UPCOMING CWAC EVENTS
Plus, keep scrolling for WACA & Community events below
A Chip Odyssey: Reception & Premiere Film Screening
A Taichung-Columbia Sister City Celebration
A Taichung-Columbia Sister City Celebration
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Reception | 4:00-4:45pm | Golden Spur Grill | 700 Lincoln St, #200
Film Screening | 5:00-7:00pm | BCBS Auditorium (Rm #123), Darla Moore School of Business | 1014 Greene St.
Reception | 4:00-4:45pm | Golden Spur Grill | 700 Lincoln St, #200
Film Screening | 5:00-7:00pm | BCBS Auditorium (Rm #123), Darla Moore School of Business | 1014 Greene St.
Dive into the fascinating world of Taiwan's semiconductor industry with a fun reception and the premiere of an eye-opening film!
The Columbia World Affairs Council, in partnership with the Taichung City Government, Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta and the Folks Center for International Business at USC's Darla Moore School of Business, cordially invite you to join us in celebrating the Sister City partnership between Columbia, SC and Taichung, Taiwan with a reception and premiere screening of A Chip Odyssey (2025)!
This event highlights the Columbia-Taichung sister city partnership formed in 2014, beginning with a networking reception on the patio of the Golden Spur Grill. Then, join us next door in the Moore School's BlueCross BlueShield Auditorium (Rm #123) to hear comments from TECO's Director General Jared Lin, USC's Dr. Andy Spicer, and a virtual message from Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen before the premiere screening of A Chip Odyssey. We will also have special snacks from Taichung available!
A Chip Odyssey (2025, 106min.) features interviews with over 80 key figures who witnessed and shaped the development of the semiconductor industry - from the first generation of engineers and female factory workers, to policymakers and technology veterans, and today's young engineers facing new crossroads. This feature-length documentary chronicles how Taiwan built its semiconductor industry from scratch and transformed it into a global technological force, capturing a vital and transformative chapter in the island's modern history.
The Columbia World Affairs Council, in partnership with the Taichung City Government, Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta and the Folks Center for International Business at USC's Darla Moore School of Business, cordially invite you to join us in celebrating the Sister City partnership between Columbia, SC and Taichung, Taiwan with a reception and premiere screening of A Chip Odyssey (2025)!
This event highlights the Columbia-Taichung sister city partnership formed in 2014, beginning with a networking reception on the patio of the Golden Spur Grill. Then, join us next door in the Moore School's BlueCross BlueShield Auditorium (Rm #123) to hear comments from TECO's Director General Jared Lin, USC's Dr. Andy Spicer, and a virtual message from Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen before the premiere screening of A Chip Odyssey. We will also have special snacks from Taichung available!
A Chip Odyssey (2025, 106min.) features interviews with over 80 key figures who witnessed and shaped the development of the semiconductor industry - from the first generation of engineers and female factory workers, to policymakers and technology veterans, and today's young engineers facing new crossroads. This feature-length documentary chronicles how Taiwan built its semiconductor industry from scratch and transformed it into a global technological force, capturing a vital and transformative chapter in the island's modern history.
Presented in Partnership with
|
|
October Palmetto Forum
REGISTER HERE
As always, lunch is included with your ticket!
As always, lunch is included with your ticket!
FROM THE WACA NETWORK
WorldNow with Jim Falk
Brett McGurk, former White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa and author of Brink (available now), takes us inside the high-stakes negotiations to free the October 7 hostages and secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
McGurk led U.S. diplomacy on some of the region's most consequential challenges, offering a rare firsthand look at the negotiations and decisions that continue to shape the Middle East today.
McGurk led U.S. diplomacy on some of the region's most consequential challenges, offering a rare firsthand look at the negotiations and decisions that continue to shape the Middle East today.
Meet the Guest
Brett McGurk served as a top national security advisor under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. He has been involved in U.S. military strategy, diplomacy, and foreign policy for nearly two decades, most recently as Obama and Trump’s envoy leading the campaign to defeat ISIS. He served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court from 2001 to 2002, and was at the Court on the morning of 9/11, a day that changed history and his life. McGurk is currently the Payne Distinguished Lecturer at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute where he teaches and lectures on presidential decision-making in wartime. He is the author of the recently released book, Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages, available October 6th, 2026.
Brett McGurk served as a top national security advisor under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. He has been involved in U.S. military strategy, diplomacy, and foreign policy for nearly two decades, most recently as Obama and Trump’s envoy leading the campaign to defeat ISIS. He served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court from 2001 to 2002, and was at the Court on the morning of 9/11, a day that changed history and his life. McGurk is currently the Payne Distinguished Lecturer at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute where he teaches and lectures on presidential decision-making in wartime. He is the author of the recently released book, Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages, available October 6th, 2026.
