Dinner with

The Ambassador

The International Affairs Forum is honored to welcome Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the United States.


Join us Monday, November 9, 2026 at the Hagerty Center on NMC's Great Lakes Campus in Traverse City. Special event presented in partnership with Traverse Connect.

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  • About Amb. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola

    Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States of America H.E. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola


    Leena-Kaisa Mikkola is the Ambassador of Finland to the United States. She started in her role in September 2024. Prior to that, she served as the Ambassador of Finland to the People's Republic of China from 2021 to 2024.


    Ambassador Mikkola is a career diplomat, and she joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1992. She has worked with Middle Eastern and African Affairs, most recently as Finland's Ambassador to Israel (2011–2016) and as the Director General for Africa and the Middle East (2017–2021). She has also worked at the diplomatic missions in Brussels, Canberra, Athens and Budapest. 


    Ambassador Mikkola is originally from Kaustinen, Finland. She holds a Master's degree in Law from the University of Helsinki. Ambassador Mikkola has two grown-up sons, and she likes to read and enjoy the outdoors on her free time. 


Man with red hair and beard in black shirt, looking serious against a dark background.
Woman in a white dress and hat stands by a lake at sunset with mountains, flowers, and a large yellow sun.

Ambassador's Dinner

Monday, November 9, 2026

The Hagerty Center, Great Lakes Campus

Northwestern Michigan College

715 E. Front St., Traverse City


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Event Details

6:30pm Welcome reception

7:00 Dinner buffet, remarks, fireside chat, audience Q & A


Dinner includes

beef, fish, or vegetarian main

one drink ticket per guest for beer & wine


Join us for a special evening

The International Affairs Forum welcomes Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola and her delegation Monday, November 9, 2026 at the Hagerty Center on NMC's Great Lakes Campus in Traverse City.

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Underwrite Student Dinner Tickets

We invite NMC students to join us for IAF special events. This is a chance to provide an enriching experience for our students (to be invited individually by IAF) and foster the multi-generational spirit of IAF.


If you'd like to purchase an additional ticket for a student, type the name "Student" in the first and last name fields during purchase; use the "same as billing" option for the address fields. As always, contact us with any questions.