Global Leadership Gala Honorees
Former Presidential Advisor, War Correspondent and President of Occidental International
Corporation
2013
Aboard The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the School of Diplomacy hosted its 2013 Global Leadership Gala with a dual purpose: to recognize and honor William F. McSweeny's lifelong commitment to servant leadership, and to celebrate the School of Diplomacy's 15th Anniversary. Judge William S. Sessions, Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the evening's featured speaker, delivered a moving introduction to McSweeny, while David Brancaccio, host of American Public Media's Marketplace Morning Report served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies.
As an infantryman during the Korean War, McSweeny received U.S. and foreign decorations, rising from private to commanding officer. Returning after the war to an earlier career as a reporter for the Hearst Newspapers in Boston, he received a large number of awards capped by a period as a war correspondent, which included the Hearst First Prize, an Associated Press award and a United Press Award for his work on the Vietnam War and the Six-Day War. McSweeny has been called on by presidents of both parties for special assignments, and was inducted into to the Washington, D.C., Hall of Fame in 2013.
View photos from the event on Flickr »
Susan K. Neely
President and CEO of the American Beverage Association
2011
Surrounded by support from beverage industry leaders representing the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Coke, PepsiCo, Nestle Water, The Coca-Cola Company and more, Susan K. Neely accepted the Global Citizen of the Year Award at the School of Diplomacy's 2011 Global Leadership Gala. Secretary Thomas J. Ridge, a former colleague of Susan's from her time in the Department of Homeland Security, introduced this year's honoree in a program that also included American radio and television journalist David Brancaccio.
Currently president and chief executive officer of the American Beverage Association, Neely has had an impressive career to date, with a strong foundation in government service, including senior positions in the legislative and executive branches in the federal government and state government.
View photos from the event on Flickr »
2009
The Honorable Stephen Hadley, national security advisor to President George W. Bush introduced the School's 2009 Global Leadership Gala honoree, Ambassador Frank C. Carlucci. Among his many accomplishments, Ambassador Carlucci was secretary of defense and assistant for national security affairs during the Reagan administration.
Guests watched video messages from Henry Kissinger as well as former President of Portugal Mario Soares and listened as John C. Whitehead praised their admired colleague and friend.
Andrew Liveris
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Dow Chemical Company
2007
The School of Diplomacy honored Andrew Liveris for his leadership in the area of climate change and sustainable development. As a member of the United States Climate Action Partnership, Mr. Liveris has joined with other businesses and leading environmental organizations to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
Through Mr. Liveris' commitment to key global issues, Dow Chemical has collaborated with the United Nations on a number of environmental topics, including efforts to provide access to safe and clean water. With the guidance of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, Dow has developed its own sustainability goals for the year 2015, which specifically address energy and climate change, global food supply, and personal health and safety, among others.
Director, McKinsey & Company New Jersey Office
2004
A founding member of the School of Diplomacy's Board of Overseers, Mr. Pearson has served on numerous civic boards and works to address the complex issues of the global healthcare market. "Michael embodies the very principles and ideals of a global citizen," said dean of the Diplomacy School, Clay Constantinou. "Throughout his life, he has demonstrated the kind of leadership and values we strive to instill in our students."
John C. Whitehead
Former Deputy Secretary of State and Co-Chairman of Goldman Sachs
2002 Gala to Celebrate the Naming of the Whitehead School of Diplomacy
The School of Diplomacy was named in honor of Mr. John C. Whitehead, a distinguished statesman most recently served as the chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. U.S. Senator Jon Corzine served as the Honorary Chairman of the event, which drew more than 500 guests from the worlds of diplomacy, business, government, and academia and raised over $3.1 million to support the School's academic programs. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger were among the guests.
Ambassador Clay Constantinou, Dean of the School of Diplomacy noted that Dr. Ebsworth was honored for "being a person whose roots are in so many different parts of the world." He is more than just a high-powered business man, according to Constantinou, and has been a "knight in shining armor" to the School and its students.
Fred Hassan
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacia Corporation
2000
Mr. Hassan was recognized as an internationally respected business leader with a broad vision and a commitment to helping others. On the naming of Mr. Hassan to this honor, Dean Clay Constantinou said, "Through his philosophy of doing well in business while also doing good, Fred Hassan leads Pharmacia Corporation with ethics and integrity. His personal background, education, career and philosophy embody the concept of the global citizen for which the Global Citizen Award was established."
Raymond M. Pocino
Vice President, Laborers' International Union of North America
1999
On naming Raymond Pocino the School's first Global Citizen, University President Monsignor
