Indiana University's School of Global and International Studies hosts an address by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to celebrate the opening of the school's new home on the Bloomington campus.

Kerry will deliver a speech highlighting why American leadership abroad remains more important than ever and outlining priorities for U.S. foreign policy in a changing world.

Kerry was sworn in as the 68th U.S. secretary of state in February 2013. He joined the State Department after 28 years in the U.S. Senate, the last four as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In the Senate, Kerry was a leader on a range of national security and foreign policy issues. He helped secure ratification of the strategic arms agreement, New START, and he chaired the Senate select committee seeking the truth about the fate of Vietnam War POW-MIA's. As a leader on combatting global climate change, Kerry chaired 10 major climate change and energy security hearings and led several legislative efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

IU campus officials expressed their great appreciation for Kerry's visit at a time when the School of Global and International Studies continues to establish itself as a leader among foreign affairs schools whose graduates are equipped to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.

IU is making one of the largest investments in international studies in the United States with the establishment of the School of Global and International Studies. The school’s new headquarters is home to 250 scholars who cover every corner of the globe and teach some 70 languages.

Both former Sen. Richard Lugar, who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who chaired the House Committee on Foreign Relations and co-chaired the 9-11 Commission are distinguished members of the faculty at the school, which teaches nearly 700 students at the undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. level.