Laura Jackson Endowed Lectureship in World Issues
The Laura Blanche Jackson Lectureship in World Issues was established in 1995 by Laura's parents, Frank and Darba Jackson and many other family members and friends. In memory of Laura, the lectureship is dedicated to piecing together a larger picture of the individual issues that contribute to today's world affairs.
David Beasley | October 21, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. | Baylor Club Ballroom, McLane Stadium
"Global Order: War, Conflict, Stability and the Nobel Peace Prize"

ABOUT DAVID BEASLEY
David Beasley, a former Governor of South Carolina, recently served as the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), having been nominated by two President’s Administrations of two different parties and appointed to that role initially in 2017 by the UN Secretary-General of the United Nations and served until April 2023.
Under Mr. Beasley’s leadership, WFP was the largest humanitarian organization in the world assisting over 160 million people in 2022 alone and raising over $55 billion USD. In 2020, Mr. Beasley received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of WFP for its efforts to provide food assistance in conflict areas and to prevent food from being used as a weapon of war and conflict.
In his acceptance speech delivered in Oslo on December 10, 2021, Mr. Beasley stated that “Working with 115 million people in 80 countries, day-in and day-out, the women and men of WFP have gained a unique perspective. We have learned that there is great richness in those who are seen, in the eyes of the world, as “the poor.” And many of us who are considered “rich” are actually poor in the things that matter most.”
Mr. Beasley also received the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his stand on the Confederate Flag as well as many other awards. He majored in Microbiology at Clemson University and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of South Carolina. He also was a Fellow and taught at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. He is married to the former Mary Wood Payne and is the father of four children and four grandchildren.
Previous lecture presenters include:
- Dr. Jeff Polet (2024)
- Kyle Harper (2023)
- Dr. Hal Brands (2022)
- Dr. Katharine Hayhoe (2021)
- Mr. Victor Boutros (2019)
- Mr. Kenneth M. Pollack (2018)
- Mr. George Walden (2017)
- Professor Timothy Samuel Shah (2016)
- Professor Robert P. George (2015)
- The Honorable Andrew H. Card, Jr. and Mr. Terry Teachout (2014, Lecture held in Spring and Fall)
- Dr. Peter Berkowitz (2013)
- Dr. David M. Lampton (2012)
- Dr. Michael Mandelbaum (2011)
- Dr. George Weigel (2010)
- Dr. Andrew C. Kuchins (2008)
- Dr. Robert J. Lieber(2007)
- Prof. Charles Hill (2006)
- Dr. Harvey Sicherman(2005)
- Dr. Michael Mandelbaum (2004)
- Dr. Beth Dougherty (2003)
- Prof. H. William Brands(2002)
- Mr. Paul Bell (2001)
- Ms. Julianna Lindsey and Dr. Harlan Cleveland (2000)
- Ms. Elena Poniatowska Amor (1999)
- Dr. Grant T. Hammond (1998)
- Dr. Paul Mojzes (1997)
- Dr. Gordon Smith (1996)
- Sir Robert Rhodes James (1995)