BENTON HARBOR — Lake Michigan College will celebrate Constitution Day on Monday, with speaker a retired U.S. ambassador John R. Nay, who served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 36 years.

Nay’s speech is titled, “Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly — 226 Years Old and as Vital as Ever,” and will be presented at 12:30 p.m. in the Blue Lecture Hall.

Political Science Program Coordinator Dr. Tiffany Bohm organized the event for the college to celebrate the Constitution as well as the ideological differences that drive the country forward.

“Despite significant differences in opinions between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists who signed the Constitution on Sept.  17, 1787, the two groups were able to compromise and create a living document that serves as the foundation of all governmental activities,” Bohm said. “Ambassador Nay will discuss a topic very relevant to current events and society: The First Amendment and free speech. Attendees will be reminded that knowledge of the government is imperative to active civic engagement.”

After serving tours of duty in Taiwan, Singapore, India, South Africa, Canada and Washington, D.C., Nay’s final overseas assignment was as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname in South America. During his tenure in Suriname, Nay emphasized the importance of human rights, freedom of the press, environmental awareness and protecting Suriname’s rich environmental diversity.

Nay holds a bachelor’s degree of arts and a master’s degree of science from Andrews University, a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University and an honorary doctorate of law from Andrews University. After his foreign service career, he and his wife, Judy Ashdon Nay, returned to southwest Michigan, where he currently works part-time at Andrews University.

The Nays have three adult children and two grandchildren. Ambassador Nay is language qualified in Chinese (Mandarin) and also has studied Dutch, French and German. During his career, he received three superior honor awards and four senior performance awards.

The Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor Campus is located at 2755 E. Napier Ave. in Benton Harbor.

For questions about the Constitution Day event, email Bohm at tbohm@lakemichigancollege.edu. Visit lakemichigancollege.edu/poli-sci for more details about studying political science at Lake Michigan College.