Join us to celebrate 100 years of connecting Connecticut to the world.
April 19th, 2024 | 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Goodwin University, East Hartford
View the Centennial Celebration Program
5:30 PM | International Cocktail Hour
Reception featuring inspired global cuisines, signature cocktails, and a few special surprises
7:00PM | Program
Evening program featuring awards and keynote by William J. Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, moderated by renowned journalist Norah O’Donnell, anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News.
Honoring: Chairmen Peter G. Kelly; Paul W. Bucha, Medal of Honor Recipient; and all past Presidents of the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.
8:15PM | Champagne toast and dessert
Featuring
William J. Burns
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Bill Burns was sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in March 2021, making him the first career diplomat to serve as Director. He was promoted to Cabinet rank by President Biden in June 2023.
Director Burns has served six Presidents and Administrations of both parties during nearly four decades of public service in diplomacy and intelligence. He is only the second serving career diplomat in history to become Deputy Secretary of State, and also served as U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Jordan.
Moderator Norah O’Donnell
Anchor and Managing Editor of CBS Evening News
Norah O’Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News,” the oldest and most revered evening news broadcast in America. She also anchors all of CBS News Election Specials and is a “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent.
O’Donnell is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world and conducting impactful, news making interviews. She is covering her seventh presidential election and has interviewed every living president of the United States.
Recently, O’Donnell has taken the “CBS Evening News” broadcast across the world to provide viewers with a first-hand look at some of the most important stories of our time. O’Donnell was the first American journalist to travel to the Red Sea to report on the rising tensions in the Middle East. Currently, O’Donnell is the only woman to anchor an evening news program on broadcast television. During her distinguished career, she has covered the White House, Congress, and the Pentagon.
News Release | CIA Director William J. Burns to Headline World Affairs Council of Connecticut’s Centennial Celebration
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About the World Affairs Council of Connecticut
The World Affairs Council of Connecticut is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization established in 1924. For 100 years, the World Affairs Council of Connecticut has been at the forefront of history, hosting some of the world’s most prominent figures including Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Ambassadors from over 100 countries.
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