U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK PRESIDENT TO PRESENT "USING ECONOMIC POWER WISELY" AT ODU OCT. 28

Philip Merrill, president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will present "Using Economic Power Wisely" at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, in room 127 of the Mills Godwin Jr. Life Sciences Building on the Old Dominion University campus. Sponsored by ODU's College of Business and Public Administration and the World Affairs Council, his talk is free and open to the public.

Merrill, a publisher, diplomat and investor was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve at the Export-Import Bank. The U.S. Senate confirmed his position in December 2002.

Previously, Merrill was chairman of the board of Capital-Gazette Communications Inc., which publishes the Washingtonian magazine, the Annapolis Capital and four other Maryland newspapers. He also served as assistant secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was on the Department of Defense policy board and was counselor to the undersecretary of defense for policy. In 1988, the secretary of defense awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Service, the highest civilian honor given by the department.

Merrill is a former special assistant to the deputy secretary of state and has worked in the White House on national security affairs. He has served in six previous administrations. Merrill is a graduate of Cornell University and the Harvard Business School's Program for Management Development.

He will also give the keynote address at the World Affairs Council program Thursday, Oct. 28, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. The reception begins at 6:15 followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the program at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28 for members, $33 for nonmembers and $12 for full-time students. For more information call 226-1202.