Mark F. Brzezinski, former United States Ambassador to Sweden and Poland, will be the featured speaker at the 2026 D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture in International Human Rights hosted by Florida State University College of Law. The lecture is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, at the College of Law and is open to the public.
Brzezinski’s talk is titled “U.S. Embassies as ‘Force Multipliers’ for Democracy and Human Rights: The Case of Poland, 2021-25.” He brings extensive experience in public service, international law, and global affairs to the event. Brzezinski served as U.S. Ambassador to Poland from 2021 to 2024, where he was involved in efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and advance human rights during a significant period for the region. Previously, he was U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2011 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.
Erin O’Hara O’Connor, dean of the FSU College of Law, said, “We are honored to welcome Ambassador Brzezinski to FSU Law. His career at the intersection of diplomacy, law and human rights offers a powerful opportunity for our students and the broader community to engage with the real-world challenges of advancing democratic values and protecting human rights globally.”
In addition to his diplomatic roles, Brzezinski is president and CEO of Brzezinski Global Strategies, a geostrategic advisory firm. He has also held positions such as managing director at Makena Capital Management—where he led sustainability initiatives—and partner at McGuireWoods LLP in Washington D.C., where he helped build an international compliance practice.
Brzezinski has been involved with organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations and served on its Corporate Program board of advisers. His academic experience includes time as a Fulbright Scholar in Poland from 1991 to 1993 and an appointment by President Obama in 2010 to the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
The D’Alemberte & Palmer Lecture series aims to educate about international human rights issues while inspiring FSU Law students and contributing to broader global discussions on these topics. It was established through support from Patsy Palmer—a Florida State alumna and former First Lady—who is recognized for her contributions to academic and cultural initiatives at FSU.
“We are deeply grateful to Patsy Palmer for making this important lecture series possible,” O’Hara O’Connor added.
Past speakers have included Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland), Ambassador David Scheffer (the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues), and Alberto J. Mora (former General Counsel of the U.S. Navy).
Brzezinski’s upcoming lecture will focus on how U.S embassies act as essential tools in defending democracy and human rights worldwide by leveraging local knowledge and partnerships with civil society organizations.
Further information about the event can be found at law.fsu.edu/humanrightslecture.
