Global Summit XVII
Join us, for our 17th year of serving the Erie community with a new Global Summit lineup of groundbreaking researchers, writers, and presenters. The JES invites speakers from around the world to speak on a broad range of globally important issues each year as part of our Global Summit Speaker Series.

Europe with(out) the U.S. — the Future of NATO and the European Union

October 24th,2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
TBD
Speaker: Mark  Gitenstein

Date/Time: Friday, October 24, 2025 7:00-8:30PM

Location: TBD

Admission:

  • General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
  • Preferred Seating  (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)

Additional Fees:  Amusement Tax, Processing Fee 

Parking: TBD

Mark  Gitenstein

Ambassador Mark Gitenstein began his role as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union in January 2022. A retired partner from Mayer Brown LLP, he previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2009–2012) and spent 17 years in the U.S. Senate, including 13 with then-Senator Joe Biden on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees.

Over the past decade, Gitenstein has focused on strengthening democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Romania, through work on market transparency, anti-corruption, and rule of law initiatives. He also co-led Biden’s transitions to the vice presidency (2008) and presidency (2020).

He holds a BA from Duke University and a JD from Georgetown Law. He was awarded Romania’s highest civilian honor in 2012 and the ABA’s Silver Gavel Award in 1993 for his book Matters of Principle on the Bork Supreme Court nomination.