Brian Alexander to Hold Fireside Chat with Former Ambassador Brian Nichols The March 12 event is presented in conjunction with Moffat Takadiwa’s exhibit “Recoded Memories,” on view in the Reeves Museum of Ceramics.

By Emily Innes Stanley
February 26, 2026

Brian A. Nichols, former U.S. ambassador to Peru and Zimbabwe, will join Brian Alexander, associate professor of politics at W&L, for a fireside chat at 6:30 p.m. on March 12 in Stackhouse Theater in Elrod Commons.

The event, hosted by the Art Museum and Galleries at W&L, is free and open to the public, and registration is required.

The fireside chat is presented in conjunction with Moffat Takadiwa’s exhibit “Recoded Memories,” on view in the Reeves Museum of Ceramics through May 31. The conversation will explore the soft power of art, humanitarian and environmental crises, global power rivalries and the evolving landscape of democracy, drawing on Nichols’ diplomatic career in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Nichols will reflect on lessons learned from his career, with the hope of inspiring students to pursue globally engaged careers grounded in service, cultural awareness and ethical leadership. He and Alexander will discuss the skills the next generation of foreign service officers should cultivate and how cultural exchange can foster mutual understanding and strengthen international relationships. The fireside chat will also touch on pressing contemporary challenges, humanitarian and environmental crises and governance issues, including how these geopolitical developments may shift or redefine diplomatic priorities.

The Art Museum and Galleries at W&L are open to the public Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about the 2025-2026 exhibitions, visit the Art Museum and Galleries’ website.