Now entering its thirteenth year, “What Matters to Me and Why,” the annual series of informal discussions with respected members of our campus community, has enjoyed remarkable success.

The “What Matters to Me and Why” series continued with a captivating talk by Dr. Corina A. Espinoza, Ed.D., Lecturer, Social Sciences Undergraduate Student Affairs, Program in Social Policy and Public Services. We would like to personally thank all who have attended our previous talks and invite those who could not attend to view recordings of past events.

The next event will take place on Thursday, March 13, with a presentation by David Kaye, clinical professor of law, School of Law. Professor Kaye is a professor of law, and the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. He is the 2023-2024 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Public International Law at Lund University, Sweden, and the U.S. Independent Expert to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (“Venice Commission”). His 2019 book, Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet (Columbia Global Reports), explores the ways in which companies, governments and activists struggle to define the rules for online expression.

Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014, David served through July 2020 as the global body’s principal monitor for freedom of expression issues worldwide. His earlier reporting addressed, among other topics, the ways in which Artificial Intelligence technologies implicate human rights issues, the global private surveillance industry and its impact on freedom of expression, growing repression of freedom of expression globally, encryption and anonymity as promoters of freedom of expression, the protection of whistleblowers and journalistic sources, the roles and responsibilities of private Internet companies, and the regulation of online content by social media and search companies.

After doing his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, he joined the U.S. State Department as a lawyer in 1995, serving in Washington, D.C., and The Hague, The Netherlands. In addition to his academic work, he is the Independent Board Chair of the Global Network Initiative and a Trustee of the global freedom of expression organization, ARTICLE 19.

“What Matters to Me and Why” encourages reflection about values, beliefs and motivations in the lives of those who shape our university. The series explores personal journeys – choices made, difficulties encountered, commitments formed and joys revealed – with the hope of enhancing tolerance, strengthening bonds, and supporting the virtues that make UCI a great institution.

Can't make it in person? Join us on Zoom!

What Matters To Me And Why-David Kaye