December 12, 2007
The William J. Parkinson Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted by
St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management and Actuarial
Science (SRM), has had its share of prestigious guest speakers that
have included Kerry Emmanuel (MIT professor and Time Magazine’s 100
Most Influential People of 2006) and Madeleine Albright (former
64th U.S. Secretary of State to President Bill Clinton). Dr.
Stephen E. Flynn, top authority on national security, continued
that strong tradition as the current Parkinson Lecturer on December
4 at St. John’s University’s Manhattan Campus.
The event, sponsored by the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis
Library of SRM, was attended by a crowd made up of St. John’s
students, faculty, administrators and business leaders at the
University’s Saval Auditorium.
“Steve Flynn’s address was simply outstanding, and he more
than lived up to his reputation as one the country’s most eminent
authorities on risk in our nation’s political and civic
society," said Brandon W. Sweitzer, Chairman of the School of
Risk Management's Board of Overseers. “His thoughtfulness and the
quality of his animated remarks made the lecture a superb offering
of content and insight for all who attended, whether industry
leaders, students or faculty.”
Moderator for the event was Steven N. Weisbart, Ph.D., CLU, Vice
President & Chief Economist, Insurance Information Institute.
Dr. Flynn, noted as one of the world’s most widely cited experts on
national security, gave a though-provoking lecture entitled
“Terrorism, Catastrophic Disasters and the New National Resiliency
Imperative,” and addressed the subject of his 2007 acclaimed book:
The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation.
A podcast of Dr. Flynn’s entire lecture is currently being
featured on the St. John’s University
Web site.
A senior fellow with the National Security Studies Program at
the Council on Foreign Relations since 1999, Dr. Flynn is also
author of the critically acclaimed bestseller America the
Vulnerable. His books have been featured in Time, as the cover
story of U.S. News & World Report and as the subject of two CNN
documentaries. His distinguished career includes serving in the
White House Military Office during the George H.W. Bush
administration and as director for Global Issues on the National
Security Council during the Bill Clinton administration.
The William J. Parkinson Distinguished Lecture Fund was
established at The College of Insurance on December 17, 1987, in
memory of Mr. Parkinson’s contribution to Johnson & Higgins and
the insurance and risk management industry.
Interested media representatives can contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations by calling (718)
990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For information regarding St. John’s School of Risk Management
and Actuarial Science (SRM) contact Maureen Furlong-Weber, Director
of Marketing and Industry Relations by calling (718) 990-5111.