Events in UCIS

Wednesday, April 3 until Thursday, April 3

12:00 pm Lecture
Yellow Peril in Vladivostok: The Chinese Diaspora in Russia and the Soviet Union
Location:
4217 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Union Center of Excellence and European Union Studies Association along with Department of German
See Details

Dr. Urbansky discusses the challenges faced by Chinese immigrants during the late Tsarist Empire and early Soviet Union, highlighting the racial and cultural prejudices that fueled hostilities in urban settings. His analysis explores how these early interactions shaped the experiences and perceptions of Chinese communities in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.

Saturday, February 1

4:00 pm Cultural Event
Multicultural Pongal Sangamam
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Director's Office and Global Hub along with University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Fulbright Association India Interest Group, Fulbright Association Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, Kelir Books, Consortium for Interreligious Dialogue, Duquesne University McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Center for Global Health Ethics and Carnegie Mellon University Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development
See Details

Celebrate Pongal, the ancient Tamil harvest festival, with us. Come explore Linguistic and Cultural Diversity, and hear from our diverse Tamil community. All are Welcome!

Registration by January 20 is encouraged.

Monday, February 3

6:00 pm Film
Film Screening and Q&A: Welcome II the Terrordome
Location:
Frick Fine Arts Auditorium
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies along with Department of Music, Jazz Studies Center, Department of English, Film Studies, University Archives and Special Collections and Center for African American Poetry & Poetics
See Details

Join us for a film screenig and Q&A with filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah! We will be watching Welcome II the Terrordome, a 1995 Afrofuturist film exploring themes around the history of slavery to present-day police brutality.

Refreshments provided! Free and open to the public.

“Onwurah’s fusion of political commentary and genre spectacle looks positively prescient, and her ability to build an entire cosmology that connects the history of slavery to present-day police brutality is nothing less than visionary.” - The Criterion Channel

Tuesday, February 4

2:00 pm Information Session
Chats with Zharia
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Are you an international student at Pitt looking to connect, or interested in connecting with international students? Stop by the Nook in the Global Hub on Tuesdays, between 2 and 4 pm during Spring semester, to chat with OIS Outreach Coordinator Zharia White from the Office of International Services!

2:00 pm Information Session
Financial Wellness Tabling
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Stop by the Global Hub to learn more about financial wellness!

2:30 pm Information Session
Spring 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

5:00 pm Performance
Black Hockey History Game Special Ticket Offer
Sponsored by:
Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs
See Details

The Penguins organization is committed to supporting the Black community both on and off the ice. During the month of February, we will celebrate Black History Month through programming focused on elevating black leaders and change-makers, sharing inspiring stories of historic resilience, and connecting our fans to one another through their love for hockey.

Join us for Black History Month in person at PPG Paints Arena when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils on February 4. Featuring a concourse display courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms & Intercultural Exchange Programs, be here when we honor the incredible impact of our city’s African American community and celebrate their rich culture and history. Plus, the first 300 community members that purchase tickets through this special offer will receive a Penguins-branded Black Hockey History Hockey Shirt!

To purchase groups of 10 or more tickets or to request additional information, please contact Kyle Blend at (412) 255-1849.

Penguins vs. Devils

Feb 04, 2025 7:00 PM EST

PPG Paints Arena

1001 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, US

Purchase Deadline: Feb 04, 2025 5:00 PM EST

5:00 pm Workshop
Spanish Mini Lessons
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies
See Details

2/4: Learn about Hispanic traditions and customs in Latin America and enjoy some delicious empanadas!

2/11: Learn how to order food in Spanish and some popular Hispanic dishes while enjoying some Hispanic food!

No previous knowledge of Spanish is required!

https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0oY0mCQjdXaJZ3M

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

7:00 pm Reading Group
Smoke and Ashes by Amitav Ghosh: Book Discussion
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center along with University of Michigan
See Details

Caitlyn Marentette, MIRS South Asian Studies graduate student, University of Michigan, will lead the discussion.

