Hughes to discuss efforts with Dept. of State

Hughes to discuss efforts with Dept. of State

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News staff

Karen Hughes will discuss her efforts as the U.S. Department of State’s undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs when she speaks to Rice students and special guests of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at 6 p.m. March 29.

Karen Hughes

Although her presentation for the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series is not open to the general campus community, Rice staff and faculty members can view a live webcast of her talk at <http://webcast.rice.edu>.

Hughes became undersecretary in September 2005 — a role in which she leads efforts to improve America’s dialogue with the world. She participates in policy development and oversees the Department of State’s educational and cultural affairs, public affairs and international information programs bureaus.

Previously she had served as an adviser to President George W. Bush for more than 10 years. As counselor to the president during Bush’s first 18 months in the White House, Hughes was involved in major domestic and foreign policy issues, led the communications effort in the first year of the war against terrorism and managed the White House offices of communications, media affairs, speechwriting and press secretary.

Hughes also served as Bush’s communications director when he was governor of Texas and worked on his gubernatorial and presidential campaigns.

A former executive director of the Republican Party of Texas, Hughes is a summa cum laude graduate of Southern Methodist University, from which she has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in journalism.

A limited number of Rice students will be able to attend Hughes’ talk, along with members of the Baker Institute’s Round Table and Energy Forum and other special guests. Students who would like to attend should R.S.V.P. to the Baker Institute Student Forum at <bisf@rice.edu> by March 27.