Dr. David Fernández Puyana, Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), will join the Clinton School of Public Service on Monday, April 20, at 6 p.m. for a conversation on “The Intersection of Peacebuilding and Public Service.”
The Clinton School, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, will feature a discussion between Ambassador Fernández Puyana and Clinton School Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto. They will explore how the professionalization of public service acts as a fundamental driver of global peace and stability and how international civil servants are an integral part of the multilateral system.
“We are honored to welcome Ambassador Fernández Puyana for this vital conversation,” Dean DeFrancesco Soto said. “At the Clinton School, we focus on the professionalization of public service. Understanding the intersection of peacebuilding and public policy is essential for our students and the community as we work to build the strong, transparent institutions necessary for a peaceful society.”
Ambassador Fernández Puyana comes with a career defined by high-level diplomacy across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Currently representing UPEACE at the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, as well as to UNESCO in Paris, his expertise is rooted in a deep academic and legal foundation.
He serves in pivotal roles as coordinator of some academic programs with the King Hamad Global Center on Coexistence and Tolerance & GIOYA, as well as the Muslim World League, the Pontifical Lateran University, and the World Jewish Congress. He is involved in different second-track diplomatic processes, and he is a current member of the International Board of Governors of the Shimon Peres Center for Peace and Innovation.
“The University for Peace was established in Costa Rica in 1980 with a clear mandate received from the United Nations General Assembly: to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace,” Ambassador Fernández Puyana said. “We highly value the cooperation between the Clinton School and UPEACE as we work together to advance the peaceful resolution of conflicts through the ‘good offices’ required to build a better world. It’s so important to invest in leaders who will be the peacebuilders of tomorrow.”
The discussion will dive into the practical application of peacebuilding and peace education strategies, addressing how leaders can bridge the gap between high-level diplomacy and community-level collaboration.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please visit the event page to register for the talk.