: Are Fox and CNN more closely related than many like to admit ... with the common enemy being the American people?
Moderator:
Ralph Gregory
Speakers:
Benjamin R. Teitelbaum
Marcus Brauchli
Lisa Graves
Max Towey
Description: A panel exploring the homelessness crisis within the United States.
Moderator:
Megan Newton
Speakers:
Asia Eaton
Devon Gray
Yvonne Vissing
Description: When sharing culture, promoting science or advocating for change, how intriguing stories inspire, persuade and motivate us.
Moderator:
Ron Bostwick
Speakers:
Danielle SeeWalker
Mary Reynolds Thompson
Kika Tuff
Matt Williams
Description: Join us for a vibrant street art event with speaker Nico Holderbaum on April 8–10.
Presented by BMoCA
Description: CU Racial Literacies Program is a collaboration of Center for Teaching and Learning, College of Arts and Sciences, and Center for Humanities & Arts.
Moderator:
John-Michael Rivera
Speakers:
Cheryl Matias
Jennifer Ho
Lee Boubout
Sylvester Johnson
Description: Can humor bridge our polarization to allow conversations about politics, outlooks and cultural beliefs?
Moderator:
Erin Ashbaugh
Speakers:
Lisa Graves
Michael Spencer
Scott Dikkers
Description: Leadership: A conversation on what it means to thrive after experiencing failure or setbacks.
Moderator:
Joseph Bennett
Speakers:
Wisdom Cole
Devon Gray
Florencio (Flo) Mazzoldi
Ty Tashiro
Description: Next 100 Years, policy change for psychedelic therapy, this is science and therapy and not recreational.
Moderator:
Jonathan Singer
Speakers:
Carillon Skrzynski
Nate Klemp
Scott Thompson
Taylor West
Description: Next 100 Years, Global Equity, Leadership: Two futurists discuss AI, its impact on society and business, and what’s going to happen next.
Moderator:
Shay Castle
Speakers:
Seth Levine
Eliot Peper
Description: A first-of-its-kind art exhibit on display at the University of Colorado Boulder celebrates Black women and explores the contributions of Black people to the university’s history. ***First come first serve event, limited to 20 guests*** Learn More
Description: A look into the future of gaming.
Moderator:
Chris Lessard
Speakers:
William "Billy" Carney
Moses Ma
Jake Sally
Description: Next 100 Years: Are these technologies really improving our quality of life?
Moderator:
Jon Carroll
Speakers:
Amber Case
Christine Chang
Dr. Mohammed Mahoor
Ted Schmitt
Description: Between school boards, parents, and governors, who should be making decisions on book banning, freedom of expression, and revisionist history?
Moderator:
Braden Deffenbaugh
Speakers:
Hadar Harris
Leo Glaze
Ian Millhiser
Marcus Brauchli
Description: A discussion on the skills and strategies that make the best leaders in the business world stand out from the rest.
Moderator:
Scott Schaefer
Speakers:
Lucy Lawrence
Charles Mslinga
Carl Quintanilla
Nancy Wang
Description: A first-of-its-kind art exhibit on display at the University of Colorado Boulder celebrates Black women and explores the contributions of Black people to the university’s history. ***First come first serve event, limited to 20 guests*** Learn More
Description: “Leadership for a Sustainable Future” and the questions will be centered on coupled human-environment systems and the complex challenges and solutions associated with ensuring both people and our planet thrive.
Moderator:
Seth Webb
Speakers:
Veronica Estrada
Meghan Fall
Kaela Gero
Nicole Woods
Description: Next 100 Years, Leadership: What are the current and future threats in this modern cyber age?
Moderator:
Albert Hand
Speakers:
Joe Cirincione
Laura Harder
John Spencer
Description: What trends are we seeing and what initiatives are countries taking or not taking to increase women’s participation in government positions?
Moderator:
Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde
Speakers:
Morgan Keay
Alexander Verbeek
Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Moderator:
Lauren Click
Speakers:
Charlie Billingsley
Nico Holderbaum
Hunter Leggitt
Aarian Marshall
Emma Needell
Description: Understanding the current trends from the runways, why these weeks are important to the industry and what it means to work the week.