The World History Learning Community is open to all K-14 in-service teachers and community college faculty across the United States via Zoom. Expand your ability and confidence to teach world history! Connect with and learn from fellow educators and esteemed historians in a cohort setting; explore cutting-edge research and scholarship in the field of world history; receive free books. K-12 educators and community college faculty will receive a copy of Smoke and Ashes for free. To register: https://shorturl.at/ujyW2

7:30 pm Student Club Activity
Persian Table Club
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Persian Club
See Details

Join the Persian Club for conversation and a general board meeting.

Wednesday, February 5

1:00 pm Reading Group
Global Appalachia Reading Group Session 1
Location:
4217 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center along with The World History Center
See Details

The Global Appalachian Reading Group examines the complex intersections of regional identity, global influence, and environmental justice as they pertain to Appalachia and its connections to the wider world. The Spring 2025 theme is "Exploring Global Connections and Misconceptions in Appalachia and Beyond."

Session 1 Book: What You Are Getting Wrong about Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte.

Copies of the books will be available for those planning to attend the event. Please stop by the Global Studies Center (4100 Posvar Hall) to pick up your copy. If you need the books shipped, that can be arranged.

Note: We are able to fund and distribute books to registrants as funding allows. Registration will remain open after this amount is reached. Registrants will be notified if we are unable to provide them with the reading material.

4:30 pm Lecture Series / Brown Bag
Corporate Complicity and Human Rights Violations in Brazil's Dictatorship (1964-1985): Insights from Recent Amazon Research
Location:
4130 Posvar and Zoom
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies
7:00 pm Student Club Activity
Spanish Club Healthcare Situation in Pittsburgh
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Pitt Spanish Club
See Details

Join the Spanish Club and a guest speaker as they discuss the Latino healthcare situation in Pittsburgh.

Thursday, February 6

11:00 am Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 4 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center
See Details

Join Swahili instructor Fraja Ngogo on Thursdays at 11 am-12 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

12:00 pm Student Club Activity
Tavola Italiana
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Department of French & Italian
See Details

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch and chat with us! Pitt students only, all levels welcome!

1:00 pm Lecture
Kicking the Hydrocarbon Habit
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies and Global Studies Center
See Details

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently predicted that global average temperatures will rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels in the mid-2030s. Over the last decades, a global network of scholars, policy makers, activists, and others have organized to offer ways to mitigate and even reverse the effects of climate change. What offramps can these solutions and movements offer our collective humanity?

“Eurasian Environments” seeks to provide some reflections to mark the UN’s 2024 Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. This series will examine social justice and sustainability efforts to address climate change by putting scholars of Eurasia in conversation with their peers specializing on Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The series will comprise six events that will illuminate the challenges and possible solutions to climate change in Eurasia in regional and global contexts.

This event is part of the Eurasian Environments: Climate Justice and Sustainability in Global Context series.

2:30 pm Student Club Activity
Språkcafé (Swedish Conversation Club)
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swedish Speaking Club is a space for practicing Swedish and deepening cultural understanding alongside others who are learning.

Friday, February 7

11:00 am Panel Discussion
Bodies in Focus: Centering the Body in Pedagogy & Training
Location:
Zoom
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies
See Details

Moderated by Fran Bernstein, with speakers Linda Lapina and Nadiya Chushak.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm (EST) | 10:00 am - 11:30 am (CST) | 8:00 -9:30 am (PST)
This six-part virtual event series will examine body matters within Eurasia through a variety of disciplines and themes. The body-as-method has emerged recently to provide novel insights on society, culture, and identity by foregrounding alternatives to Western traditions that marginalized the corporeal dimensions of social and personal existence.

Why is the body good “to think with” on both intellectual and professional matters?
How do classed, diversely abled, gendered, and raced bodies interact in the daily lives we study or inhabit through our avocations?
What is the continuously evolving relationship between the body and the body politic, whether the nation, empire, the EU, or NATO?
Is research and teaching disembodying and can recentering “embodied and uncomfortable knowledge” therefore move liberation in East European and Eurasian Studies forward?
To address these questions, "Bodies in Focus" will have six virtual, recorded panels featuring speakers from various disciplines and institutions. Panelists and the audience will explore how bodies matter for the study and teaching of East European and Eurasian social and material environments, our understanding of power and equity, and for the cultivation of human capacities in our field.

