Programs and Events 2007
Ambassador Ware Welcomes U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen to Finland
On September 20, Ambassador Marilyn Ware welcomed Professor Brannon Wheeler, founding Director of the U.S. Naval Academy's Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, and four Senior-class Midshipmen -- Kayleigh Biven, Stefanie Peskosky, Matthew Morse and Sarah Horn. The group visited Helsinki to participate in the Seventh Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies, 21-23 September 2007. Each Midshipman had the honor of presenting a paper which met international standards of academic excellence and was selected specfically for the Conference. During their visit, they also had the opportunity to meet Finnish cadets and officers from the Finnish Naval Academy at a reception dinner hosted by the U.S. Naval Attaché.
The U.S. Naval Academy's Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies is dedicated to enhancing the education of Midshipmen as it relates to this important region of the world. The Center supports curricular development by hosting lectures and faculty workshops, and by sponsoring faculty and midshipmen's study around the world. The Center works closely with the academic departments at the Naval Academy on language immersion programs, semester abroad study programs, foreign military academy exchanges, and other international initiatives.