This year’s speakers at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences convocations will bring a wealth of political and human rights experience with them. Bob Brink, now in his 13th year as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, will speak at the graduate convocation on Thursday, May 19, while Melanne Verveer, director of the State Department’s office on Global Women’s Issues, will speak at the undergraduate convocation on Friday, May 20.
Bob Brink is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a position he has held since 1998. He has since been reelected six times.
Brink has also been active in his state and community for more than 20 years. A current board member and former board chairman for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, he helped support public humanities research, education and programming statewide. The organization gives grants, fellowships and scholarships, hosts public events and seminars, and creates digital content for public radio and the Internet.
Brink was also chair of the Model General Assembly for the Virginia YMCA and a member of the board of directors for the Northern Virginia Regional Health Information Organization, among other prestigious appointments.
Ambassador Verveer deals with foreign policy as it relates to women’s social, political and economic advancement around the world. She deals with a variety of issues, such as women’s access to the political process, education, health care and domestic violence.
Prior to her State Department appointment, Verveer was chair, co-CEO and co-founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international non-governmental organization that works to empower women by unlocking their leadership potential. Previously, she served as assistant to former president Bill Clinton and chief-of-staff to Hillary Clinton. Verveer also led the effort to establish the President’s Interagency Council on Women.
She has served in a number of leadership and legislative roles throughout her career, which began with a BA and MA from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Graduate convocation takes place Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.
Undergraduate convocation takes place Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m. in the Patriot Center.