French Ambassador Speaks to ODU Students

French Ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, visited Old Dominion University Thursday, Feb. 28, to dine with and speak to 25 students and faculty from the Graduate Program in International Studies (GPIS). The luncheon was followed by a short talk and a question-and-answer session.

Vimont, who was appointed to his post in August by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, discussed two main areas of French foreign policy: European and transatlantic relations.

"It was a very frank discussion," doctoral candidate Eva Sigmon observed. "The ambassador tried to be as open as he could in the private venue - more so, I think, than if he had been speaking publicly. He seemed to enjoy the interaction and discussion. So did we."

Vimont's visit to the area was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads and Christopher Newport University, which hosted a dinner and lecture that evening.

ODU's GPIS offers both master's and doctoral degrees in international studies. It is an interdisciplinary unit, offering advanced research and graduate training in global problems and transnational issues. Fields of concentration include: U.S. foreign policy and international relations, conflict and cooperation, international political economy and development, interdependence and transnationalism, and comparative and regional studies.