State Senate honors MSU's Radvanyi

Contact: Kenneth Billings

Janos Radvanyi, holder of the Radvanyi Chair in International Studies, received a plaque from Mississippi Sen. Gary Jackson of French Camp to commemorate the Senate resolution passed recognizing his service to the state and designating him as an "Honorary Ambassador for the State of Mississippi." Radvanyi was a special guest of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant before the official presentation on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Janos Radvanyi, holder of the Radvanyi Chair in International Studies, received a plaque from Mississippi Sen. Gary Jackson of French Camp to commemorate the Senate resolution passed recognizing his service to the state and designating him as an "Honorary Ambassador for the State of Mississippi." Radvanyi was a special guest of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant before the official presentation on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Photo by: Kenny Billings

STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Mississippi Senate this week honored a longtime Mississippi State University professor for his pioneering work in international security studies.

Janos Radvanyi, who holds the Radvanyi Chair in International Studies, was presented a special resolution commending his service and designating him an "Honorary Ambassador for the State of Mississippi."

Radvanyi has been at Mississippi State since 1972, and founded the Center for International Security and Strategic Studies a decade later. In 1996, following his tenure as a history professor and head of the center, the university named him the first chairholder for the newly established Endowed Chair for International Security and Strategic Studies.

Sen. Gary Jackson (R-Kilmichael) presented the Hungarian native with a plaque featuring a copy of Senate Concurrent Resolution 600 in a ceremony on the Senate floor, citing Radvanyi's tireless service and work during his 37-year career at Mississippi State.

"Dr. Radvanyi truly has brought international issues to the forefront in our state, and has been a visionary in promoting the study of critical security concerns ranging from environmental threats to Russian resurgence," said MSU President Mark Keenum. "He has been a tremendous force in helping define global concerns."

Radvanyi's scholarly work focuses on research, including extensive writing and the teaching of special seminars. He devotes full attention to vital international problems with emphasis on the post-communist era's complex security issues. He also is active in the new research field of environmental security.

Through the Executive Lecture Forum, Radvanyi has broadened international awareness and perspectives by bringing world dignitaries and respected speakers to Mississippi, including French Ambassador Emmanuel de Margerie and Juergen Chrobog, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Prior to immigrating to the United States, Radvanyi served as the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States and in 1968 sought and was granted political asylum in America.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.