Welcome to The World Affairs Council of Rhode Island

The World Affairs Council of Rhode Island is a non-profit, non-partisan organization constituted for the purpose of carrying on public education in the field of foreign affairs and American foreign policy.
For 83 years, WACRI has brought the world to Rhode Island. Our monthly speaker series and International Visitors Program have offered our members a broad perspective on our world and its people. We foster a community of globally minded people, exchanging ideas in a civil and vibrant way.

We invite you to join WACRI, and become a part of our community of globally oriented citizens.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

6:00PM

At Crowne Plaza Hotel-Airport

801 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI 02879

"The Africa You Don't Know - Understanding U.S. Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa"

 U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) to Democratic Republic of Congo

Lucille "Lucy" Tamlyn presenting

Ambassador Tamlyn's Bio

Ambassador (ret) Lucy Tamlyn joined the United States Foreign Service in 1982 and retired in December 2025.  During her forty-three year career as a U.S. diplomat she served as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2023-2025), ambassador to the Central African Republic (2018-2022) and ambassador to the Republic of Benin (2015-2018).  She also served as Charge d'Affaires in Sudan (2022) and Deputy Chief of Mission in Portugal and Chad.  Reflecting a career-long interest in multilateral diplomacy, she served two tours at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (New York), at U.S. missions to the UN agencies in Rome and Vienna and as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.  Other overseas postings included Colombia, Mozambique, Brazil and Iraq.  Lucy Tamlyn earned her BA from St. John's College, Annapolis and an MIA from Columbia University's School of International Affairs. Originally from Manhattan, NY, she and her husband, travel photographer Jorge Serpa, now call Rhode Island home.

Members and Their Guests $50.00 per person

Non-members $57.50 

Cocktails at 6:00 (cash bar)

Dinner served at 6:45

(Menu posted when it becomes available)

Presentation following.

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED by July 14th

REGISTER HERE