On Thursday, November 11, Saint Peter’s College welcomed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Sanja Štiglic to its Jersey City campus. Ambassador Štiglic visited the College as part of the Visiting United Nations Ambassadors Program.
Students, faculty and administrators were welcomed by Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s College, who told those in the audience that the event was an “incredible opportunity to learn about Slovenia” and it was a “privilege and honor to introduce Ambassador Štiglic.”
The ambassador took to the stage and said she was impressed that “people [at Saint Peter’s] know Slovenia very well and I feel already that I am with a group of friends.” She then discussed Slovenia, describing it as “a small country but a very picturesque one – a hidden treasure of Europe,” as well as the country’s relationship with the United Nations. In addition, she elaborated on Slovenia’s national healthcare system, education system, culture and its relationships with other countries in the European Union (EU).
Following the ambassador’s remarks a lively exchange of ideas was shared by all in attendance through a question and answer session. The discussions continued on a more personal level at a post event reception.
Ambassador Štiglic assumed her role as the permanent representative of Slovenia to the United Nations on February 7, 2007. She previously headed the Division for Relations with the countries of Western, Northern and Central Europe in Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2003 and 2004, she served as state under-secretary and head of the Minister’s office. From 1997 to 2002, Ambassador Štiglic was posted to Slovenia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she served as the country’s alternate representative to the Security Council from 1998 through 1999. Upon joining the Foreign Service, the ambassador worked at the Department for Neighboring Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted in 1996 to serve at Slovenia’s Embassy in Zagreb. Ambassador Štiglic holds a degree in law from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. She speaks English, German, Spanish and Croatian.
The Ambassadors Program at Saint Peter’s College consists of: a Visiting Ambassadors Colloquium, opportunities for Saint Peter’s faculty and students to attend conferences and utilize the resources of the United Nations, a High School Model UN, and an off-site College UN in which Saint Peter’s students and those from other institutions of higher learning participate.