For more information, visit https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/creees/content/bodies-focus

11:00 am Cultural Event
LCTL Language Coffee House 2025
Location:
William Pitt Union Assembly Room
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Take a break from studying and enjoy free drinks and snacks from around the world! Instructors and students from the Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center (LCTL) and Pitt's many language departments will teach you how to order in Swahili, German, Modern & Ancient Greek, Quechua, Hebrew, Irish, Chinese, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Polish, and many more of the nearly 30 languages offered at Pitt. Then, you can place your order at the Language Coffeehouse and enjoy free drinks and snacks from around the world.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Kya Baat Hai! Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Kya Baat Hai!
See Details

Join undergraduate Pitt students for a conversation hour to practice speaking in Hindi and Urdu and connect over shared cultural experiences.

Kya Baat Hai will meet weekly, on Fridays, during the 2024-2025 academic year, EXCEPT on March 7.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
AddVerse
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Addverse Poesia
See Details

Join Addverse, a transcultural, multilingual, and intergenerational poetry organization, for weekly meetings in the Global Hub.

Addverse will meet weekly, on Fridays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 24 and March 7.

Tuesday, February 11

2:00 pm Information Session
Financial Wellness Tabling
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub and Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs along with financial wellness
See Details

Stop by the Global Hub to learn more about financial wellness!

2:00 pm Information Session
Chats with Zharia
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Are you an international student at Pitt looking to connect, or interested in connecting with international students? Stop by the Nook in the Global Hub on Tuesdays, between 2 and 4 pm during Spring semester, to chat with OIS Outreach Coordinator Zharia White from the Office of International Services!

2:30 pm Information Session
Spring 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

5:00 pm Reading Group
Clube do Livro
Location:
4200 Posvar, CLAS
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies
5:00 pm Workshop
Spanish Mini Lessons
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies
See Details

2/4: Learn about Hispanic traditions and customs in Latin America and enjoy some delicious empanadas!

2/11: Learn how to order food in Spanish and some popular Hispanic dishes while enjoying some Hispanic food!

No previous knowledge of Spanish is required!

https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0oY0mCQjdXaJZ3M

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Wednesday, February 12

12:30 pm Lecture
Referral: Choreomusicology in Bulgarian Staged Folklore
Location:
Zoom
Announced by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies on behalf of American Institute for Southeast European Studies
See Details

Join AISEES for the first lecture of 2025!
Meeting ID: 836 1337 4056
Passcode: 229970

4:30 pm Student Club Activity
Bate-Papo Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
See Details

Bate-Papo Conversation Hour

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
German Club at Pitt
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with German Club
See Details

Join the German Club on Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice German speaking and listening skills.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

6:00 pm Lecture Series / Brown Bag
Asia Pop Vibha Shetiya
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center

Thursday, February 13

11:00 am Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 4 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 4 students: Join Swahili instructor Fraja Ngogo on Thursdays at 11 am-12 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

12:30 pm Conference
Exploring the Legacies of Authoritarianism in Latin America: Archival Research and Collective Memory
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Studies Center along with World History Center
See Details

Investigating the legacies of authoritarian regimes in Latin America often means confronting the silences embedded within official records, personal testimonies, and collective memory. In this panel, Latin American historians Samantha Quadrat, Lucia Grinberg, and Ludmila Catela da Silva will share their experiences researching archives and engaging with collective memory to examine the military dictatorships that shaped Brazil and Argentina from the 1960s to the 1980s.

2:30 pm Student Club Activity
Språkcafé (Swedish Conversation Club)
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swedish Speaking Club is a space for practicing Swedish and deepening cultural understanding alongside others who are learning.