Meet the Host
Jim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org).
A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats, senior intelligence officials, policymakers, military leaders, scholars, journalists, and bestselling authors from around the world.
Through WorldNow and The Forum, he continues his commitment to fostering informed, civil dialogue on the international, political, social, and cultural issues shaping our world.
Jim Falk is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe, a member organization of the World Affairs Councils of America. He is the host of WorldNow with Jim Falk and the producer and host of The Forum, the weekly public affairs program on KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Community Radio (KSFR.org).
A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Falk led the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth as President and CEO from 2001 to 2021, helping expand the organization's role as one of the nation's leading forums for international affairs and public policy. His guests have included diplomats, senior intelligence officials, policymakers, military leaders, scholars, journalists, and bestselling authors from around the world.
Through WorldNow and The Forum, he continues his commitment to fostering informed, civil dialogue on the international, political, social, and cultural issues shaping our world.
About the Book
Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages, by Brett McGurk
The first major insider account of the high-stakes negotiations to free the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7—written in gripping detail by the American mediator who was in the room through it all.
Having served four American presidents on matters of war and peace, Brett McGurk was no stranger to high-stakes diplomacy, but this was different. With American citizens missing, the hostages’ release critical to ending the war in Gaza, and the desperate situation for civilians, McGurk and his team faced impossible tradeoffs at every turn. Caught between Hamas’s maximalist demands and Israel’s determination that Hamas could not maintain power in Gaza, McGurk and his colleagues worked relentlessly over fifteen months to get a deal that most increasingly thought impossible.
Taking readers inside McGurk’s discussions and negotiations with President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and presidents, generals, spies, and diplomats in Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and more, Brink paints a portrait of a region one wrong choice away from tipping into total war, as Iran and its proxy militias seized upon the chaos to open fire on Israeli and American targets. With the 2024 election reshaping the political landscape and time running out on the hostages, McGurk found himself working hand in hand with an unlikely partner—Trump’s emissary from the New York real estate world, Steve Witkoff. They forged a bipartisan front when it mattered most—to secure a ceasefire and save lives.
A gripping account of diplomacy under fire, Brink takes readers from the Oval Office to the seats of power in the Middle East and offers a remarkable look inside a crisis that reshaped the world, the consequences of which are still unfolding today.
Order a copy of Brink on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.
Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages, by Brett McGurk
The first major insider account of the high-stakes negotiations to free the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7—written in gripping detail by the American mediator who was in the room through it all.
Having served four American presidents on matters of war and peace, Brett McGurk was no stranger to high-stakes diplomacy, but this was different. With American citizens missing, the hostages’ release critical to ending the war in Gaza, and the desperate situation for civilians, McGurk and his team faced impossible tradeoffs at every turn. Caught between Hamas’s maximalist demands and Israel’s determination that Hamas could not maintain power in Gaza, McGurk and his colleagues worked relentlessly over fifteen months to get a deal that most increasingly thought impossible.
Taking readers inside McGurk’s discussions and negotiations with President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and presidents, generals, spies, and diplomats in Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and more, Brink paints a portrait of a region one wrong choice away from tipping into total war, as Iran and its proxy militias seized upon the chaos to open fire on Israeli and American targets. With the 2024 election reshaping the political landscape and time running out on the hostages, McGurk found himself working hand in hand with an unlikely partner—Trump’s emissary from the New York real estate world, Steve Witkoff. They forged a bipartisan front when it mattered most—to secure a ceasefire and save lives.
A gripping account of diplomacy under fire, Brink takes readers from the Oval Office to the seats of power in the Middle East and offers a remarkable look inside a crisis that reshaped the world, the consequences of which are still unfolding today.
Order a copy of Brink on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore.
Upcoming WorldNow Webinars (with RSVP links) Author and editor-in-chief of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Sharon Weinberger shares an inside look at Silicon Valley’s growing influence on the Pentagon – and the technologies that could determine the next era of warfare. Tom Standage, editor of The Economist, explores the major trends likely to shape 2027, from artificial intelligence and technological change to global conflicts and geopolitical shifts. Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from leading journalists, diplomats, and global thought leaders as they offer insight into some of the most pressing issues shaping our world.
The Columbia World Affairs Council is proud to partner with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut and Councils nationwide to present WorldNow with Jim Falk, a web series bringing timely conversations on global affairs.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
The Folks Center's Trade and Diplomacy series, featuring David Firestein, Nic Rogers and Victor Shih (panel discussion with audience Q&A).
China's rapid economic growth continues to produce “shocks” in manufacturing and trade that now include semiconductors, AI, and advanced technologies. This contest between Beijing and the West is reshaping trade policy, foreign investment, and security considerations, forcing governments and companies to rethink long-held strategies. This forum brings together leading scholars and policy practitioners to examine how China's strategic objectives are evolving, and how the U.S. and other countries are adapting and competing in response. Join us for a clear-eyed look at one of the defining issues shaping our world.
