Marshall to deliver keynote address for 2015 Harding Symposium at Ohio State Marion
The Warren G. Harding Symposium welcomes former Special Assistant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, White House Social Secretary, and United States Chief of Protocol, Capricia Marshall, to The Ohio State University at Marion’s Guthery Community Room, Maynard Hall, Saturday, July 18th, at 6:30 p.m.
Marshall will deliver the keynote address at a gala dinner to close this year’s annual Warren G. Harding Symposium, which focuses on “The Modern First Ladies: Portraits in Contrast.” The two day symposium, July 17-18, examines the dramatic variety of styles and approaches brought to the role of the First Lady by exploring the lives of First Ladies from Florence Harding to Michelle Obama.
Marshall currently serves as Ambassador-in-Residence at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. She is President of Global Engagement Strategies, which advises international public and private clients on issues relating to the nexus of business and cultural diplomacy. She travels across the country speaking to organizations and corporations about her experiences, lessons she has learned throughout her career in public service, and how best to integrate cultural diplomacy into business.
From 2009 to 2013, she was Chief of Protocol of the United States, bearing the rank of Ambassador and setting the stage for diplomacy at the highest levels. In this capacity, she worked to leverage U.S. relationships with foreign governments developing strategies to transform global engagement.
Ms. Marshall oversaw six State and Official Visits, countless Working Visits, the G20, Nuclear Security, APEC, G8, NATO and Sunnylands Summits, and the protocol arrangements during travel with the President and Secretaries of State to forty-two countries. Moving beyond traditional methods of engagement, Ms. Marshall fostered international goodwill through a new division in the protocol office, Diplomatic Partnerships. With creative programming under this division she created sustained partnerships between the foreign Diplomatic Corps and business, government and community leaders across America.
From 1997 to 2001, Ms. Marshall served as Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary. From 1993 to 1997, she was Special Assistant to the First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in political science from Purdue University, Ms. Marshall holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she received the prestigious Society of Benchers award in 2012.
Ms. Marshall is a first-generation American of Croatian and Mexican descent. In 2013, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Secretary of State and the Order of the Cross of Isabel La Católica from the Ambassador of Spain. She is a member of the Council of American Ambassadors. She has been named to ELLE magazine's annual “Washington Power List,” as one of DC’s most influential women.
In addition to the Saturday evening gala dinner, the symposium offers an opening reception event Friday evening at the Marion Country Club. During the day Saturday, attendees can also take advantage of guided tours (at specified times) of the Harding Home & Memorial, the official Presidential Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Harding Memorial, access to the First Ladies Replica Gown Exhibit, and 3 afternoon workshops at Ohio State Marion. For specific information or to register for the 2015 Warren G. Harding Symposium, visit: go.osu.edu/harding or call 740-725-6340. Online registration runs through July 10th.
The Warren G. Harding Symposium is an academic, social, and cultural exploration of the life and times of America's 29th president. The Symposium presents in-depth analysis and research by authors, historians, researchers and experts on the Harding Era and related areas of interest.
The Warren G. Harding Symposium is a collaboration between The Ohio State University at Marion, the Ohio History Connection, the National First Ladies Library, Marion Technical College, Harding Home & Memorial, and Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.