4:00 pm Presentation
Mal Goode: A Celebration of His Life and Work
Location:
O’Hara Student Center
Sponsored by:
Center for Ethnic Studies Research along with Department of History, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Office for Equity, Diversity and and Inclusion
See Details

Celebrate the life and legacy of Mal Goode, a fierce local advocate for Pittsburgh’s Black community. He challenged the police, politicians, and segregation, while providing Black listeners a radio voice that captured their experience before Jackie Robinson dared ABC leadership to give him a chance on TV. Goode was uncompromising in his belief that network news needed Black voices and perspectives if it were to authentically reflect the nation’s complexities and speak to all Americans. His success at ABC initiated the slow integration of network news. Goode’s life and work were remarkable, and his struggles and achievements speak to larger issues of American life and the African American experience.
Dr. Wayne Dawkins, professor of multimedia journalism at Morgan State University, Professor Joe Trotter of Carnegie Mellon University and Brian Cook, Multimedia Journalist will speak. Grandchildren Randy Wilburn and Christee Goode Laster will add their reflections. Pitt history professors Liann Tsoukas and Rob Ruck, whose biography, Mal Goode Reporting: The Life and Work of a Black Broadcast Trailblazer, was recently published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, will contribute remarks.

Friday, February 14

9:00 am Cultural Event
Black History Celebration Program
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies
See Details

The Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh attended and presented to 187 high school students during Environmental Charter High School’s Black History Month Celebration, which was organized in collaboration with the student group Young, Gifted, and Black.

The Center’s presentation highlighted African languages, music, dance, and cultural traditions and promoted upcoming in-school workshops designed to integrate these elements into K-12 classrooms.

Outcomes:

Strong student engagement and enthusiasm, with many expressing interest in African cultures and future programs.

Multiple teachers and administrators requested follow-up information to schedule workshops.

Strengthened community connections, including with representatives from the City of Pittsburgh and local cultural organizations.

Reinforced the Center’s commitment to culturally responsive education and community outreach.

9:15 am Conference
Authoritarianism, Memory, and Human Rights in Latin America
Location:
Center for Urbane Education, 4th Floor Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Studies Center along with Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice
See Details

In 2024, Brazil marks the 60th anniversary of the military coup that initiated a 21-year dictatorship. This coup was part of a broader wave of military interventions across South America, leading to authoritarian regimes in Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. Although most of these regimes dissolved by the early 1990s, authoritarianism remains a significant element in Latin America’s political memory.

This conference brings together scholars from Latin America and the United States to examine the intersections of authoritarian governance, collective memory, and the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights across the region. Key topics include the role of political parties under authoritarian regimes, grassroots memory initiatives, transitional justice efforts, and the pressing challenge of strengthening democratic resilience in the face of resurgent authoritarianism.

9:15 Welcome remarks: Keila Grinberg, Lara Putnam, Sheila Velez-Martinez

9:30-11:30 am
Session 1: Memory, human rights and authoritarianism
Chair: Keila Grinberg (Pitt)
Samantha Quadrat (Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil)
Ludmila da Silva Catela (Universidade Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina)
Hugo Rojas (Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile)
Discussants: Laura Gotkowitz (Pitt) and Sheila Velez Martinez (Pitt)

lunch

1 -3 pm
Session 2: Politics under Authoritarian Regimes
Chair: Lara Putnam (Pitt)
Lucia Grinberg (Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil):
Roberto Simon (independent scholar)
Barbara Weinstein (New York University)
Discussants: José Cheibub (Pitt)

Coffee break

3:15 – 4:30 pm Keynote speaker: Dora Maria Telles (Harvard University): Authoritarianism, Once Again: Memories and Reflections
Discussant: Michel Gobat (Pitt)

4:30- 6 pm: Reception and book launch

10:30 am Information Session
Emerging Latino Communities Conversations
Location:
Room 1154, Public Health Building - 1030 De Soto St., 15261
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies along with Center for Health Equity
See Details

This Valentine's Day, show your support for our emerging Latino communities by learning more about their rights, available resources, and how you can help. Join us for a special meeting where we'll discuss ways to protect and empower our families, friends, and neighbors. Whether you're seeking information, offering support, or just want to connect with others who care, this is the perfect way to stand in solidarity and share the love.

Open to ALL students, faculty, staff, and community

We hope to get new practice, writing, and research collaborations underway!

Supported by the Center for Health Equity and the Center for Latin American Studies

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Kya Baat Hai! Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Kya Baat Hai!
See Details

Join undergraduate Pitt students for a conversation hour to practice speaking in Hindi and Urdu and connect over shared cultural experiences.