Sponsored by the Walker Institute and the Folks Center for International Business. FREE with RSVP
China's rapid economic growth continues to produce “shocks” in manufacturing and trade that now include semiconductors, AI, and advanced technologies. This contest between Beijing and the West is reshaping trade policy, foreign investment, and security considerations, forcing governments and companies to rethink long-held strategies. This forum brings together leading scholars and policy practitioners to examine how China's strategic objectives are evolving, and how the U.S. and other countries are adapting and competing in response. Join us for a clear-eyed look at one of the defining issues shaping our world.
Sponsored by the Walker Institute and the Folks Center for International Business. FREE with RSVP
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026
Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina | 1731 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208
3:30 PM | Open House for Educators and Community Members
5:30 – 7:30 PM | Anne Frank Center Gardens Unveiling & Reception
Both events are free and open to the public but registration is required.
Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina | 1731 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208
3:30 PM | Open House for Educators and Community Members
5:30 – 7:30 PM | Anne Frank Center Gardens Unveiling & Reception
Both events are free and open to the public but registration is required.
Open House for Educators and Community Members
3:30 PM
Drop in anytime to learn more about the Center’s educational programs, resources, and opportunities for students, educators, and community members. This open house will feature information about Peer Guide Trainings, the Anne Frank Youth Network, the Book Bundle Project, arts programming, field trips and tours of the Anne Frank Center's permanent exhibit.
Anne Frank Center Gardens Unveiling & Reception
5:30 – 7:30 PM
While the open house remains inside, guests are invited outside, entering through the Anne Frank Center gate on Barnwell Street and gathering in the new Anne Frank gardens for an evening of connection and celebration. The evening will also feature refreshments, light hors d'oeuvres, live music, and remarks from USC leadership to mark the first of many events in this space.
3:30 PM
Drop in anytime to learn more about the Center’s educational programs, resources, and opportunities for students, educators, and community members. This open house will feature information about Peer Guide Trainings, the Anne Frank Youth Network, the Book Bundle Project, arts programming, field trips and tours of the Anne Frank Center's permanent exhibit.
Anne Frank Center Gardens Unveiling & Reception
5:30 – 7:30 PM
While the open house remains inside, guests are invited outside, entering through the Anne Frank Center gate on Barnwell Street and gathering in the new Anne Frank gardens for an evening of connection and celebration. The evening will also feature refreshments, light hors d'oeuvres, live music, and remarks from USC leadership to mark the first of many events in this space.
Support International Business Education & Research!
Dear Folks Center Friends:
As you can see, 2025 was another banner year for the Folks Center and the International Business Department. Not only have we continued nearly three decades of our No. 1-ranked International Business educational programming and research, but we have also become a central entity on issues of global competitiveness and innovation.
But we need your help now more than ever to build on the legacy of IB@Moore that Randy Folks and his colleagues began over 50 years ago: Our international business activities have taken a major financial shock because of the U.S. Department of Education’s sudden decision to discontinue all grant programs for international studies, including our Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Since 1989, CIBER has been at the foundation of all our IB programming, directly impacting our students, faculty, the Folks Center, our partners and our stakeholders, all of which have helped us achieve our important ranking.
We see this crisis as an opportunity: The Folks Center is mobilizing its allies and faculty to create new sources of funding to sustain our success.
Join us in shaping an even more impactful 2026! Please use this link or scan the QR code below to give generously and fuel the continued success of the International Business program.
As you can see, 2025 was another banner year for the Folks Center and the International Business Department. Not only have we continued nearly three decades of our No. 1-ranked International Business educational programming and research, but we have also become a central entity on issues of global competitiveness and innovation.
But we need your help now more than ever to build on the legacy of IB@Moore that Randy Folks and his colleagues began over 50 years ago: Our international business activities have taken a major financial shock because of the U.S. Department of Education’s sudden decision to discontinue all grant programs for international studies, including our Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Since 1989, CIBER has been at the foundation of all our IB programming, directly impacting our students, faculty, the Folks Center, our partners and our stakeholders, all of which have helped us achieve our important ranking.
We see this crisis as an opportunity: The Folks Center is mobilizing its allies and faculty to create new sources of funding to sustain our success.
Join us in shaping an even more impactful 2026! Please use this link or scan the QR code below to give generously and fuel the continued success of the International Business program.
With best regards,
Gerald McDermott, PhD Amy G. Thomson
Department Chair Executive Director
Sonoco International Business Department Folks Center for International Business
Gerald McDermott, PhD Amy G. Thomson
Department Chair Executive Director
Sonoco International Business Department Folks Center for International Business