TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College opens its 33rd season of public dialogue addressing critical global issues in northern Michigan. Fall events sequence features distinguished diplomats, intelligence leaders, foreign correspondents, foreign policy scholars, and the organization’s 2nd Annual Gala fundraiser. For media inquiries, including speaker interview requests, contact via information below. Upcoming events include:<\/p>\n
September 3<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>Five Years After the Fall of Kabul: The Afghan Connection in Traverse City<\/strong> <\/span>| 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. with Amb. Greta C. Holtz, President & CEO of AmidEast and former U.S. Ambassador to Oman (2012–2015). Moderated by Karen Puschel Segal, retired U.S. Diplomat and Coordinator for the Afghan Migrant Ministry Project (AMMP) in Traverse City. In person event. Off-record community dialogue. Free event, registration required. <\/span>Event details<\/a><\/p>\n September 17<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>U.S. Intelligence in the 21st Century<\/strong> <\/span>| 6 p.m. reception | 7 p.m. program with Paul Hollingsworth, President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers and former CIA Senior Executive. IAF’s inaugural Segal Diplomacy Series lecture presented in memory of Jack Segal (1945-2026) and in recognition of Karen Puschel Segal, with event underwriting provided by Laura Stein Goldfeder & Leigh Stein McNamara. Event details<\/a><\/p>\n October 15<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>2nd Annual IAF Gala: An Evening of Political Insight & Global Perspective with Candy Crowley<\/strong> <\/span>| 6 – 9 p.m. at The Hagerty Center, Great Lakes Campus, Northwestern Michigan College. The International Affairs Forum invites the community to its 2nd Annual Gala fundraiser featuring Candy Crowley, award-winning journalist, former CNN Chief Political Correspondent, and host of State of the Union with Candy Crowley. Note: This special fundraising event is not included with regular IAF membership; separate ticket purchase is required. Tables & sponsorship opportunities are available. Event details<\/a><\/p>\n October 20<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>This Cursed Beautiful Land: A Russian-American Story<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>| A National Writers Series event presented with IAF as promotional partner, featuring Evan Gershkovich, centering on the revelatory memoir from the Wall Street Journal reporter who was wrongly imprisoned in Putin’s Russia for more than a year, a glimpse inside the perils and contradictions of a country in the midst of autocracy. This partner event is not included with regular IAF membership; separate ticket purchase is required from NWS. Event details<\/a><\/p>\n October 22<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>Iran, Middle East Instability & National Security<\/strong> <\/span>| 6 p.m. reception | 7 p.m. program with Javed Ali, Associate Professor of Practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, and former official with the Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Event underwriting provided by Eleanor Lynn. Event details<\/a><\/p>\n November 12<\/strong> <\/span>| <\/span>Boiling Point: How America Brought War To Ukraine<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>| 6 p.m. reception | 7 p.m. ET program with Stephen Kinzer, former New York Times foreign correspondent, award-winning writer & bestselling author; Senior Fellow in International & Public Affairs, Watson School of International & Public Affairs, Brown University. Book sales & signing facilitated by Artemis Books & Goods. Event details<\/a><\/p>\n Mission<\/strong> Events<\/strong> Community Support | Membership<\/strong> Alex Tank <\/p>\n TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College opens its 33rd season of public dialogue addressing critical global issues in northern Michigan. Fall events sequence features distinguished diplomats, intelligence leaders, foreign correspondents, foreign policy scholars, and the organization’s 2nd Annual Gala fundraiser. For media inquiries, including speaker interview requests, contact via information below. Upcoming events include: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-168788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-intercom","category-student-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAbout the International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College<\/h2>\n
The mission of the International Affairs Forum is to advance the understanding of critical global issues through education and public dialogue. IAF is a community-supported program of Northwestern Michigan College and an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America.<\/p>\n
All regular season events are open to the public. Tickets are required. Presentations begin at 7:00 PM & receptions begin at 6:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Visit TCIAF.com for advance in-person tickets and online livestream access: $20 per person purchased in advance, $23 per person at the door, or $10 for online livestream access. For in-person tickets on event days, purchase at the door while seats remain. Current students, educators, and active-duty military members receive free admission with required check in. For in-person tickets, online livestream tickets, and all event details, visit tciaf.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The International Affairs Forum is a member-supported global affairs education series and a program of Northwestern Michigan College (NMC). The organization was founded in 1994 by a group of citizens eager to learn more about our nuanced world through speaker events with invited experts. IAF welcomes new members and sponsors for its 33rd season September 2026 – June 2027. Memberships start at $100 for individuals or $200 for two people. All memberships include in-person admission and online access to all regular season events. Learn more about membership, event sponsorship, and opportunities to support at <\/span>tciaf.com\/support<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\nRelease date: August 24, 2026<\/h3>\n
For more information:<\/h2>\n
Director
International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1844<\/span>
atank@nmc.edu<\/a><\/p>\nNon-Discrimination Policy Notice<\/h3>\nNorthwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu\/non-discrimination<\/a><\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"