U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Richard A. Boucher To Speak at Pitt March 5

PITTSBURGH—Richard A. Boucher, U.S. Department of State spokesperson and assistant secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs, visits Pitt Friday, March 5, to discuss U.S. foreign policy with members of the community. Boucher's lecture and public forum will take place at 8:30 a.m. in 2K56 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, 230 S. Bouquet St., Oakland.

This free public event offers the community an opportunity to have direct dialogue with a senior state department official. A 40-minute question-and-answer session will follow Boucher's 20-minute lecture, titled "U.S. Foreign Policy from the Middle East to Southeast Asia." Pitt's Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS), Asian Studies Center and Global Studies Program in the University Center for International Studies, and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs are sponsoring the lecture and forum, along with the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Muslim Society.

Since 1989, Boucher has served as spokesperson or deputy spokesperson for five secretaries of state. In December 2000, he became assistant secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs. From July 1999 through April 2000, Boucher was the U.S. senior official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. He also served as consul general for the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong between 1996 and 1999 and as the ambassador to Cyprus from October 1993 until June 1996. He entered the foreign service in 1977 and is now a senior foreign service officer with the rank of career minister. A native of Bethesda, Md., Boucher earned the Bachelor of Arts degree at Tufts University in 1973.

For more information, contact CERIS at 412-624-4780 or ceris@pobox.com.

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