YPIN: The Future of U.S. Soft Power

Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring Professor Daniel Bessner, professor Walter Walsh, and John Johnson on November 12th at the University of Washington. Hosted by YPIN and the Rainier Institute for Foreign Affairs, this event explores the shifting landscape of U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics.

The conversation will begin with a moderated discussion led by Zaara Muhammed, Director of Economics & Business at the Rainier Institute for Foreign Affairs. The session will then transition into an open Q&A period, encouraging attendees to ask questions and engage directly with the panelists in an informal, interactive format.

Co-presented with the Rainier Institute for Foreign Affairs.

About our Speakers:

Professor Daniel Bessner is an Associate Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies,
University of Washington. He is a scholar of U.S. foreign policy and intellectual history. His work examines the intersection of democratic values, national security, and public influence on American global strategy. He is a frequent contributor to major publications and podcasts discussing foreign affairs and political thought.

Walter Welsh is a Professor of Law at the University of Washington. Professor Welsh’s research focuses on constitutional law and religion and the law. Professor Walsh has been admitted to practice in Ireland, California, New York, and the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts. He serves on the UW Center for West European Studies steering committee and teaches at the UW Rome Center in Italy.

John Edmunds Johnson is a former career Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State, with over two decades of experience in diplomacy and international communications. He has held senior roles advising American ambassadors and leading strategic initiatives at the U.S. Department of State and NATO.