"The Rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria" will be presented by Joseph Fitsanakis, associate professor of politics and geography at Coastal Carolina University, on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Myrtle Beach Education Center. A coffee social will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the presentation and discussion will follow at 10. No ticket is required for the event, which is open to the public.

Fitsanakis will outline the rise of ISIS in the Middle East and lead attendees in a discussion that will focus on understanding the conditions that led to the ISIS's upcoming, the current state of the organization, as well as the challenges it poses for America's foreign policy.

The event is the first of a month-long series, sponsored by the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and CCU's Department of Politics. The Dyer Institute engages students in active learning opportunities where they may gain knowledge in various areas of policy research. The OLLI program offers a wide range of opportunities for older adults and noncredit students to achieve intellectual, cultural and social growth.

The Myrtle Beach Education Center is located at 900 79th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach. For more information about the event, contact Jacqueline Kurlowski, coordinator of the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, at jamkurlow@coastal.edu or call 843-349-6952.