The Great Decisions Program at The Bolles School, now in its third year, offers upper school students an opportunity to explore international relations and foreign policy through guided discussion topics selected by the U.S. Foreign Policy Association.

Sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, the program brings University of North Florida political science professors to the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus each month to lead conversations on current global issues. UNF’s Dr. David Schwam-Baird has facilitated the series since its inception, providing insight into the politics behind world events.

The most recent meeting, held December 2, focused on American foreign policy in the Middle East—a topic featured in the Great Decisions 2025 book that students nationwide are reading and discussing. Schwam-Baird led the conversation, encouraging students to weigh multiple perspectives and examine the complexities of U.S. policy and its impact on countries ranging from Syria and Israel to Iran and Sudan.