Leslie S. Lebl
Principal, Lebl Associates

Would you like me to be your next speaker?


If you're interested, contact me here.
Here are examples of topics I can address:

Radical Islam in Europe: Our closest friends and allies are barely aware of the threat they face

Transatlantic relations: How Europeans will feel about America under the Obama Administration; what we should want from Europe

American foreign policy: America's leadership role is not as battered as it seems

Russia: The new Russia is unnerving, whether you're talking about foreign policy, democracy, or security

Civil/​military relations in peacekeeping missions: Observations from my time as political advisor in Bosnia

Seven keys to success as a diplomat: Tips that will also work in corporations and other large organizations


Click here for a brief video with excerpts from two talks.
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Educational activities


Reaching out to students at all levels is a key element of informing the public about foreign policy. I have done so at many levels:

High school:For the past three years, I have given a presentation on careers in international affairs at Massachusetts Girls State.

College:I have given talks on various foreign policy issues at universities in the United States and Europe.

For the past two years, I have talked about careers in foreign affairs to international business students at Southern Connecticut State University.

Continuing education:I am a presenter at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Connecticut Waterbury campus.

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Audience feedback


"A thoughtful and provocative presentation on radical Islam in Europe. You did a fine job with a controversial topic."

"A terrific presentation. You presented a thoughtful and chilling picture of Islamic extremism."

"I can assure you that everyone enjoyed your presentation and the discussion that followed."

"Leslie outlined some amazing times she had encountered throughout her life and impressed Girls Staters with her aspirations and drive for success and adventure."

Selected Works

Quick Links

My blog
My email
The American Center for Democracy
PoliticalMavens
Find Authors

Events



"It Ain't Your Father's Europe - Or Yours Either"
Presenter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,
Waterbury, CT, September 17 - October 8, 2010


"The EU, the Mideast and Anti-Semitism."
Paper to be presented at the conference,
Global Antisemitism and the Crisis of Modernity,
at Yale University, August 23 - 25, 2010.


"Radical Islam and the EU"
Presenter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,
Waterbury, CT, April 23 - May 14, 2010


"Transatlantic Relations in the Obama Administration"
Rochester Committee on Foreign Relations,
Rochester, NY, February 3, 2010


"Transatlantic Relations in the Age of Obama"
Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations,
Des Moines, IA, September 22, 2009


"European Demography"
Connecticut Geographic Alliance
Summer Institute on Teaching Europe,
Hartford, CT, August 4, 2009


"Radical Islam in Europe: A Primer"
Presenter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Waterbury, CT,
April 24 - May 15, 2009


"The Evolution of the European Union:
Social, Economic, and Defense"
Panel member, Manhattan Committee on Foreign Relations,
New York, NY, March 27, 2009


"Radical Islam and the European Union"
Presenter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,
Waterbury, CT, September 19 - October 10, 2008


"Transatlantic Relations after Bush"
San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations,
San Francisco, CA, September 4, 2008


"Radical Islam in Europe,"
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, April 15, 2008


"Radical Islam in Europe,"
Louisville Committee on Foreign Relations, Louisville, KY, April 15, 2008


"Radical Islam in Europe: A Primer,"
Presenter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,
Waterbury, CT, March 7 - April 4, 2008


"Radical Islam in Europe:
Not the Usual Extremists,"
Madison Committee on Foreign Relations, Madison, WI, February 20, 2008


"Radical Islam in Europe,"
Hinckley Institute of Politics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, November 28, 2007


"Radical Islam in Europe,"
SLC Committee on Foreign Relations, Salt Lake City, UT, November 27, 2007


"Radical Islam in Europe,"
Radio interview, PCPW NPR Utah,
November 19, 2007


"EU-U.S. Relations,"
Keynote address to the Model United Nations, Cleveland, OH, November 1, 2007


"Whither Europe and the EU Today?"
Wright State University, Dayton, OH,
September 24, 2007


"Whither Europe and the EU Today?"
Dayton Council on World Affairs and
Dayton Rotary Club, Dayton, OH,
September 24, 2007