Kya Baat Hai will meet weekly, on Fridays, during the 2024-2025 academic year, EXCEPT on March 7.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 2 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 2 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Fridays at 4-5 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
AddVerse
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Addverse Poesia
See Details

Join Addverse, a transcultural, multilingual, and intergenerational poetry organization, for weekly meetings in the Global Hub.

Addverse will meet weekly, on Fridays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 24 and March 7.

Sunday, February 16

5:30 pm Student Club Activity
Ethiopian & Eritrean Association Auction for Brighter Generation
Location:
Tepper School of Business, Simmons Auditorium A at Carnegie Mellon University
Announced by:
Center for African Studies on behalf of Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Association
See Details

Join EESA for their exciting auction event, featuring traditional art, clothing, jewelry, and more! They are partnering with Brighter Generation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students in Ethiopia, which all proceeds from the auction will go towards.

Enjoy plenty of cultural snacks and finger foods, along with a jazz performance by students from EESA and other showcases of art and talent.

Reserve your ticket: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfesb3MJ9aUrTE5oDjb86T963hH7g3c...

Tuesday, February 18 until Tuesday, March 18

12:00 am Lecture
Meet the Ambassador! Nina Sajic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and European Union Center of Excellence along with Euramus + Programme of the European Union and VaEUs
See Details

Join us for a lunch and learn event with Nina Sajić.
Dr. Sajić served as the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to France, UNESCO, Algeria, Monaco, Andorra, and Romania. She was also a foreign policy advisor in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. She will be at Pitt to discuss her diplomatic experiences with students and the wider community.
Light lunch will be provided.

Tuesday, February 18

2:00 pm Information Session
Chats with Zharia
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub and Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs
See Details

Are you an international student at Pitt looking to connect, or interested in connecting with international students? Stop by the Nook in the Global Hub on Tuesdays, between 2 and 4 pm during Spring semester, to chat with OIS Outreach Coordinator Zharia White from the Office of International Services!

4:00 pm Information Session
Digital Portfolio Information Session
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center and Global Hub
See Details

Topics covered in this information session include how to creatively design and highlight curricular and co-curricular learning experiences in a professional manner. They will learn how to use Digication, how to add tabs, add photos, papers, research projects etc. and will consider what curricular and co-curricular experiences to include.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Wednesday, February 19

10:00 am Information Session
ISA/TEAN Drop-In Information Session
Location:
810 William Pitt Union
Sponsored by:
Global Experiences Office
See Details

Still searching for a summer global experience? Come by the Pitt Global Experiences Office between 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm on February 19th to speak with Zac and Nikki from WorldStrides about studying abroad with ISA and TEAN!

2:00 pm Lecture
Entangled Indigeneity on The Urban Margin: Three Stories About Amis' Lifeworld and Their Animal Kin in Contemporary Taiwan
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center
See Details

Dr. Yi-tze Lee will explore the cultural and environmental connections of the indigenous Amis people of Taiwan, focusing on their interactions with animal kin such as pigs, birds, and fish. Drawing from his research and recent publication
(Environmental Shift in the Entangled Anthropocene: Use of Birds in Amis Ritual Practices of Taiwan, UBC Press, 2024), this lecture delves into Amis rituals and ceremonies, their adaptation to modern environmental governance, and the broader implications for human-species relationships in an urbanized context.
The talk will feature three unique stories: The use of pigs in funerary rituals during COVID-19. The interplay of bird hunting for ceremonies and animal protection laws. Amis fishing strategies amidst changing river environments.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Yi-tze Lee earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. He is currently an Associate Professor at National Dong Hwa University in Taiwan, where he served as department chair from 2021–2024. His research focuses on indigenous revitalization, food sovereignty, ritual performance, and multispecies networks.
Dr. Lee’s work has been widely published, including contributions to Feathered Entanglements (UBC Press, 2024) and Environmental Teachings for the Anthropocene (2020).

