Over the course of November, the Center for Urban and Global Studies (CUGS) and World Affairs Council of CT (CTWAC) made it possible for Trinity students to step into high-level conversations on diplomacy and global security just a few miles from campus. CUGS organized transportation and registration for students to participate in this year’s CTWAC Global Security Forum, with the theme “Unraveling Order.” In addition to learning about international politics and security, students got to see diplomats and experts discuss what happens when old rules don’t hold, power is shifting, and countries are trying to adjust. As CUGS Director and World Affairs Council of CT board member Garth Myers put it, “CUGS has been a strong supporter of CTWAC for more than 15 years. WAC events, both online and in-person, have provided great opportunities for Trinity students, faculty and staff to engage and interact with world leaders, global diplomats, and significant policy-makers addressing pressing issues of peace and security of substantive concern for Hartford, Connecticut, and the many places with which our Trinity community connects at home and abroad”
The first event, on November 6, 2025, featured H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States. He spoke about how U.S.–Mexico relations have changed in recent years, how tariffs and remittances affect people on both sides of the border, and what future security cooperation might look like. It was a chance for students to see how the issues of migration, trade, development, and law are handled in real time at a very high level.
For Mexican international students in the room, the evening felt both personal and academic. Seeing the Mexican Ambassador speak in Hartford, so close to campus, made questions of identity, home, and foreign policy feel much closer.
As a Mexican student studying abroad, it was really powerful to see my country represented in Hartford. Hearing Ambassador Moctezuma talk about U.S.–Mexico relations made me feel more connected to home and helped me see how what I’m studying here can fit into a future career that keeps me working with Mexico. (Ximena Mariscal ’26)
On November 18, 2025, students returned for a second event with Hon. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the U.S., former Prime Minister of Australia, and former President of the Asia Society. In a conversation with CNN national security analyst Jim Sciutto, Ambassador Rudd spoke about the U.S.–Australia alliance, AUKUS, relations with China, and Australia’s role in a changing international system. For many students, it was the first time they had seen someone with that level of experience talk so openly about how governments think about risk, partnership, and strategy.
These events were valuable for students beyond political science or international relations. Engineering students saw how often technology, infrastructure, and systems thinking shape global security discussions. Ronita Murseli ’26, an electrical engineering major, said, “The ambassador’s talk showed me how closely engineering and international relations are connected. Hearing about the U.S.–Australia alliance and global security challenges helped me understand how political decisions shape the technologies and systems we rely on. It made the world outside Trinity feel bigger and more interconnected with what we’re learning.”
All students noted the value of attending these events. They heard ambassadors answer challenging questions, watched how moderators led discussions, and saw Hartford can be a platform for global conversations. Juan Rayo ’27 summed this up: “Events like these remind us that there is a world outside of Trinity’s walls, especially in a city as lively as Hartford. Hearing directly from the Ambassadors of Mexico and Australia and even getting to ask a question about U.S.–Mexico relations myself, helped connect what we learn in class with real decisions and relationships, and pushed us to think about our role as informed citizens.”
Across both evenings, students compared what they’re learning in classes with what they heard on stage, and the conversations kept going afterward – about internships, grad school, and how international work might fit into careers in policy, engineering, urban studies, economics, and more.
The CUGS–World Affairs Council of CT partnership demonstrates that Hartford is a center for global dialogue. By opening the doors to events like this, CUGS lets students see the people who work in that world think out loud about the same problems we analyze on campus.
Photos by Nick Caito for World Affairs Council of Connecticut
WAC Events Gallery
WAC Events Gallery
