German citizen Dr. Erik Bettermann will speak on German-American relations Thursday, Sept. 25, for the 2014-2015 Kleinfeld Lecture at Wartburg College.

The free event is at 7 p.m. in the Saemann Student Center’s McCaskey Lyceum.

The former director-general of Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international news broadcaster, applies decades of experience in media and politics to advocate, through dialogue, international understanding and tolerance. Bettermann will discuss the countries’ relationship, emphasizing ties that bind and issues that cause rifts.

“Erik Bettermann has a wealth of practical experience on the topic and is greatly interested in German-American relations,” said Daniel Walther, Gerald R. Kleinfeld Distinguished Professor of German History. “He’ll bring both to bear in what is sure to be an engaging and insightful lecture. We are fortunate to have him.”

The annual Kleinfeld Lecture in German History, Culture and Politics is part of an endowed series made possible by a contribution from the German Studies Association.