Bozeman Magazine

Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia, will discuss the crisis in Ukraine and the economic and foreign policy implications for the United States, its allies, and partners around the world at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Strand Union Ballroom A at Montana State University. The event is free and open to the public.
 
McFaul, who was raised in Bozeman, served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation under President Barack Obama from 2011 until February 2014, serving during a critical point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
 
The son of Kip and Helen McFaul of Bozeman, Michael McFaul was born in Glasgow, Mont. and raised in Bozeman. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and his Ph.D. in international relations from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.
 
Prior to his appointment as ambassador, McFaul served as special assistant to President Obama and senior director for Russian and Eurasian affairs for the National Security Council. A Hoover Institution Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at Stanford, McFaul was the architect of President Obama’s policy on Russia. Currently, McFaul is a professor of political science at Stanford, and a leader in the International Forum for Democratic Studies of the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and the Hoover Institution. McFaul also serves as a commentator about Russian affairs on major news networks.
 
When he resigned his ambassadorship last February for family reasons, McFaul said “For the immediate future, my base of operations will be Stanford University. But a part of me — an emotional part, an intellectual part, a spiritual part — will always remain in Russia. That was true before I joined the government. It will remain so forever after.”
 
“We are honored to bring Dr. McFaul back to his hometown of Bozeman and have him share his immense expertise with the students, faculty, staff and community of MSU,” said Carmen McSpadden, director of the MSU Leadership Institute. “His ability to take the audience through the Russian presence in Crimea, the effect of sanctions, and Russia’s impact on war in Syria and the Iran nuclear talks is an incredible opportunity for all who will be in attendance.”
 
McFaul’s public lecture is sponsored by the MSU Leadership Institute, the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Associated Students of Montana State University, Burton K. Wheeler Center, Department of Political Science, and Gallatin Valley Furniture CarpetOne.
 
Doors open at 7 p.m.
 
For more information, call (406) 994-7275 or visit www.montana.edu/leadership, facebook.com/MSULeadershipInstitute, or Twitter @MSU_Leadership.