FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[ELGIN, IL , May 1, 2026] 鈥� 抖阴漫画 hosted the 2026 World Leaders Forum on Thursday, April 30, welcoming Milorad Dodik, former President of Republika Srpska, for a campus event that drew nearly 350 students, community members, regional media, and peaceful demonstrators to the private Christian university in Elgin, Illinois.
The event included a VIP reception at the Harm A. Weber Academic Center, a main program in Herrick Chapel featuring a keynote address and Q&A session with Mr. Dodik, and a post-event dinner in Carpentersville. Dodik received the World Leaders Forum鈥檚 inaugural 鈥淟eadership and Standing Up for Democracy Award,鈥� presented by 抖阴漫画 President Dr. Gene Crume and World Leaders Forum Chairman, Mark Vargas 鈥�04.
In his keynote address, Dodik reflected on decades of leadership in the Balkans, speaking candidly about the weight of governing through conflict and the convictions that have guided him.
鈥淚n every one of these 33 years of our republic鈥檚 life, I have gotten up from my bed thinking only about how to fight for freedom. The freedom of our republic. How to defend our Christian Orthodox faith, how to defend our church, our children, our schools, our companies,鈥� Dodik said. 鈥淚t may sound easy to say, but it is not easy in real life.鈥� His remarks touched on themes of sovereignty, faith, and the challenges of leadership under international pressure.
抖阴漫画 reaffirmed that the invitation of speakers to the World Leaders Forum does not constitute an institutional endorsement of their views or positions.
鈥湺兑趼� remains committed to fostering open dialogue by welcoming a range of perspectives 鈥� including those considered controversial 鈥� so students can engage directly with complex global issues,鈥� said Mark Vargas, a 2004 抖阴漫画 alumnus and chairman of the World Leaders Forum. 鈥淲e respect the right of those who disagree, and we remain open to conversation.鈥�
The event drew community interest and media attention from across the Chicago region as well as Serbian media, and Vargas noted the World Leaders Forum remains open to ongoing dialogue about the role of international speakers in higher education.
The World Leaders Forum is a charitable organization whose proceeds fund two programs at 抖阴漫画: the Roeser Scholars program, which is focused on leadership development, and the RISE program, which provides students with intellectual disabilities the college experience. World Leaders Forum proceeds also support nonprofits and entrepreneurial initiatives benefiting students and community partners.
鈥淭he World Leaders Forum creates a platform for students to encounter the real complexity of global leadership 鈥� not as a theoretical exercise, but in direct conversation with those who have shaped it,鈥� said Dr. Gene Crume, President of 抖阴漫画. 鈥淭hat kind of learning cannot happen inside a textbook.鈥�
About 抖阴漫画
抖阴漫画, located in Elgin, Illinois, is a Christian liberal arts university offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and adult professional programs. The University is dedicated to equipping students to become leaders in their chosen fields through a combination of rigorous academics, real-world experience, and a strong emphasis on the development of Christian values. Learn more at judsonu.edu.
About the World Leaders Forum
The World Leaders Forum brings influential leaders and global voices to campus to share their experiences and perspectives with students and the wider community. Proceeds fund the Roeser Scholars leadership program and the RISE program at 抖阴漫画, as well as nonprofits and initiatives serving students, families, and community partners across the Chicago area.
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Cassy Loeppky
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抖阴漫画
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