Supporting Students and Initiatives at Indiana University

By Eli Konwest, Isaiah Green, and Nicholas Burrus

 

In collaboration with the African Studies Program, the Institute for European Studies, and the IU Global Gateway in Europe, the Global Center hosted ‘In Dialogue: Symposium on the Displacement of Peoples Between Africa and Europe’ in March. Scholars, practitioners, activists and artists, some displaced people themselves, from across Indiana University, the United States, Europe and Africa joined us for the two-day event to investigate how education, national security, humanitarian aid, social services, policies, economics, and identities are being impacted in communities in Africa and Europe.

 

Coincidentally held at the height of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country, participants reflected on contemporary displacement events and processes such as current wars and climate change as well as historic movements of people. Presentations were held in a variety of formats including workshops, papers, and art installations with conversation and dialogue encouraged throughout the symposium.

The Global Center was also proud to support the newly launched Global Indigenous Studies project at IU. Spearheaded by the IU East Asian Studies Center, the highlight this fall was the 2022 Global Indigenous Studies Workshop which brought members of the IU community together for initial conversations. Director Eli Konwest serves on the steering committee. This fall, we proudly supported the Hamilton Lugar School Global Careers Week which features career path discussions, networking opportunities, and one-on-one career assistance for students.

Further, the Global Center brought back its writing group for students working on various projects for their PhD work in September. This group is an initiative that came from our Global Studies Graduate Group and has now evolved into a group providing a writing space for students across campus. The Happy Hour Writing Group now focuses on giving students a space to work off campus in a more social environment, by holding our meetings at locations around Bloomington such as Morgenstern’s Books and Cafe.

The Global Center also continues to support students through PhD Minor programs in Global Studies and Human Rights. We had several new students join the program and also welcomed Jessica O’Reilly, the new Director of Graduate Studies, who will oversee both minors.