WJLA ABC 7News interviewed Dean 脰zerdem about the life and legacy of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter on Sunday, when she passed away.
Excerpt from the video and article, , published on November 19th, 2023:
鈥淐onsidering the scale of mental health challenges and problems we face in our society today and considering she鈥檚 been working at this since the 1980s, it really shows her foresight and her deep engagement with our society,鈥 said Alpaslan 脰zerdem Dean of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.
鈥淪he wasn鈥檛 just a first lady, she was very close to her husband in different policy-making issues and initiatives, and for example, in the late 1970s during the Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt, she was there throughout that process and we know that she helped Jimmy Carter in his difficult negotiations,鈥 脰zerdem said. 鈥淪he was with Jimmy Carter on various missions for peace and conflict resolution in the Middle East in Panama and different places.鈥
When asked to put into words the impact Rosalynn will continue in the DMV, 脰zerdem said, 鈥淗er impact will live with us.鈥
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know of many people who really did so much for public service, and we really need to recognize this,鈥 脰zerdem said. 鈥淚n our classrooms at the Carter school, we always underline that.鈥
If you are a peacemaker, you鈥檝e got to work with communities to make that change, whether that鈥檚 in Arlington or Afghanistan,鈥 脰zerdem continued. 鈥淪o yes, Rosalynn Carter and her legacy will live with us here at the Carter school.
- Alpaslan 脰zerdem
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