World Languages Day is a free, all-day conference for high school students, teachers, and parents. Participants can choose from a wide variety of sessions on language, culture, globalization, and general information about Michigan State University.

The Honorable Tom Ridge. The inextricable link between security and prosperity in a progressively interdependent world has generated enormous political and economic benefits but also consequent challenges. As the interdependence grows, so grows the vulnerability. Terrorism, natural disasters, criminal acts, vendor issues, accidents and geopolitical influences can have debilitating effects on economies and thus have put issues such as supply chain security, cross-border collaborations and security investment at the forefront of every proactive business and government agenda. Secretary Ridge, the nation's first secretary of Homeland Security and former governor Pennsylvania, will share his views of today's risk-centric environment and how to minimize those risks in favor of greater resiliency and security across the globe.

The Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan focuses on global issues of interest to the mid-Michigan business community. In this role, the GB Club is dedicated to supporting global business growth of the State of Michigan and its diverse manufacturing and service organizations. The main activity of the GB Club is the luncheon speaker series. The monthly GB Club luncheons provide outstanding speakers and relaxed networking opportunities. With extensive international experience, the speakers wrap personal insights around a practical and up-to-the-minute approach to conducting international trade. The luncheons are open to the general public. Typically, about 100 business executives, public policy makers, and academics attend each luncheon.

Students from all disciplines are encouraged to submit 1-page abstracts of presentations on topics related to Latin America and the Caribbean and our conference theme. Papers on other topics related to Latin America and the Caribbean are also welcome.

Dr. Tamer Cavusgil will give a seminar on the preliminary findings for a meta analysis of multinationality and firm performance. Much scholarly work has been devoted to studying the performance implications of multinationality (also referred to as international diversification). This presentation will report on a meta-analysis designed to reveal empirical generalizations from this vast body of evidence. While multinationality is found to be positively associated with overall firm performance, contextual analysis reveals even more interesting findings. Multinationality-performance relationship is found to be stronger for multinationals from European and Japanese multinationals. Firms in manufacturing industries benefit more from internationalization than firms in service industries. Bivariate results also indicate that multinationality-performance relationship is stronger for the period preceding 1980. Finally, the results indicate that multinationality positively affects performance during both the early and late stages of internationalization. Positive effects of multinationality are strongest for firms with moderate levels of internationalization.

Jim Leyland, Manager of the Detroit Tigers, and David Dombrowski, President, CEO, and General Manager of the Tigers, will speak.

This is an invitation-only event that will bring together MSU doctoral alumni of the past two decades who have built their careers in international business/marketing or innovation. We expect an attendance of approximately 25 doctoral alumni and selected MSU marketing faculty.

Baroness Caroline Cox Baroness (Caroline) Cox was created a Life Peer in 1982 and has been a deputy speaker of the House of Lords since 1985. She was Founder Chancellor of Bournemouth University 1991-2001 and is a Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing. She is heavily involved with international humanitarian work and is Chief Executive of HART [Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust]. She also serves as a non-executive director the Siberian Medical University; and has been a Trustee of MERLIN [Medical Emergency Relief International].

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow Born in Gladwin, Michigan on April 29, 1950, Senator Stabenow grew up in the small town of Clare, Michigan. She attended Michigan State University, where she received her Bachelor's (1972) and Masters (1975) degrees. She worked with youth in the public schools before running for public office. Elected to Congress in 1996 representing Michigan's Eighth Congressional District, she won election to the U.S. Senate four years later.Elected to a new term in 2006, she has been appointed to the Senate Finance Committee which is responsible for our nation's taxation, health care, pension and trade policies. She will continue serving on the Senate Budget and Agriculture committees and is chairing the Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry, and Credit.

The Advanced International Business Institute (AIBI) for Community College Faculty is a unique faculty development program. It is designed for community college faculty who have previously attended international business faculty development workshops, seminars, or conferences, as well as faculty who bring previous international business experience to their classrooms, and international business program administrators. Topics to be covered in the AIBI include: classroom tools and course development, developing and maintaining IB programs, and best practices in IB integration. The AIBI will also offer small group breakout sessions for faculty to tackle and resolve their own IB challenges and concerns.