Renowned Syria Expert to Speak at Lafayette

Author David Lesch will present “Bashar al-Assad and the Disintegration of Syria” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28 in Colton Chapel at Lafayette College.

His talk, sponsored by the Class of 1961 International Speaker Series, is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow in the lobby at Kirby Hall of Civil Rights.

Lesch, is the Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of Middle East History at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, the author of 12 books and has been quoted in over 400 newspapers and magazines worldwide, including The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, Foreign Policy, and CNN.com. He is also a frequent commentator on Middle East issues appearing on the History Channel, “Frontline” on PBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, Al-Jazeera, and a frequent guest on National Public Radio, Christian Science Monitor Radio, BBC and CBS Radio.

In addition, he has appeared at and been a consultant to the United Nations on a variety of Middle East issues and met on a regular basis between 2004 and 2009 with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. He has also consulted with the Bush and the Obama administration officials on an ongoing basis on U.S. relations with Syria.

In addition to the Class of 1961 International Speaker Series, Lesch’s talk is sponsored by the Department of Government and Law, Daniel Golden ’34 Fund, the International Affairs Program and the International Student Association of Lafayette College.

Additional information regarding the event can be obtained by contacting Ilan Peleg, Dana Professor of Government and Law, pelegi@lafayette.edu

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Kathleen Parrish
Associate Director of Media Relations
Lafayette College
Communications Division
Easton, PA 18042
parrishk@lafayette.edu
www.lafayette.edu