On Tuesday, April 21, Blair welcomed former student, current professor of government and politics and director of the Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University Dr. Peter Mandaville ’90 back for the Society of Skeptics. During his time with the students, he shared a unique piece of advice—something students may not always hear: Stop trying to learn everything and start learning one thing deeply.

A veteran academic and former senior advisor to the U.S. State Department, Dr. Mandaville has spent his career at the intersection of religion, identity and global policy. It is a specific, narrow niche—but as he explained to the students, it is precisely that specialized focus that allowed him to understand the “bigger picture” of global diplomacy.

“Naturally, people have specific interests. But, if you’re interested in politics and foreign policy, you may also find interest in certain countries or certain regions, or specific issues such as women’s rights or poverty reduction,” shared Dr. Mandaville in a pre-event interview. “I would encourage people to pursue those narrow interests, but also to continue to track and understand where those particular issues fit within the larger picture—such as how broader debates and discussions about world politics are trending.”

After graduating from Blair, Dr. Mandaville immediately set upon his journey of furthering his education. Beginning with his master of arts degree from the University of St Andrews to obtaining a master’s degree from the University of Kent, Dr. Mandaville’s academic period culminated with his doctor of philosophy degree also from the University of Kent. Though he enjoys conducting his continued research, the time spent with students is the most meaningful. 
“Having the opportunity to speak at a Skeptics session is coming full circle, because when I was a student at Blair, studying under Skeptics founder, Dr. Marty Miller, the speakers he brought to campus were absolutely key in terms of opening my eyes to what was going on in the world beyond the confines of northwestern New Jersey,” recalled Dr. Mandaville.  

“You would get these people who had spent careers as photojournalists in war zones or escaped as political exiles from authoritarian regimes, and they came and spent time with us and talked through their stories. In that sense, the Society of Skeptics program was very formative, and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the years with the future generation.”

History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.