Our weekend with the world

The Roger Glass Center for the Arts transformed from a place for the arts to a place for history and diplomacy as the site of public forums during the spring 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace and Security in the Balkans” was four days of public forums consisting of 12 panels organized by the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner ’92 to foster public participation and education. While some panels commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Dayton

Peace Accords, which helped end the war in Bosnia, others talked about present day issues like the war in Ukraine or looked to the future of international relationships.

At the end of Metsola’s session, audience members had the opportunity to ask anything: one from a Canadian asked about the possibility of an European Union army; a detailed inquiry followed from a foreign policy analyst at Johns Hopkins University; and a local high school student, concerned about current events, wanted to know how she would end the war in Ukraine and get Russia to agree to peace. 

“I know I have an obligation to grow peace in myself and my relationships.”

Thelma Wurzelbacher ’69, a member of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, attended two sessions Saturday afternoon. “I came to share in the panels as a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Poland) and also because a cherished friend works at the embassy in Bosnia,” she said. “I know I have an obligation to grow peace in myself and my relationships, and to support efforts, large and small, beyond this gathering. The NATO experience gives me fresh ideas.”

Sunday’s panel discussion with Osmani, president of Kosovo, attracted Katelyn Moore, a self-described “well-traveled military child” who moved to Dayton after her parents retired here after working at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and her friend, Madison Pauquette, a recent college grad.

“I’ve always been very interested in foreign policy,” Moore said, “I love that this is such an incredible opportunity to learn so much more of the world and how we’re connected, and I was so excited to be able to attend along with my group of friends and have some fun conversations. Just to be able to have seen and witnessed everything the president of Kosovo said ... that was amazing.”

Pauquette majored in law and social thought at the University of Toledo: “I am a total nerd about anything that has to do with domestic and foreign policy,” she said. “It’s incredible to have this opportunity to connect with the community on this level. To see these conversations happen in person and not just on a screen is a very unique opportunity.”

Tyler Demmitt, a rising senior criminal justice and political science major at UD, drove down from his hometown of Troy, Ohio, to attend the panels. He was pleased to hear U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew G. Whitaker commit to NATO as “a place to bring our friends together, to bring our allies.”

“It’s cool to hear and know someone is going to bat for us,” Demmitt said.  

The unique opportunities did not stop inside the Glass Center.

Professor Natalie Hudson, professor of political science, research professor of law and executive director of the Human Rights Center, presented her research on the current state of the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda inside the downtown NATO village during a closed session with parliamentary members. “It was a tremendous privilege to share my expertise, and I believe NATO has a real opportunity to lead on the WPS Agenda in the coming years,” Hudson said. “Speaking with parliamentarians before, during and after my session reflected an understanding of that opportunity and commitment to the work.”

Even during such a precisely planned multi-day event, there’s always room for a surprise. The Croatian delegation reached out to ask if Gordan Grlic Radman, the foreign minister of the Republic of Croatia, could meet UD President Eric F. Spina and share a thank-you gift. Both parties attended the same event at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and were able to connect.

“I was touched by Minister Radman’s thoughtful gift of a collection of books about Croatia and its role in the Balkan peace process, which I will add to our library,” Spina said.

A physical gift to complement the memories of UD helping to welcome the world to Dayton.

photos by Sylvia Stahl