GLS Hosts Speaker from U.S. Department of State
KNOXVILLE – The Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) community on Tues., Sept. 20, talked trade policy with the U.S. Department of State’s Natalie van der Horst.
An Economic and Commercial Officer in the Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, van der Horst’s responsibilities include developing and implementing U.S. trade policy for the countries of South America and Panama, expanding trade access for U.S. goods and services in those countries, and coordinating bilateral international economic dialogues with countries in her portfolio.
From trade agreements with Colombia and Panama and coups in Honduras, to foreign direct investments and life in the U.S. Foreign Service, van der Horst fielded wide-ranging questions from GLS students and faculty during an hour-long question-and-answer session in the Haslam Business Building.
Following the event, van der Horst noted how impressed she was with GLS and the intellectual engagement of the students.
“The GLS students were well-versed in the major challenges and issues facing the global community,” van der Horst said. “Furthermore, they had an expanded worldview and understood that international events have local impacts. The students were well-prepared to engage in a discussion on U.S. international economic policy and asked insightful questions.”