Ambassadors in the Classroom
Klosson and Walker bring international expertise to Hamilton
Two former U.S. ambassadors -- both alumni -- have returned to the Hamilton classroom this fall to teach courses in comparative politics and international relations.
Michael Klosson '71 is the Sol M. Linowitz Visiting Professor of International Affairs. He is international affairs advisor and state department chair for the National Defense University in Washington, where he teaches courses in public policy and strategy, China, interagency negotiation and the environment. At Hamilton he is teaching a course that explores the drivers behind China's rise in the international system, its implications for American foreign policy and alternative policy responses.
Klosson served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus from 2002-05, where he directed a diplomatic mission composed of 170 staff from five U.S. government agencies. He also was consul general and chief of mission for Hong Kong and Macau from 1999-2002. From 1996-99 he worked at the State Department as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs and before that was deputy chief of mission and charge d'Affairs at the U.S. embassies in Stockholm, Sweden, and in The Hague, the Netherlands. From 1984-90 he served as deputy director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs and as director of the secretariat staff in the Office of the Secretary of State.
Edward S. Walker, Jr. '62, president of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank on Middle East Policy, holds the Christian A. Johnson Distinguished Professorship in Global Political Theory. He formerly served as the Linowitz Professor of Middle East Studies in 2003 and 2005. This fall he is teaching "Global Challenges" and "American Policy in the Middle East." In the spring he will teach "Democracy, Religion and International Cooperation" and "International Decision-Making."
Walker previously worked with Colin Powell in the new Bush Administration as assistant secretary of state for Near-Eastern affairs, a position he had previously held under Madeleine Albright during the second Clinton administration. During that time he helped initiate and negotiate U.S. policy toward Iraq and engaged in recalibrating U.S. policies toward Iran and the Middle East peace process.
Walker's diplomatic career has included positions as U.S. ambassador to Israel (1997-99), the Arab Republic of Egypt (1994-97) and the United Arab Emirates (1989-92), as well as deputy permanent representative of the United States to the United Nations (1992-93). During his time as ambassador in Israel, he worked closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu in preparation for and during the Wye negotiations. In Egypt he worked with Vice President Al Gore and President Mubarak on a major initiative to reform the Egyptian economy.