4:30 pm Lecture Series / Brown Bag
Stories of Rubber Plantations: Orality, Gender, and Labor in the Acre and Purus River Basin (1912-1997)
Location:
4130 Posvar and Zoom
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies
4:30 pm Student Club Activity
Bate-Papo Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
See Details

Join us on Wednesdays in the Global Hub for casual Portuguese conversation!

Bate-Papo meet on Wednesdays, during Spring 2025, starting February 12 and ending April 16, EXCEPT on March 5.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
German Club at Pitt
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with German Club
See Details

Join the German Club on Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice German speaking and listening skills.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Thursday, February 20

11:00 am Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 4 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 4 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Thursdays at 11 am-12 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

12:00 pm Student Club Activity
Tavola Italiana
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Department of French & Italian
See Details

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch and chat with us! Pitt students only, all levels welcome! On February 20, students of Italian will meet to watch the Italian music festival San Remo.

2:30 pm Student Club Activity
Språkcafé (Swedish Conversation Club)
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swedish Speaking Club is a space for practicing Swedish and deepening cultural understanding alongside others who are learning.

4:00 pm Lecture
The Consecration of Mao in the Religious Economy of Socialist Tibet
Location:
246A Porter Hall, Carnegie Mellon University
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies along with World History Center and Department of History Carnegie Mellon
See Details

Was socialist China's fatal blow to the Tibetan theocracy in 1959 an atheist assault? Peng Hai examines how Chinese cinema justified the People's Liberation Army's dismantling of institutional Tibetan Buddhism. In the Chinese cultural war on religion, Mao and the People's Liberation Army surpassed the Dalai Lama, the pontiff of Tibetan Buddhism, and the old Lamaist establishment as the new icons of salvation and values.

5:30 pm Lecture
CANCELED The “DeepSeek Moment:” China and the Crisis of American Confidence with Kaiser Kuo
Location:
Baker Hall CMU Campus, A53
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center
See Details

China's recent achievements in artificial intelligence, exemplified by DeepSeek's breakthrough LLM, represent more than just technological advancement - they signal a fundamental shift in global innovation dynamics. While Chinese companies have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in areas from EVs to social media to AI, U.S. responses continue to follow a predictable pattern: disbelief, anger, accusations of theft, and blame. This recurring cycle reveals both China's evolved capacity for coordinated technological development and deep-seated American anxieties about what this means for U.S. technological primacy. Drawing on his extensive experience analyzing both societies, Sinica Podcast host Kaiser Kuo explores how China's innovation ecosystem has matured, why its successes continue to surprise Western observers, and what this tells us about the structural, cultural, and epistemic barriers to understanding China's technological transformation. The talk examines how China's rise has challenged core assumptions about the relationship between political systems and innovation, market economies and state guidance, and ultimately, about American exceptionalism itself — and whether it can accommodate China's own brand of exceptionalism.

6:30 pm Film
A Day Without a Mexican
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Ethnic Studies Research and Center for Latin American Studies along with Hispanic Latino Professional Association
See Details

Join us for a thought-provoking screening of A Day Without a Mexican, a satirical film imagining the sudden disappearance of Mexican immigrants in California. What would happen to the economy, society, and culture if this essential workforce vanished overnight?

The film explores how borders—whether physical, societal, or metaphorical—create divisions that impact labor, local economies, and community life. The film forces us to confront the human and societal costs of exclusion and reminds us of the vital role immigrant populations play in our everyday lives.

After the screening, join a discussion on the film’s themes and the complex ways borders divide us—beyond just lines on a map.

This will be an in-person event. Refreshments will be provided.

Sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), the Center for Ethnic Studies Research (CERS)and the Hispanic Latino Professional Association (HLPA) at the University of Pittsburgh.

This event is supported by CLAS OEDI Mini Grant.

9:00 pm Student Club Activity
Persian Table Club
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Persian Club
See Details

Join the Persian Club for a general board meeting.

