The University of Georgia’s Benson-Bertsch Center for International Trade & Security hosted Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins this week as part of their ongoing Global Decisions Series. Ambassador Jenkins presented a talk entitled “The Erosion of Arms Control, Multilateralism, and the Rule of Law”, where she discussed the role of norms and international law in upholding and rebuilding the global world order.

Two Georgia Law students, Patrick Clarke (J.D. ’28) and Madisson Grant (J.D. ’28), met with Ambassador Jenkins at a lunch hosted by the Dean Rusk International Law Center following the talk. Three UGA undergraduates who are current fellows in the Richard B. Russell Security Leadership program—Emily Hwang, Claire Scafidi, and Abby Wright—participated in the lunch as well. The students spoke with Ambassador Jenkins about her career in public service and their interests in international affairs and international law.

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins served as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs from 2021-2024, during which time she was appointed to lead the Department of State’s implementation of AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership among Australia, the UK, and the US. She is currently the Shapiro Visiting Professor in International Affairs at George Washington University and the Compton Visiting Professor of World Politics at the University of Virginia. Ambassador Jenkins is the founder and Executive Director of WCAPS (Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation). She served in the US military for 22 years as a Staff Sargent in the Office of the Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Air Force and as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Virginia, an LL.M. in international and comparative law from the Georgetown University Law Center, an MPA from SUNY Albany and a JD from Albany Law School.

Special thanks to Professor Maryann Gallagher, Director of the Security Leadership Program, and to Mandy Dixon, International Professional Education Manager at the Rusk Center, for their coordination and logistical support of this event.