Flathead Valley Community College announced former Ambassador and U.S. Sen. Max Baucus as the featured speaker for the 2018 Mansfield Lecture, scheduled for Sept. 5.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Montana’s Michael Joseph Mansfield, who served as a U.S. Representative from 1943 to 1953 and a U.S. senator from 1953 to 1977, FVCC’s annual Mansfield Lecture seeks to promote a spirit of inclusivity and collaboration.

Baucus served as a U.S. senator from Montana from 1978 until 2014, making him the longest-serving senator in the state’s history.

After retiring from the Senate, Baucus served as the 11th U.S. Ambassador to China, a post he held until 2017.

A graduate of Helena High School and Stanford Law School, Baucus served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978.

During much of his career, he had the opportunity to know Mansfield on a professional and personal basis.

As part of his lecture on “Mike Mansfield and the Issues of Today,” Baucus will share some of the lessons he learned from the legendary Mansfield.

The Mansfield Lecture is made possible by a gift to FVCC’s Foundation.

For more information about the lecture, contact Diane Skyland at 756-3668.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.