February 16, 2004

State Department representative to speak at Troy State University

Troy State University will play host to speaker John Merrill of the U.S. Department of State in conjunction with the Global Access Project on Feb. 26-27.

Merrill is the current chief of the Northeast Asia Division of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the U.S. Department of State.

A resident of Arlington, Va., Merrill has a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Delaware and also has degrees from Harvard University and Boston University.

The Global Access Project was created by the Department of State in order to increase knowledge of American foreign policy and international issues, as well as to encourage careers in civil and foreign services at the department.

TSU is one of 11 universities nationwide chosen to participate in the project. Merill's visit is one of a series of events held by TSU in conjunction with the Global Access Project.

Gap events for Feb. 26-27:

Feb. 26
9 a.m., Room 124 Math/Science Complex; Informal discussion with John Merill about  career opportunities with in the Department of State and opportunities for TSU students  to serve as interns in the Department of State as undergraduates.
3 p.m., 3rd floor Wallace Library in the Distance Learning Center; A formal presentation which will be broadcast to at least a dozen other universities taking part in the GAP initiative.

Feb. 27
9 a.m., Merill will lead an informal discussion with students in an International Relations class.
3 p.m., Room 124 Math/Science Complex, Merill will lead a discussion on United States foreign policy with interested TSU students, faculty and community members.