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19th Annual Spencer Lecture Series

9/11/2020

Brandon Pichanick '08, Chief of Staff at Viasat, Inc., was the featured speaker at the 19th Annual Spencer Lecture Series this morning with his talk Doing Hard Things in Hard Places.

The lecture honors George Twig Spencer III, the only known University School alumnus to perish in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Mr. Spencer's family, classmates, and friends established the series to pay tribute to him and to enhance awareness and knowledge of international relations, tolerance, and understanding.

Mr. Pichanick has held numerous roles at the United States Agency for International Development, which is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. Currently, he works in the private sector at Viasat, Inc., with the mission to become the first company to provide internet access to the entire world.

Addressing over 400 students, faculty, and guests at Hunting Valley’s virtual assembly, Mr. Pichanick ’08, stressed the importance of searching for big problems that need solutions and drive a sense of purpose.

“Look around at what’s going on in the world and find big problems that you are either personally driven to or just curious about and go tackle them,” he said.

“You can’t tackle big problems if you don’t bring people from different backgrounds, upbringings, and political spectrums together."

Mr. Pichanick encouraged the students to use the tools, classmates, and culture of US as energy and support as they find their purpose.

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Shaker Heights Campus

20701 Brantley Road
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
JUNIOR K – GRADE 8
Phone: 216-321-8260

Hunting Valley Campus

2785 SOM Center Road
Hunting Valley, Ohio 44022
GRADES 9 – 12
Phone: 216-831-2200

University School serves over 850 boys in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 on two campuses in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The School’s mission is to inspire boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Dedicated faculty, rigorous curriculum, and experiential programs foster intellectual, physical, creative, and moral excellence. University School is a diverse and inclusive community where each boy is known and loved.