Moderator:
Ava Deith
Speakers:
Daniel Herranz
Laura Melendrez
Stephanie Tricola
After Hours Events
Description: A beloved tradition of the conference, Ebert Interruptus is a four-part event showing a film along with in-depth analysis. This year’s edition of Interruptus will feature The Babadook, the 2014 Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. Learn more
Speakers:
Josh Larsen
Description: ROAM Boulder, CU's premier lifestyle and fashion magazine, is partnering with CWA to present their Spring Fashion Show on Wednesday the 10th. Anyone aspiring to join the fashion industry can join a Q&A session with CWA fashion experts. ROAM members and attendees will engage in workshops covering fashion photography, styling, writing, and brand building.
After Hours Events
Description: In the panel, BridgeCU wants to make politics accessible for everyone, breaking political engagement down to simple, “dinner table talk.” The impacts of political decision, division, and discussion can be felt by all; yet there is growing disinterest and decreasing incentive to participate in levels of governance. BridgeCU is seeking to discuss why engagement in politics matters. “Bridging” political polarization is not just a step for those passionate about politics, but an effort from society as a whole. Our panel would seek to highlight that civic engagement can be accessible without being overwhelming, alongside the role the next generation plays in finding a path to progess through using dialogue over debate. It is commonly understood that political polarization is reaching extremes, with many fearing the direction in which the United States will go – regardless of whether one’s political idealogy falls left or right. Moving into, first, the coming election and eventually the years to come engagement from young generations is more critical than ever. Populations that have grown up knowing polarization as a norm must now begin to determine the kind of future that will be built within the United States. Will rising generations work to “bridge” polarization, or will we inevitably continue to fuel the discourse occurring? Leadership must come from students, the newly educated, and the rising workforce. But there must be equal effort from experienced leaders. Sustainable collaboration cannot be achieved without initiative from everyone.
Moderator:
Krystal Tanner and Abby Schaller
Speakers:
Janet Donovan
Mark Gerzon
Molly Fitzpatrick
Tom Cosgrove
Description: A beloved tradition of the conference, Ebert Interruptus is a four-part event showing a film along with in-depth analysis. This year’s edition of Interruptus will feature The Babadook, the 2014 Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. Learn more
Speakers:
Josh Larsen
Description:
The CWA Book Club is back with the book, Apeirogon by Colum McCann.
This 2020 novel is based on the true story of the fraternal relationship between Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian Muslim, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli Jew who both lost daughters in violence in the West Bank. Aramin co-founded the activist group Combatants for Peace; Elhanan joined up after his son Elik brought him to a meeting, some seven years before Abir’s death. By the time Abir was shot, Elhanan and Aramin were close friends. The new loss made them brothers. Since 2007 they’ve traveled all over the world together, speaking about what they experienced.
The book is divided into 1001 short chapters crossing history, geography, art and nature. Ultimately creating a great novel that is both heart-breaking and hopeful and showing the power of Storytelling to respond to grief.
Written before the current crisis, it is truly a work for our times.
You can watch the author and protagonists in discussion here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TooOTITvrk0
Open conversation about the book during this event.
Speakers:
Mary Reynolds Thompson
Friday, April 12
Description: Is the United States’ seemingly “open” border a national security issue, or an economic and social phenomenon?
Moderator:
Jan Burton
Speakers:
Brandon Warmke
Lee Boubout
Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
Ian Millhiser
Description: A roundtable of expats who share firsthand accounts of living away from their home country. Gain insights into their challenges and triumphs while navigating a new cultural landscape. Listen to students, diplomats and expats share their experiences living away from their home country.
Moderator:
Marina LaGrave
Speakers:
Rengin Firat
Charles Mslinga
Suma Sathyanarayana
Description: Philanthropy: is it still needed? How must non-profits rely on the donations and/or grants to stay afloat. Is the model created in other countries viable for US?
Moderator:
Mark Ragan
Speakers:
John Heffernan
Lucy Lawrence
Dean Sobel
Maya Ward
Description: Next 100 Years: Unlocking the potential of DNA, genetic engineering and related technologies to conserve nature.
Moderator:
Jennifer Neale
Speakers:
Asher Jay
Florencio (Flo) Mazzoldi
Ted Schmitt
Kika Tuff
Description: Across the globe, how is capitalism working with respect to quality of life, longevity, income equality, advancement, health care, etc.?
Moderator:
John Tayer
Speakers:
Leo Glaze
Rowena He
Rachel Sigman
Alexander Verbeek
Description: Next 100 Years: Gender-Based Violence. Sexual Violence. Physical Violence. Cyber Violence. A conversation on why there is a rise of violent crime in our communities and online, and how the education, legal, and nonprofit sectors are responding.