"U.S.-Russian Relations after Putin,"
panel commentator, Economic Forum, Krynica, Poland, September 7, 2007


"NATO and EU: A Comprehensive Approach
to Modern Conflict,"
panel moderator, Economic Forum, Krynica, September 6, 2007


"The Political Advisor: Role, Responsibilities and Value to the Military Commander,"
Peace and Stability Operations Colloquium, George Mason University, Washington, DC, June 20, 2007


"Deepening U.S. Understanding
of the European Union,"
panelist, Women In International Security/​
Center for Transatlantic Relations, Washington, DC, May 15, 2007


"The International Fight Against Terrorism,"
colloquium panelist, UGA Dean Rusk Center for International and Comparative Law,
Athens, GA, April 13-14, 2007


"The Rise of Muslim Extremism
and the European Union"
Council for International Visitors
in Collier County
Naples, FL, March 27, 2007


"The Rise of Muslim Extremism
and the European Union"
Naples Committee on Foreign Relations
Naples, FL, March 27, 2007


"Radical Islam in Europe: An American Perspective"
Simmons College - Warburg Lecture Series "From the Global Agenda"
Boston, MA, February 26, 2007


"Radical Islam in Europe: An American Perspective"
Dubuque Area Committee
on Foreign Relations,
Dubuque, IA, January 18, 2007


"The EU in the Middle East:
Problems and Prospects"
Albuquerque Committee on Foreign Relations,
Albuquerque, NM, October 16, 2006


"Russia in the G8:
Effects of the St. Petersburg Summit"
Panelist, Economic Forum, Krynica, Poland, September 8, 2006


"EU-Russia Energy Security and
What It Means for U.S. Interests"
Panel moderator,
Economic Forum, Krynica, Poland,
September 6, 2006


"The International Role of the EU
from an American Viewpoint"
Eur-Ifri, Brussels, Belgium,
May 2, 2006


"Les rapports franco-americains dans le monde de l'apres-11 septembre"
Alliance Francaise, Woodbury, CT,
March 29, 2006


"The Middle East Conflict
and the European Union"
Temple B'nai Israel, Southbury, CT,
February 15, 2006


"Munich"
Panel discussion, Temple B'nai Israel,
Southbury, CT, January 27, 2006


"The United States, the European Union and the Greater Middle East"
American Committees on Foreign Relations
St. Paul, MN, November 3, 2005 and
Birmingham, AL, November 29, 2005


"U.S.-EU Relations"
Wichita Committee on Foreign Relations,
Wichita, KS, September 20, 2005


"Interim Governments: Institutional Bridges to Peace and Democracy?"
Participant in a workshop
at the Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, CA, July 14-15, 2005


"The Balkans Revisited"
Boise Committee on Foreign Relations,
Boise, ID, May 18, 2005
Casper Committee on Foreign Relations,
Casper, WY, May 19, 2005


"Defending Europe: A Job for NATO
or the EU?"
Indianapolis Council on Foreign Relations,
Indianapolis, IN, May 17, 2005


"Introduction to the EU"
Economic Training Course, Foreign Service Institute, Washington, DC, May 4, 2005


"The State of European Antisemitism"
Kehila Chadasha, Bethesda-Chevy
Chase, MD, April 10, 2005


“Russia in Decline--a Gathering Storm?”
Worcester Committee on Foreign Relations,
Worcester, MA, April 6, 2005


"A New Transatlantic Security Relationship:
Can We Get There?"
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, October 20, 2004


"Conflict in Iraq and the US Image Abroad"
Panel member in public forum, World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Hartford, CT,
June 22, 2004


"EU Expansion,"
Digital video conference
American Embassy, New Zealand,
June 16, 2004


"The Widening Gulf between the
United States and Europe"
Great Decisions lecture series, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, February 10, 2004


"Unifying Former Warring Factions:
Bosnia's Single Army"
Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, CA, September 16, 2003


"The Role of the Military in the Reconstruction of War-Torn Economies"
Seminar panelist, Chatham House, London, England, June 24, 2003.