The African Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce its second annual regional one-day conference on Saturday, May 11, 2019. The Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes African Studies Conference creates a space for the sharing of ideas and broader intellectual engagement for Africanist faculty, researchers, and graduate students from across the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. This year's topic is Pondering African Futures: Technologies and Strategies for Growth.

The University Center for International Studies cordially invites students graduating in Spring and Summer 2019 to celebrate their academic achievements and receive their credentials at the University Center for International Studies’ Graduation Ceremony on Friday, April 26, 3-4 p.m., followed by a reception 4-5 p.m., in the O'Hara Student Center.

Graduating students please look for your personal email invitation from the University Center for International Studies. Contact your UCIS academic advisor with any questions.

The workshop will bring together a multidisciplinary group of scholars at the University of Pittsburgh and beyond to examine global health inequities in the distribution of infectious diseases. Highly infectious diseases reflect global inequities worldwide, making up five of the top ten leading causes of death in low-income countries while constituting only one of the top ten causes of death in high-income countries.

The graduation presentation is an opportunity for students receiving the Certificate in African Studies to reflect on their experience studying about Africa. Students will showcase their African Studies learning experiences including study abroad in an African country, research, and internships. The presentations provides a great opportunity also for ASP to evaluate the certificate program to see if students demonstrate achievement of enhanced knowledge of the cultures, history, politics, economics, and/or literature and arts in African Studies from an interdisciplinary perspective.

A cultural extravaganza that features fashion, entertainment, comedy and dance through African Perspectives. The group uses African culture as inspiration for creative and innovative designs. The goal is to educate, create more awareness and understanding of African cultures.

Ms. Patel will discuss US global health interventions through USAID and contributions through the Global Fund, WHO, and other aid organizations. She will also talk about her own career path, and how students interested in global health can prepare now to enter the field.

There will be a discussion group after the lecture for students interested in having a more in-depth career conversation with Ms. Patel. Lunch will be provided at this smaller session and seating is limited, so please rsvp to Thayjas Patil at tap97@pitt.edu.

In 1988, a radio series called Public Radio International (PRI) coined the term “Afropop” to refer to a cross section of traditional and urban music styles that originated or had roots in Africa. At their recital On 30 March 2019, the Pitt Afropop Ensemble will perform Afropop music that has either been influenced or has influenced other music styles from the Americas and Europe. The performance on March 30 will have the Pitt Afropop ensemble students expose Afro-reggae, highlife, Afrobeat and Afro-jazz, genres that have resulted from the fusion of African and Western musics.

With increasing forms of precarity across the globe, there is a need to call attention to sites of struggle that bridge assumed divisions between ”migrants,” “refugees,” and “citizens.” These include access to housing, safety, thriving neighborhoods, healthcare, food, education, childcare, the labor market, and other shared needs. What would it mean to de-exceptionalize displacement, rethinking mobility and citizenship alike?

Have you been procrastinating about filling out your entry or exit surveys? Have you got questions about e-portfolios? Have you forgotten how to enter your coursework into MyPittGlobal?

Dr. Dennis Jett will give a presentation on why peacekeeping succeeded in Mozambique at the same time it failed in Angola. He will go over perspectives on how conflict has evolved, how peacekeeping has changed as a result and why in most cases today peacekeeping is making no contribution to peace.

Dr. Jett served as the Ambassador to Mozambique, the Senior Director for African Affairs on the National Security Council, and the Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires in Malawi and Liberia.