Mark Siljander is an experienced statesman at home and abroad. He represented Michigan for 15 years from the “Heartland of America” and paradoxically, the home of one of the largest Arab populations outside the Middle East. His public service included three terms as a Member of the United States Congress, where he served on the International Relations Middle East Subcommittee and was Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee. He was the primary sponsor of the African Famine Relief Act and was later appointed by President Reagan as a US Ambassador (Alt. Delegate) to the United Nations in New York, where he served as a member of the Middle East and Africa Strategy Group of permanent representatives. 

Ambassador Siljander is uniquely qualified to engage the Muslim world. He is a student of several languages, including Arabic, Aramaic, and Hebrew, and has spent over ten years studying the three Holy Books of the Abrahamic faiths. With over 24 years serving in the power circles of Washington and semi-official travel to nearly 130 countries, he has generated unique opportunities for frequent access to world leaders. These experiences have led him to develop a unique paradigm for the peaceful resolution of conflict that has been successfully applied in several challenging areas of the globe. These methods are outlined in his bestselling and  award winning book, A Deadly Misunderstanding (released by Harper Collins)., that deals with building bridges to the Islamic world and strategies to thwart the growing threat of terrorism.

 Mark Siljander reinforces his conflict resolution efforts through regular travel overseas with Congressional and high-level delegations. These trips typically are in coordination with the bipartisan, US House and Senate Leadership Breakfast Groups, which attract nearly 1/3 of each chamber. These Leadership Groups work in conjunction with sister parliamentary groups in dozens of countries.

Congressman Siljander has received acclaim for his work in reconciliation. He received various leadership awards, including the 1996 Mohandas K. Gandhi International Peace Award, for “…recognition of his courageous statesmanship in international reconciliation.” In addition, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright honored Ambassador Siljander, at the United Nations, for his “…efforts toward a more just, humane and peaceful world.” American and international Muslim leaders have lauded Siljander for his compassion and understanding of their culture and distinctive approach to bridge-building techniques.

Dr. Siljander is widely recognized as an effective public speaker. He previously produced two radio commentaries, It’s Your America, heard regularly over 260 US radio stations, and Asia in View, broadcast throughout Asia. During his tenure in Congress. He has been President of Global Strategies, a strategic planning, marketing, and public relations company since 1987.

His complementary academic pursuits include Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science, a Ph.D. in International Business, Doctorate in Humanities (Hon.) and has pursued postgraduate studies in education. He serves on the Advisory Board of Samford University in Bangladesh, the UN chartered US Federation for Middle East Peace, served as advisor at Edinburgh University Center for Muslim Christian Studies and has lectured in such diverse institutions as Oxford to Khartoum University Law School.

Dr. Siljander will be teaching a course for the Lifelong Learning Center based on his recent book, A Deadly Misunderstanding.