Even with an track record that included stints as a U.S. diplomat to troubled eastern European countries, Ken Yalowitz has adopted a modest attitude toward his position as the new director of The Dickey Center.
"The Dickey Center has been outstanding and successful, and I want to build on that record of achievement" Yalowitz said.
The Center's director since early July, Yalowitz said he aims to broaden the organization's activities and raise its visibility around his campus.
His primary goal, though, is to make the Dickey Center a nexus of student interest and activity.
"Students should find it a stimulating place -- a chance to share time with faculty and other students" Yalowitz said.
The Dickey Center was founded in 1982 to promote international awareness and discussion on the Dartmouth campus. It sponsors faculty as well as student research projects on international problems and issues and conducts seminars that draw a broad range of scholars, journalists and policy makers. In addition, it sponsors the War and Peace Studies program at Dartmouth.
One of Yalowitz's first projects is organizing a series of "Great Issues" lectures and seminars. The series will address wide range of current issues -- everything from race to the environment -- and include scholars from all disciplines.
According to former Dickey Center director Michael Mustanduno, the ability to bring together diverse elements and people is one of Yalowitz's strengths and goals.
"Ken is committed to seeing the Dickey Center reach across all disciplines and schools at Dartmouth" Mustanduno said.
Indeed, Yalowitz's professional experience has tested his ability in a wide variety of roles and locations. Since entering into the foreign service in 1966, Yalowitz has served twice in Moscow, in The Hague, and worked with the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels.
In 1983 he organized the U.S response to the shooting attack of Korean Airlines flight 007 by a Soviet fighter jet. The attack killed all 269 passengers, including U.S. senator Larry P. MacDonald.
Before coming to Dartmouth, Yalowitz served as the United States Ambassador to Belarus from 1994 to 1997 and then as ambassador to Georgia from 1998 to 2001. Since 2001, he has taught and lectured at Georgetown and American universities.
In addition, Yalowitz has won a number of awards for his work in preventing many international conflicts. Among the activities that garnered him special recognition leading a U.S. effort to prevent the spread of war from Chechnya to Georgia and convincing authorities in Belarus to return nuclear missiles to Russia -- a move that helped prevent the threat of nuclear proliferation across the Caucuses.
The transition from diplomat to academic, however, was a seamless one for Yalowitz.
"The world of academia and the world of policy making and implementation inspire and influence each other," he said.
"They are not two worlds, but two facets of the same activity" he added, noting that it is this kind of real-world dimension he hopes to bring to Dartmouth.
Yalowitz was named the Dickey Center's new director in June after a national and international search. According to Mustanduno, he was chosen due to his impressive experience in international issues.
"Ken has a careers worth of experience in public policy and international affairs."
Just in time for the beginning of its new director's tenure, the Dickey Center will soon move from its current location in the East Wing of the Baker Library to a more accessible spot near the present location of the Kiewett math center. The plans call for triple the present space. The added space will accommodate around ten visiting professors, journalists and policy makers from all disciplines, Mustandano said.
