LOWELL, Mass. â A former ambassador to Portugal who served under President Barack Obama will present a free UMass Lowell program for the public that will examine U.S.-Portuguese relations. âPortugal and the United States: Past Present and Future â A Conversation with Ambassador Robert A. Shermanâ will tackle domestic and foreign policy issues including the reform of the Portuguese criminal-justice system, advances in cybersecurity, the role of NATO and the road ahead for the post-pandemic international economy. Sherman, who served as U.S. ambassador to Portugal from 2014 to 2017, will share his insights on his role and answer questions. The free online program on Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m. will be presented by the Saab Center for Portuguese Studies at UMass Lowell.