Dr. Stephen Vasciannie, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Jamaica to the United States, visited the campus on Oct. 16 to deliver the 2014 Martin and Syma Mendelsohn Lectureship in International Relations. The ambassador delivered his talk, “Jamaica and its Place in the Global Landscape,” to a packed room in the Brooklyn College Student Center. “The Jamaican educational system, though British, is gradually aligning itself to the United States,” Dr. Vasciannie told the audience, noting the expansion of the Jamaican university system in recent years, leading to increased educational opportunities for interested in studying abroad in Jamaica. He also discussed Jamaica’s economic expansion in such areas as tourism and agriculture, as well as the country’s continued commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights. Before entering diplomatic service, Dr. Vasciannie, who is also Jamaicas permanent representative to the Organization of American States, was the principal of Norman Manley Law School, based at the University of the West Indies (UWI), from 2008 to 2012. He also served as a part-time lecturer in international law and human rights law for graduate students at UWI. Prior to his appointment as ambassador in 2012, Dr. Vasciannie was an active member of the United Nations International Law Commission, a body mandated to promote the codification and progressive development of international law. He was also the editor of the West Indian Law Journal and an adjunct professor at Stetson University in Deland, Florida, where he lectured on Caribbean human rights law. The annual Mendelsohn Lecture series is made possible by Martin Mendelsohn ’63 and his wife Syma Rossman ’64. The program brings ambassadors from around the world to Brooklyn College to educate and engage the student body.
