Henry J. Leir Lecture Series at Clark University

At times, The Leir Luxembourg Program-Clark University invites prominent Luxembourg citizens and scholars to give lectures on themes related to Luxembourg and/or European affairs.

The Henry J. Leir Lecture

His Excellency, the Honorable Jean-Paul Senninger, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to The United States gave the most recent lecture to a packed room.

Jean-Paul Senninger became Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to The United States on August 18, 2008. Before this appointment, he served as Ambassador to Nicaragua, Spain, and Turkey, as well as the Senior Officer and Head of Unit of the European Investment Bank.

TITLE: “Luxembourg: An Example for Political Darwinism”

The Ambassador's lecture traced how although a small country, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg emerged as a world power from humble beginnings.  He detailed Luxembourg's strengths and instances of flexibility as well.

Earlier Speakers

Professor Dr. Michel Polfer, Director of the Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art and Associate Professor at The University of Luxembourg delivered his lecture at the Worcester Art Museum, a co-sponsor along with the LLP-CU and the Archeological Institute of America-Worcester Society, for which Dr. Polfer's lecture served as the opening lecture as well.

TITLE: “Homer and the Muses in Roman Luxembourg: The Vichten Mosaic”

LOCATION: Worcester Art Museum

Dr. Polfer described the accidental discovery in 1995 of a significant 3rd century CE mosaic in Vichten.  Originally covering the floor of the central reception room in one of the most remarkable Roman villas ever discovered in Luxembourg, the mosaic depicts the nine Muses in the company of the Greek poet Homer. He continued to describe the ongoing excavation and research of the mosaic, and its pointing to the Romanizing efforts of the Roman Empire.

• Mr. Jean-Pierre Schoder, the head of the Economic and Research Department and European Coordinator at the Banque Centrale du Luxembourg. Mr. Schoder's talk was entitled "The Eurozone (and Luxembourg): Present Achievements and Challenges Ahead."
  
• Lucien Hoffmann, Professor at the Centre de Recherche Public-Gabriel Lippmann, "Climatic Change in Luxembourg: Impact on Biodiversity and Land Management." Watch video of Prof. Hoffmann's lecture at Clark.
  

• Cédric Crelo, formerly Personal Secretary to the Governor of the Central Bank Luxembourg and Luxembourg's Representative to the IMF, Washington DC,  "IMF Insights."
  

• Daniel Piccuta, Deputy Chief of Mission with the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg and Harry Wu, Human Rights Activist,"A Prisoner and his Consul: The Chinese State Secrets Trial of Harry Wu".  Sponsored by the Leir Luxembourg Program, the Higgins School of the Humanities, and the Asian Studies Department. Watch video of Wu and Piccuta at Clark.

• Norbert von Kunitzki, then President of the Centre Universitaire in Luxembourg, "The Economic and Political Significance of the Euro."

• Jean-Paul Lehners, social historian and Dean at The Université du Luxembourg, "The Saar-Lor-Lux Region."

• Pierre Seck, prior President of the Centre Universitaire, "Mad Cow Disease: It's Biological, Political, Psychological, and Economic Implications."

• Wolfgang Kühlwein of the Centre Universitaire and the University of Trier, "When the Anglo-Saxons Met the Celts: A Rhetorical and Art Historical Case Study."

• Maxwell Harway, formerly with the U.S. State Department, "Reflections on the Departing Century."

• Charles-Marie Ternes, Professor of Classics, Centre Universitaire de Luxembourg, "The Mosaic Art of Roman France."

• André Michels, psychoanalyst in Luxembourg and co-editor of Apertura, a journal devoted to psychoanalysis and related areas, "Psychoanalysis and Politics."

• Mario Hirsch of the Centre Universitaire, "Influence Without Power: Small States and European Integration."

• Alain Meyer, Professor at the Athénée de Luxembourg, “Multilingualism and Multiculturalism in Luxembourg.” Professor Meyer teaches French Language and Literature at the Athènèe de Luxembourg.