(February 14, 2014)

Consul General of France in New Orleans to speak at Founders' Day Convocation

SHREVEPORT, LA — The Honorable Jean-Claude Brunet, Consul General of France in New Orleans, will give the Founders' Day Convocation address February 20 in Brown Memorial Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Members of the Shreveport-Bossier and Centenary community are welcome at this free event.

"Mr. Brunet is a global citizen and leader devoted to strengthening the cultural and linguistic connections between Louisiana and France," said Centenary President David Rowe. "He has brought artists, musicians, academics, and scientists together to usher our state into a global community, expanding not only our understanding of our rich history but also our understanding of our future and ourselves."

Brunet has served as the Consul General of France in New Orleans since July 2011. Brunet and the Consulate work to manage Louisiana's relationship with France, promoting cooperation, strengthening regional and historical ties, and fostering cultural and people-to-people links. As a Counsellor of Foreign Affairs, Brunet was previously Deputy Director at the Directorate General for Global issues, Development and Partnerships of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs.

Since entering the French Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs in 1992, Brunet also has served at the Department of Strategic Affairs, Non Proliferation and Disarmament, as First Secretary at the French Embassy in Bonn and at the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in New York City.

From 2003 to 2006, he was assigned to the Council of European Union in Brussels (Belgium) as Seconded National Expert.

Brunet was Diplomatic Adviser of the Minister for Labor, Social Affairs, Solidarity, Family, and Urban Affairs in 2009 and 2010. He is a graduate of the Institute of Political Studies of Paris and the Université Paris Sorbonne.

French influence is a rich part of both Louisiana and Centenary's heritage. Since the arrival of the French explorers, France has been a historic partner of Louisiana. The College's ties with this culture go back to Centenary's very first professor — a professor of French — and continue today through Centenary in Paris. The Centenary in Paris initiative will enable all first-year students in 2014 to begin their college experience with immersive study in Paris, France.

Founders' Day Convocation is an annual tradition during which the Centenary community reflects upon the history of the institution — and looks forward to its future.