Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs

The Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs plays a critical role in the educational mission of SDSU

Founded in 1942, as the Institute on World Affairs, to inform students, faculty, and the wider public on global affairs, the Institute has provided the SDSU and greater San Diego community with high level and spirited intellectual engagement on international issues.

Institute speakers are drawn from all areas of global affairs, including international diplomacy, academia, national security, and protest politics. The Institute prides itself on encouraging robust critical debate, including the airing of highly controversial themes. Its operating motto is AUDIATUR ET ALTERA PARS (Let the Other Side be Heard). Recent topics have included drone warfare and targeted killings, international war crime courts, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. foreign policy, and issues related to Brexit.

President's Lecture Series with Ambassador W. Stuart Symington

Thursday, November 16 2 to 3:30 p.m.

President's Lecture Series with Ambassador W. Stuart Symington

Adela de la Torre, President, San Diego State University and Dan Moshavi, Thomas and Evelyn Page Dean, Fowler College of Business cordially invite you to attend the President’s Lecture Series in conjunction with the Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs featuring

Ambassador W. Stuart Symington
Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Rwanda and Djibouti

“What have you done with me lately: America's partnership with Africa”

Learn more about our distinguished speaker.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

WHEN
Thursday, November 16

2 to 3:30 p.m.
Light refreshments to follow

WHERE
San Diego State University

Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center
Fowler Family Ballroom

RSVP for the Event

 

Hostler HeadshotThe Institute proudly bears the name of Charles W. Hostler, former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain. Ambassador Hostler served his country with distinction and provided generous support in time and contributions to the Institute and many other worthy causes.

Charles Hostler’s life involved being a soldier, scholar, businessman, diplomat, humanitarian and philanthropist. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in January 1942 (one month after the Pearl Harbor attack) and entered the Army Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant. His fluency in French and military intelligence training led to his assignment with the Office of Strategic Services (predecessor of the CIA) X-2 section for Allied counter-espionage/deception operations during the invasion of France in WWII.

His special Counter-espionage unit landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944 at Utah Beach in Normandy, France. During and after WWII, Ambassador Hostler continued carrying out many clandestine missions for the OSS and CIA. On June 6, 2004, during the celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, French President Jacques Chirac personally presented him with the French Legion of Honor in the presence of 17 Heads of State in Normandy. Ambassador Hostler received decorations from nine countries and from four religious leaders for his valiant actions.

Following his retirement as a Colonel in the Air Force, Ambassador Hostler continued to hold many distinguished positions. He was appointed by three California Governors as a Commissioner for various public service positions. Ambassador Hostler was also appointed by Presidents Nixon and Ford as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Commerce. And lastly in 1989, Ambassador Hostler was appointed by President Bush, Sr. as the U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain (1989-1993) during the Persian Gulf War.

Ambassador Hostler earned a master’s and doctorate degree in Political Science from Georgetown University, and a MA in Middle Eastern Studies from American University of Beirut. He also received three honorary doctorate degrees and was the author of three books. His memoir, “Soldier to Ambassador”, was published by San Diego State University Press in 2003.

Hostler's Profile Image

Ambassador Hostler grew up during the Great Depression, began working at the age of 13 and never stopped. In 2007, his long-time dream came true when he inaugurated a 5-building Hostler Student Center at the American University of Beirut. He also endowed the Charles Hostler Institute on World Affairs at San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2004, in addition to providing a Fellowship program and supporting their Veterans Center. The Charles Hostler Hall at SDSU was dedicated on February 21, 2014. Charles and Chinyeh Hostler endowed the Global Youth Forum Scholarship Fund for the People to People International organization which was founded by President Eisenhower in 1956 to enhance peace through understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities.

Ambassador Hostler had been the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the United States since 1993.  He was buried with full military honor next to his father (a WWI Army Officer) at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.  He is survived by his wife, Chinyeh and two step-sons.

Initiatives

The Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs has played an important role in sponsoring educational programs and speakers’ forums for more than seven decades. The late Ambassador Charles Hostler was a soldier, scholar, businessman, diplomat, humanitarian and philanthropist who used his international connections to build the institute’s network of global leaders, allowing a wide audience to understand the impact of world affairs.

To honor his legacy the the Hostler Institute hosts two lectures per year in collaboration with the President’s Lecture Series. 

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Hostler Lecture Series

The Charles Hostler Institute Scholarship is an academic merit-based scholarship that will provide support for students to study abroad who are enrolled in the Fowler College of Business, or who are pursuing a major in International Business.

Application & Eligibility Criteria:

  • Recipient(s) must be enrolled in a semester-length study abroad program.
  • Recipient(s) must be students in the Fowler College of Business or students pursuing a major in International Business.
  • Recipient(s) must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00, or the arithmetic equivalent.
  • Recipient(s) must be enrolled full-time.
  • All class levels are eligible.
  • To be considered for renewal, recipient(s) must reapply and meet all eligibility criteria.
  • Recipient(s) must have financial need, as determined by the SDSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 

Application dates to be announced.

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Apply Now!

MGT 403: Global Business and Diplomacy

In the increasingly interconnected world, geopolitical events, trade policy, natural disasters, and public perception have a powerful impact on a firm’s success. Business leaders need to be aware of, and anticipate, the consequences of world events and understand the interface between business and the political environment. Through a series of seminars, exercises, and discussions, students in this course will be exposed to key concepts of political and economic diplomacy and their influence on the operations of businesses. Experts in the field of international business, diplomacy, and trade will provide their insight through weekly discussions.

President/Hostler Institute Lecture Series

President Lecture Series with Ambassador Symington
Ambassador W. Stuart Symington, November 16, 2023
Hostler Lecture Series Screenshot
HE Adela Raz, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States of America, November 18, 2021
Hostler Lecture Series Ambassador
HE Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States of America, November 19, 2020
McCarthy Lecture Video
Assistant Secretary Ellen E. Mccarthy, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, U.S. Department of State
Zhang Ping Hostler Lecture Video
Zhang Ping, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Los Angeles

Previous Hostler SPEAKERS

 

Anna Meliksetian
Hostler International Scholar
 

Meet Our Hostler Study Abroad Award Recipients

Jade Barajas

Jade Barajas
Japan

Jordan Ardaiz

Jordan Ardaiz
Norway

Luz Cruz

Luz Cruz
South Korea

Mary Beck

Mary Beck
Spain

Morgan Waters

Morgan Waters
Italy

Sasha Allen
Sasha Allen
Austria
Tofi Somotun
Tofi Somotun
Canada