Leadership Speaker Series

David J. Firestein and Jim Falk - Mr. Firestein, the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, brought decades of experience in diplomacy and public service to the stage. A decorated career U.S. diplomat specializing in U.S.–China relations from 1992 to 2010, Firestein has earned national recognition for his contributions to international affairs, including the Maurice R. Greenberg Global Leadership Award presented at Carnegie Hall in 2023. Before leading the Bush China Foundation, Firestein served as founding executive director of the China Public Policy Center at The University of Texas at Austin and held senior leadership roles at the EastWest Institute. Known as one of the world’s most accomplished non-native Mandarin speakers, he has interpreted for top U.S. and Chinese leaders and has authored multiple books on China, including two Chinese-language best-sellers. Students engaged Firestein in conversation about the complexities of U.S.–China relations, the importance of intellectual honesty in diplomacy, and how young leaders can approach global challenges with courage and curiosity.

Joining him was Jim Falk, a respected journalist and global affairs moderator whose career has centered on elevating thoughtful dialogue. As longtime President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, Falk transformed the organization into one of the nation’s premier forums for international discussion. Today, he continues to shape global conversations as host of The Forum and the podcast WorldNow with Jim Falk, and through his leadership roles with Global Santa Fe, the Asia Society Texas Center, and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Over the course of his career, Falk has interviewed global leaders including former secretaries of state, national security advisors, military commanders, historians, and authors. His expertise in guiding meaningful, substantive conversations was on full display as he engaged with ILTexas students—this time not as the primary moderator, but as a participant responding to student-led questions.

Joan Higginbotham - Joan Elizabeth Higginbotham is a retired NASA astronaut and electrical engineer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she earned a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and two master’s degrees in Management and Space Systems from Florida Institute of Technology. She began her NASA career in 1987 at Kennedy Space Center, supporting 53 shuttle launches and leading Orbiter Experiments. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, she flew in 2006 on STS-116 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, logging over 300 hours in space and operating the International Space Station’s robotic arm. After retiring in 2007, she held leadership roles in industry and continues to advocate for STEM education and diversity in aerospace.

Dan Mitrovich - Daniel S. Mitrovich is the founder of the New York City Marathon Tribute Committee and creator of the Fred Lebow statue, honoring the legendary founder of the New York City Marathon. He is also the co-founder of Preservation Ranch, LLC and Solution Strategies consulting firm. With a distinguished record of service, Mr. Mitrovich has contributed his expertise to more than 25 boards and commissions. He holds an “Honorary Lifetime Membership” with the New York Road Runners Club and is a lifetime member of the San Diego Track Club. He also serves on the board of directors of the Staten Island Running Association. Mr. Mitrovich is the published author of Forever at the Finish Line. A passionate distance runner, Mr. Mitrovich has completed 13 marathons, including five New York City, six Boston, one San Francisco, and one San Diego. He achieved a personal best of 3:28:37 in the 26.2-mile distance. Mr. Mitrovich resides in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Karen Nyberg - Dr. Karen Nyberg is an engineer, astronaut, and artist with nearly thirty years of experience in human spaceflight. Her career has fostered a deep appreciation for the importance of collaboration across diverse political ideologies, cultural values, and worldviews in advancing critical missions. Selected as a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps in 2000, Karen embarked on her first spaceflight in 2008 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, during the height of International Space Station (ISS) construction, where she played a key role in delivering and installing the Japanese Laboratory. On her second mission in 2013, Karen launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, spending 166 days living and working aboard the ISS. Before joining NASA's astronaut corps, Karen served as an Environmental Control Systems Engineer at the Johnson Space Center. In this role, she led multiple design and analysis projects focused on space vehicle and spacesuit thermal and environmental control systems. Since retirement from NASA, Karen is now focusing on her passions for conservation, sustainability, and textile art. She also advises several companies across the aerospace and biotechnology sectors. Karen earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Dakota and her Master's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been honored with the highest alumni awards from both institutions.

Captain Chris Cassidy - A decorated veteran of the sea, air, land, and outer space, Captain Chris Cassidy is among the leaders of an exclusive and distinguished group of accomplished military astronauts who have made an impact on and beyond this world. Recognized for his leadership and achievements as a United States Navy SEAL and a NASA astronaut, CAPT Cassidy’s various military deployments and spaceflight missions provided the catalysts for an action-packed career where he made the most of every opportunity presented to him, even in challenging and high-stakes environments.

The Honorable Eva Guzman - Justice Eva Guzman has served at three levels of the Texas judiciary. She began her judicial service on the 309th District Court in Harris County, following an appointment by former Governor George W. Bush. After ascending to the Houston-based Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Justice Guzman ruled on thousands of complex civil and criminal cases and authored hundreds of opinions in nearly a decade of service as an intermediate appellate court judge. In 2009, former Governor Rick Perry appointed Justice Guzman to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of Texas. When she was elected to a full term in November 2010, she became the first Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in Texas. Six years later, she made history twice more: she received the most votes ever in a Texas Republican Party primary with 1.27 million votes and won re-election that November with a record-setting 4.88 million votes—the highest vote total for any office in Texas election history.

Ambassador Liliana Ayalde - Ambassador Ayalde is a former US Ambassador to Brazil, 'previously the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the United States State Department with responsibility for the Offices of Caribbean Affairs, Central American Affairs and Cuban Affairs. From January 2017 to September 2019 she served as the Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor for the United States Southern Command.[2]'. She recently retired from a "distinguished 38-year career". [WATCH THE RECORDING HERE]

Ross Perot Jr. - A real estate developer and American businessman who is best known for his development of Alliance, Texas, an inland port near Dallas–Fort Worth, and making the first circumnavigation of the world in a helicopter at the age of 23.

Ambassador Kristie Kenney - Career Ambassador for the US State Department and first female US Ambassador to the Philippines and Thailand

General Jim Mattis - Marine Corps four-star General and 26th US Secretary of Defense

Euhwa Tran - Chief Program Officer and Chief of Staff for the George HW Bush Foundation for US-China Relations

General Martin E. Dempsey - US Department of Defense Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Dr. Arthur C. Brooks - Author of "Love Your Enemies"

Ambassador Max Baucus & Mel Hanes

Kevin Rudd - 21st Prime Minister of Australia

Charles Q. Brown Jr. - Commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Air Forces
Central Command.

Paul Haenle - Maurice R. Greenberg Director's Chair, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy

Vicente Fox - 55th President of Mexico

Amy Celico - Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group