Title: Georgetown Anti-Poverty Society hosts panel discussion with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

On November 16, the Georgetown Anti-Poverty Society (GAPS), a group run by a board of four MSFS students, held their annual forum, this year titled “DevTalks: Creating and Maintaining Peace in Fragile States.” More than one hundred attendees turned out to hear from a line-up of speakers which included Former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The forum featured presentations on preventing civil wars and working with UN Peacekeepers from Dr. Chuck Call, Associate Professor at American University, and Dr. Lise Howard, Associate Professor at Georgetown University, and a conversation between President Sirleaf and Former Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield on President Sirleaf’s experiences governing Liberia following its civil war. A panel discussion, moderated by Ambassador Chester Crocker, enabled to students to put questions directly to the panelists and engage with them during a networking reception held immediately after the event.GAPS President, Lindsay Swisher (MSFS ’19), said: “The GAPS Board was pleased to bring this event to fruition. We had a truly amazing line-up of speakers. We are already looking forward to planning next year’s forum!”About GAPSCooperating with the Master of Science in Foreign Service program, the Georgetown Anti-Poverty Society (GAPS) connects graduate students with international development practitioners from a range of backgrounds, including the public, private, multilateral, and non-profit sectors. GAPS hosts presentations, panels, workshops, and other events in order to facilitate conversations about issues, solutions, challenges, and career opportunities in the field of development. To hear about upcoming GAPS events, sign up for the group’s newsletter.