Terrorism topic of Eureka College lectureAlumnus originally from Iran to discuss Middle EastconflictsA 1962 Eureka College graduate and Iran native whose recent autobiography recounts his career in foreign policy will return to his alma mater this month to deliver a public lecture. Arya Amirie will give the 34th Mary Newson Lecture on International Affairs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Cerf Center.
Amirie’s free presentation titled “Terrorism and Political Conflicts in the Middle East” will examine terrorism and its relationship to major current political developments in the Middle East.
Amirie’s 2008 autobiography titled “Unparalleled Journey: From Raising Lambs to Advising World Leaders” recounts his childhood raising lambs to subsidize his school expenses, his 1957 emigration to the United States with little money and a limited English vocabulary, his student days at Eureka College and his career, which included advising both the Shah of Iran and President Ronald Reagan on foreign affairs.
Amirie received a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Eureka College, which awarded him an honorary doctorate of laws in 1975. He received a master’s degree and a doctorate, both in political science and both from Southern Illinois University.
Amirie taught political science and Middle East policies at Kent State University, University of Tehran and University of California–Los Angeles. He was founder and director of an exchange program between Kent State and Pahlavi universities. He was founder and director of the Iranian Institute for International, Political and Economic Studies, which advised the shah on foreign policy. He also was an adviser to Reagan, a fellow Eureka College graduate. He wrote three books on Middle East policies.
Amirie is honorary president of the Civil Service Academy, Los Angeles, which prepares women and minorities for careers in law enforcement. He co-founded the academy in 1987 with his wife, Susan Amirie, who is dean of academic instruction. The couple co-authored five textbooks on law enforcement.
The Newson Lecture was established with an endowment by the children of Mary Newson, who was a professor of mathematics at Eureka College from 1921-1941. The lecture is hosted by the college’s Social Science and Business Division. A reception will follow. For more information, contact Eureka College Provost Irene Burgess at (309) 467-6300.
Amirie also is scheduled to speak at the Eureka Rotary Club meeting on Oct. 28 and a teachers’ conference hosted by the Peoria Area World Affairs Council at Eureka College on Oct. 29.
###
Contact: Michele Lehman Media Relations Coordinator (309) 467-6318
|
|
|
|---|
