Beginning on Nov. 12 through the 13, the Institute for Global Understanding hosted their biennial Global Understanding Convention: Global Matters: Paths to Trust and Peace in the Great Hall auditorium.
This year’s two day convention is a reflection on the United Nations’ Member States Declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust”.
The opening session on Wednesday began at 9:00 a.m. with a welcome from President Patrick F. Leahy, Ed.D., opening remarks and introductions. Following the opening session, campus locations such as the Student Center, Bey Hall, and McAllan all opened their classrooms and conference rooms to provide lectures, panels, workshops, open classrooms, and posters that were presented by students and faculty.
Day two consisted of morning sessions from 10:05 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Monmouth welcomed keynote speaker, Deborah A. “Dee” Baker to present her with the Global Leadership Award.
Baker, who is a Monmouth University alumna, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and global leader, presented “Reclaiming our Humanity; The Path to Trust and Peace” where she shared her story and discussed what leadership looks like. From the moments she sat at leadership tables and offered ideas that went unnoticed to reframing how she thought about those moments as redirection. “I realized I didn’t lose my voice at those tables, I was learning how to strengthen it,” Baker said.
Baker continued her presentation by sharing her three R’s; Reset, Reframe, and Reclaim. She explained that these have helped her to pause and reflect while deepening her belief that “leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room, it’s about having the courage to speak even in the moments of uncertainty” and that is why the institution’s mission resonates with her.
Throughout her time in uniform she served alongside people whose backgrounds were different from hers. One of life’s lessons that has stuck with her is, “Humanity always rises above division.” She added, “Those experiences have taught me that diversity is not a challenge to be managed, it is a strength to be celebrated. When we bring our differences to the table with respect we don’t weaken our mission, we strengthen it. The same is true globally, peace is sustained when every culture’s voice is valued and every person is seen.”
When asked in the Q & A portion of the presentation what advice she would give to college students she said, “Always value yourself, stand in your truth, and don’t play small.”
Giovanna Territo, a senior communications major who attended the keynote speaker said, “I originally had to attend this presentation for my gender, race, and media class but I ended up absolutely really really enjoying it. She is a great public speaker and it was amazing to hear about her program and her experience as a woman in the military and I know that I have definitely learned a lot about her three R’s, which I am going to live by now, she was very inspiring.”
Kelly Housen, a senior communications major who also attended the keynote speaker, said, “It was so inspiring to see how dedicated Dee Baker is to supporting women through major life transitions. She offered powerful advice to us young women in the audience about entering the workforce with confidence and refusing to shrink ourselves to make others more comfortable.”
The convention as well as the keynote speaker engaged in conversation that reflected on ways the Monmouth Community can support a culture of peace and trust in the region and beyond.
Baker concluded by saying, “In the end our greatest strength is not found in what separates us but in the strength that connects us all as human beings…may we reset what divides us, reframe what blinds us, and reclaim the humanity that binds us.”
