WWU’s Fairhaven College Announces Fall 2025 World Issues Forum Slate

WWU News

On This Page

• WWU Stories
• News Releases and Announcements
• WWU in the News
• Campus News and Information

WWU's Fairhaven College Announces Fall 2025 World Issues Forum Slate

October 7, 2025

Grounded in social and environmental justice and human rights, the Fall 2025 World Issues Forum lecture series, organized by Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, will focus on urgent global topics such as planetary survival, decolonization and anti-racism, human rights, migrations, and the world economy.

The following forums, now in their 24^th year, are free and open to the public, challenging students, faculty, staff and community members to be active and engaged global citizens. The forums are held from noon to 1:20 p.m. every Wednesday in the Fairhaven Auditorium.

Wednesday, Oct. 8

"The US Administration's Withdrawal from Global Health and Humanitarian Aid for the World's Vulnerable Populations"

Presenter: Dr. Alan Lifson

Topic: For decades, the United States provided international health and humanitarian support to the world's poorest, most vulnerable populations, helping control global killers and supporting local training and infrastructure development. The Trump administration's abrupt termination of this aid will result in millions of additional deaths and greater danger for our own population.

About the Speaker: Dr. Alan Lifson is a retired infectious disease physician, Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health and Professor of Infectious Disease and International Medicine. He conducted research, taught or consulted in multiple countries, including Ethiopia (for more than 10 years) plus other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Wednesday, Oct. 15

"Defenses of Peace in the Biosphere Reserve"

Presenter: WWU alumna Rena Priest, Washington State Poet Laureate Emeritus

Topic: Join Rena Priest as she reads from her new essay collection and shares reflections on the importance of the traditional ecological knowledge and the arts in environmental stewardship. The reading will be followed by an open Q&A where the audience can join the conversation.

About the Speaker: WWU alumna Rena Priest is a celebrated author and enrolled member of the Lummi Nation. She served as the sixth Washington State Poet Laureate and has been published widely. Her essay collection "Positively Uncivilized" launched in September 2025 as the winner of the Keepers of the Fire Award from Raven Chronicles Press.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

"'Protest Vote Uganda 2026' - The Story of The National Unity Platform and The Awakening of Diaspora Activism"

Presenter: Grace Kiboneka, National Unity Platform (NUP) Washington Chapter-Diaspora Wing

Topic: This presentation offers a brief overview of Uganda's political landscape and examines the significance of the phrase "Protest Vote Uganda 2026." It explores the emergence of the National Unity Platform and its role in mobilizing grassroots political consciousness domestically and inspiring collective activism within the Ugandan diaspora.

About the Speaker: Originally from Uganda, Kiboneka holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work and Administration from Makerere University and a master's degree in Project Management from City University of Seattle. With over 25 years of experience in public sector management and policy development in both Uganda and the United States, Kiboneka's recent work has focused on youth advocacy in Uganda, promoting democratic governance and challenging entrenched authoritarianism.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

"Borders and Belonging: What Is Fair Immigration Policy in 2025?"

Presenter: Hiroshi Motomura, Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law and Faculty co-director, Center for Immigration Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law

Topic: This talk first explains Motomura's new book, "Borders and Belonging: Toward a Fair Immigration Policy" (Oxford 2025), then explains how the book helps explain and critique much of current federal immigration and citizenship policy, and finally suggests how to think about a way forward.

About the Speaker: Hiroshi Motomura's books include "Borders and Belonging: Toward a Fair Immigration Policy," "Immigration Outside the Law," "Americans in Waiting" and "Immigration and Citizenship." He is a founding director of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) and has testified in Congress and volunteered in advocacy, including the DACA campaign. Hiroshi co-hosts the podcast "Unsettled: Immigration in Turbulent Times" and is featured in the Try Guys video, "The Try Guys Try Immigrating to America."

Wednesday, Nov. 5

"Borders and the Political Theatre of 'Crises'"

Presenter: Laurie Trautman, director, WWU Border Policy Research Institute

Topic: This talk will focus on how borders have been used to respond to a variety of 'emergencies' with a particular focus on the Canada-U.S. border in our own backyard.

About the Speaker: Laurie Trautman is the director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University, where she engages in a range of research activities focused on the U.S.-Canada border, and the 'Cascadia' region between Washington State and British Columbia.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

"Food Waste Activism in Action"

Presenter: Brandi Hutton, Toward Zero Waste program manager, Sustainable Connections

Topic: Food waste is more than just scraps on a plate; it's a climate, equity and community issue. Reducing food waste is one of the most effective and accessible ways to combat climate change while building stronger, more resilient communities. This session highlights local examples of food-waste activism in action - from grassroots initiatives and food recovery networks to policy shifts and opportunities to get involved. Participants will learn how food-waste reduction connects environmental sustainability with social justice and how awareness can be turned into meaningful action. Whether you're seeking inspiration, practical strategies or ways to amplify your own efforts, this talk will demonstrate how reducing food waste is climate activism anyone can participate in.

About the Speaker: Brandi Hutton is a passionate advocate for waste reduction and community resilience. She holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Conservation from Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Washington University and has spent six years at Sustainable Connections, leading transformative programs such as the Food Recovery Program and Community Freedges. Under her leadership, the organization became the first in the state to operate health department-approved refrigerated pantries, expanding access to surplus food while reducing waste. Brandi also serves as chair of the Whatcom County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, where she helps guide the county toward practical and impactful waste reduction solutions.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

"Peace in Action: Voices from Palestine and Israel"

Speakers: Layla Alsheikh & Robi Damelin from the Parents Circle - Families Forum (Palestine/Isreal)

The Parents Circle­ - Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of over 800 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they have chosen a path of reconciliation. Even since Oct. 7th, 2023, its staff, members and thousands of participants are still committed to peace and a way forward that centers around empathy and humanization. Join bereaved Israeli and Palestinian members of the Parents Circle as they share their stories of loss and their unique choice of reconciliation.

About the Speakers:

Layla Alsheikh lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank. In 2002, her six-month-old son Qussay became ill, and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment. Layla joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son's death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children.

Robi Damelin, spokesperson and director of international relations for the Parents Circle - Families Forum joined the organization after her son was killed by a Palestinian sniper. All her work on the ground in Palestine, Israel and internationally is geared towards non-violence and reconciliation as a means to end the occupation. Robi was named as a 2015 Woman of Impact by Women in the World.

Western Washington University's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, founded in 1967, is nationally recognized for its innovative approach to education. The college is known for intensive advising, student-designed majors, narrative evaluations and hands-on, independent learning - all grounded in a deep commitment to social and environmental justice.

Learn more about Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary studies here.