Our Washington, DC Location
Through its commitment to academic and practical collaboration, SIS is particularly positioned to enable students to take advantage of the rich resources of the Washington, D.C. area. As a cosmopolitan (international) capital city, Washington D.C. is uniquely positioned in the arena of international relations. Some 192 foreign embassies, chanceries, and the headquarters of many international organizations are located in Washington. In addition, Washington is an unparalleled city of learning resources for the study of international affairs. The National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, World Bank, National Archives, Brookings Institutions, Heritage Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Library of Congress are all just a short drive or subway ride from campus. Current students and alumni benefit from the connections that SIS has built in Washington.
Learning From Leaders Who Serve
SIS and American University continue to draw a cadre of global leaders to our campus who are attracted to the School’s focus on international understanding and public service. Most recently, President Barack Obama visited the new SIS building in July 2010 to unveil his comprehensive immigration reform strategy. This was his second visit to AU, as his candidacy was endorsed by the late Senator Ted Kennedy on campus in 2008.
Presidents George H.W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter have also all visited campus over the past few decades.Countless other notable leaders have also come to AU to speak with our students, most recently including the Honorable Dalai Lama, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., NBC news correspondent and SIS alumnus David Gregory, Enough Project founder and SIS alumnus John Prendergast, as well as numerous ambassadors, government officials, economic powerhouses, and NGO leaders from the U.S. and around the world.
