Expert on current situation in Syria to speak at Ripon College

One of the world’s leading experts on Syria, Dr. Joshua Landis, will talk about the current situation in the war-torn country Monday, Sept. 12 at Ripon College. The program will begin at 4:15 p.m. in Kresge Little Theatre, East Hall. The event is sponsored by the Center for Politics and the People and is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in Wensink Faculty Lounge between 5:15 and 6 p.m.

As the director of the Center for Middle East Studies and professor at the College of International Studies at the University of Oklahoma, Landis writes SyriaComment.com, a daily newsletter about Syrian politics that attracts more than 100,000 readers a month and is an important resource for policymakers, journalists and academics trying to make sense of the civil war in Syria. He is a frequent analyst on television, radio and in print, recently appearing on PBS News Hour, Charlie Rose Show and Front Line. He is a regular on National Public Radio and the BBC. He also frequently publishes in leading foreign policy journals and speaks at Washington think tanks.

President Zach Messitte, who is also a professor of politics and government, will moderate the Ripon College event with Landis. Messitte and Landis are former colleagues at the University of Oklahoma, where the two appeared together frequently on the National Public Radio show WorldViews, hosted by KGOU radio.

Landis won the best teacher prize at the University of Oklahoma and has received three Fulbright grants, a Social Science Research Council award and other prestigious awards to support his research. Landis lived in Syria for four years and is fluent in Arabic. He is married and has two boys. He received his bachelor’s degree at Swarthmore College, his master’s degree from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in history from Princeton University.


Related Posts

Peter Filichia

Acclaimed theatre critic Peter Filichia will discuss ‘The Business of Show Business’ April 18

“The Business of Show Business,” a discussion about theatre with acclaimed theatre critic Peter Filichia, will be held Tuesday, April 18, at Ripon College. The […]

Speakers will discuss cancel culture April 11 at Ripon College

“Cancel Culture: Accountability or Censorship?” will be presented April 11 at Ripon College. The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Kresge Little Theatre, East […]

Torrin A. Greathouse

Award-winning poet will read from her work April 12 at Ripon College

RIPON — Torrin A. Greathouse, author of the award-winning poetry collection “Wound from the Mouth of a Wound,” will read from her work Wednesday, April […]

Katherine Cramer

‘Politics of Resentment’ program rescheduled for April 20 at Ripon College

“The Politics of Resentment: Seven Years Later,” a discussion with University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Katherine Cramer, has been rescheduled at Ripon College. It […]

Joshua Landis