Kofi Annan, former secretary-general for the United Nations, will deliver the second annual Luskin Lecture for Thought Leadership at UCLA on May 30, the university announced this week.
The lecture is sponsored by the College of Letters and Science, and funded by the Meyer and Renee Luskin Foundation, said Joseph Rudnick, a senior dean of the College of Letters and Science.
Organizers of the lecture typically look for people who have been major figures on the world stage and could provide insight for UCLA, Rudnick said.
He said five deans in the College consulted with the Luskins and discussed potential candidates before inviting Annan.
“Kofi Annan is a major figure on the world stage … he’s played a major role in world events,” Rudnick said. “We see him as a visionary and a person whose leadership on the world stage has helped shaped the world as it is today.”
Last year’s lecture featured former President Bill Clinton, a full house event, Rudnick said.
During this year’s lecture, Annan will make a 20-minute presentation followed by a 40-minute question and answer session, Rudnick said. Organizers of the event will accept online submissions for questions.
Royce Hall, where the event is set to take place at 5 p.m. on May 30, has a capacity of 1,800 seats – 700 of which have been reserved for students, Rudnick said.
The tickets, which he said typically cost a significant amount of money, will be offered to students for free. Tickets are currently available at the Central Ticket Office.
Rudnick said he hopes the lecture will help students gain a deeper understanding of the modern world.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to is the recent history of the world and his sense of where the world is headed,” he said.
Compiled by Katherine Hafner, Bruin senior staff, and Taylor Aquino, Bruin contributor.