Moderator:
Beverly Kingston
Speakers:
Heidi Basch-Harod
Asia Eaton
Description: Next 100 Years: How can we make sure emerging technology will benefit society?
Moderator:
Aaron Brockett
Speakers:
Christine Chang
Dr. David Caswell
Laura Harder
Eliot Peper
Description: Data exploitation (TikTok, Meta, Google, etc.) Political bans (federal, individual states) Are content creators monetizing or exploiting the situation? Algorithms tailored to social media users.
Moderator:
Bettina Swigger
Speakers:
John Heffernan
Kian Salehizadeh
Max Towey
Description: How relevant are the U.N. Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and other international organizations? How are Things Working Relative to Enforcement of international law and international humanitarian law The relevance of the UN in today’s multipolar world Israel did not destroy Hamas but it destroyed Gaza. Now what? How long can Russia be allowed to attack all of Ukraine before the world steps in?
Moderator:
Jim Anaya
Speakers:
Hadar Harris
Rowena He
Sarah Yager
Description: Improvisational potpourri and performance by speakers with hidden and known talents.
Speakers:
Benjamin Burney
Darren Kramer
Laura Deal
Matt Jones
Michael Spencer
Nicholas Pope
Description: How will the business of fashion change in the face of ethical and sustainability concerns?
Moderator:
Robin Luff
Speakers:
Daniel Herranz
Asher Jay
Lucy Lawrence
Laura Melendrez
Macky Hall
Descriptions: Leadership on and off the field: A Conversation with Coach Prime
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders will be a keynote speaker this year in a co-hosted event with the Center for Leadership. The center’s director, Stefanie Johnson, will engage coach in a discussion about his leadership on and off the field. The event is free and open to the public, with 40 percent of the tickets reserved for CU students. In-person attendance only
Description: The magic of immersive experiences such as the Sphere, festivals, locker rooms, and drones?
Moderator:
John Davis
Speakers:
Markus Braun
Matt Jones
Hunter Leggitt
Description: Open potpourri forum for issues in the news / of high interest. Some possibilities: Current and future risks confronting modern Africa Afghanistan and the evacuation/the resettlement of Afghan Economic (tariffs, $, food supplies) Energy (mass production of EVs, Green energy, reliance on oil).
Moderator:
Gary Garrison
Speakers:
William "Billy" Carney
Max Towey
Alexander Verbeek
Description: Why are younger audiences so attracted to the horror and supernatural genres in the arts?
Moderator:
Jezy Gray
Speakers:
Josh Larsen
Tiel Lundy
Michael Spencer
Shay Wescott
On behalf of the CIRES DLS committee, we would like to cordially invite you to our upcoming Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) with Dr. Paul G. Richards on Friday, April 12th at 3pm in the CIRES Auditorium, Room 338 with a reception following in the CIRES Atrium.
**No registration required**
Questions? Contact event organizers Linda Pendergrass or Lornay Hansen.
Speakers:
Paul G. Richards
After Hours Events
Description: A beloved tradition of the conference, Ebert Interruptus is a four-part event showing a film along with in-depth analysis. This year’s edition of Interruptus will feature The Babadook, the 2014 Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent. Learn more
Speakers:
Josh Larsen
Description: A live podcast discussion of the controversial issues Americans don’t know how to talk about, and why we don’t know how to talk about them. The Politically Correcting podcast hosts Jose Peo and Lavelle Lewis will join CU Boulder’s Free Mind podcast host Matt Burgess in a unique platform highlighting the importance of civil discourse. A Democrat, a Republican, and a Canadian walk into a bar... we’ll let you guess who is who. No topic will be off limits.
Speakers:
Jose Peo
Lavelle Lewis
Matthew Burgess
Livestream Link: https://livestream.com/loclyzmedia/podcast
After the Conference is over, CWA panelist Eli Hans, will be presenting a one-man musical play at the Dairy Arts Center. The play, called Out of the Blue, will be performed at the Dairy on:
The musical is autobiographical. Eli shares with his audience growing up as a gay boy in a conservative Mexican-Jewish community; maneuvering through the AIDS crisis in the 1980s; dealing with the suicide of a partner; and overcoming a dire cancer diagnosis. While this might sound a bit depressing, it is actually an uplifting (and sometimes funny) story of overcoming adversity through hope and perseverance. The musical originated in Mexico and has won awards, including at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
This will be its Boulder premiere. All proceeds benefit Out Boulder County.
