Global Summit XVI sponsorship
Support the JES's mission of fostering dialogue for the Erie region on a global level.
We are pleased to present to you the speaker lineup for the Jefferson Educational Society’s 16th Annual Global Summit. Our goal is to ensure that each year the Summit builds on past Global Summits' success. This is especially the case as we host this year’s Global Summit. Last year we hit record numbers; not only was it our largest summit, but we also made a record number of registrations!
This year we will learn about a variety of topics ranging from politics, sports, history, technology, and social issues. For example, we will hear from former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, historian Heather Cox Richardson, public intellectual Eddie Glaude Jr., and Lincoln historian, Harold Holzer. They are just some of those who will be in Erie from October 17 through November 15 as part of our 16th Annual Global Summit.
It is because of the generous support of civic-minded citizens like you that we can continue our mission of fostering dialogue for the Erie region on a global level. We hope that you will help us celebrate our 16th year and the ambitious growth of the Global Summit to a truly regional affair as we extend our outreach to the surrounding regions of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh by showing your support this year.
Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder
Date/Time: Thursday, November 6, 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
Michael McFaul is Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University, where he also serves as Professor of International Studies and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. A former U.S. Ambassador to Russia (2012–2014) and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council under President Obama, McFaul is a leading expert on U.S.-Russia relations, democracy promotion, and foreign policy.
He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace, and is a regular analyst for NBC News and columnist for The Washington Post. Born and raised in Montana, McFaul earned his B.A. and M.A. from Stanford and a D.Phil. in International Relations from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He lives in California with his wife and two sons.