Friday, February 21 until Saturday, February 22

(All day) Conference
25th Annual Undergraduate Model EU
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and European Union Center of Excellence along with Susquehanna University

Friday, February 21

11:00 am Panel Discussion
Bodies in Focus: Body Matters s& Liberation in East European and Eurasian Studies
Location:
Zoom
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies
See Details

Moderated by Sarah Phillips, with speakers Bolaji Balogun, Cassandra Hartblay, Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon, and Daria Krivonos.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm (EST) | 10:00 am - 11:30 am (CST) | 8:00 -9:30 am (PST)
This six-part virtual event series will examine body matters within Eurasia through a variety of disciplines and themes. The body-as-method has emerged recently to provide novel insights on society, culture, and identity by foregrounding alternatives to Western traditions that marginalized the corporeal dimensions of social and personal existence.

Why is the body good “to think with” on both intellectual and professional matters?
How do classed, diversely abled, gendered, and raced bodies interact in the daily lives we study or inhabit through our avocations?
What is the continuously evolving relationship between the body and the body politic, whether the nation, empire, the EU, or NATO?
Is research and teaching disembodying and can recentering “embodied and uncomfortable knowledge” therefore move liberation in East European and Eurasian Studies forward?
To address these questions, "Bodies in Focus" will have six virtual, recorded panels featuring speakers from various disciplines and institutions. Panelists and the audience will explore how bodies matter for the study and teaching of East European and Eurasian social and material environments, our understanding of power and equity, and for the cultivation of human capacities in our field.

For more information, visit this site https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/creees/content/bodies-focus

12:00 pm Presentation
CANCELED China’s “Second Generation Ethnic Policies” in Historical and Comparative Contexts
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center
See Details

A weekly podcast about current affairs in China, hosted by Kaiser Kuo and featuring in-depth conversations about books, ideas, new research, intellectual currents, and cultural trends that can help us better understand what’s happening in China. A conversation between Sinica Podcast host and co-founder Kaiser Kuo and Professor Benno Weiner.

Kaiser Kuo is the host and co-founder of the Sinica Podcast, a weekly discussion of current affairs in China that has run since April 2010 — for its first six years from Beijing, and since 2016 from the U.S. as part of SupChina. The show features in-depth conversations with scholars, journalists, diplomats, analysts, and others who work to better understand China in all its complexity.

Benno Weiner is Associate Professor of History at Carnegie Mellon University where he specializes in the ethnopolitics of twentieth-century state and nation making along China’s ethnocultural borderlands. He is the author of The Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier and co-editor of Conflicting Memories: Tibetan History under Mao Retold.

1:30 pm Cultural Event
East European Embroidery Workshop
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies and Global Hub along with Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
See Details

Join Pitt Russian to learn about Eastern European craft of embroidery, where you will also get to choose a design and craft your own piece.

1:30 pm Workshop
Eastern European Embroidery Workshop
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies and Global Hub along with Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and Carnegie Mellon Russian Studies Program
See Details

Join us to learn about Eastern European craft of embroidery, where you will also get to choose a design and craft your own piece! Come to unwind after a busy week adn let your creativity run wild. No skills or materials necessary.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Kya Baat Hai! Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Kya Baat Hai!
See Details

Join undergraduate Pitt students for a conversation hour to practice speaking in Hindi and Urdu and connect over shared cultural experiences.

Kya Baat Hai will meet weekly, on Fridays, during the 2024-2025 academic year, EXCEPT on March 7.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 2 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 2 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Fridays at 4-5 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
AddVerse
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Addverse Poesia
See Details

Join Addverse, a transcultural, multilingual, and intergenerational poetry organization, for weekly meetings in the Global Hub.

Addverse will meet weekly, on Fridays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 24 and March 7.

Saturday, February 22

1:00 pm Student Club Activity
Vietnamese Student Association Food Workshop
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Vietnamese Student Association
See Details

Join VSA for a showcase of Vietnamese culture through lesser known Vietnamese foods.

Monday, February 24

12:30 pm Lecture
History of Senegambian Fulbe Itinerant Clerics, c. 1803-1940s
Location:
History Lounge, Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Director's Office along with Department of History, Africana Studies Department and Department of Political Science
See Details

Join us for an upcoming lectures with special guest Dr. Assan Sarr!

Dr. Assan Sarr is an Associate Professor of African History and the Interim Director for the African Studies Program at Ohio University. His research focuses on land, agrarian change, and religion (particularly Islam) in West Africa’s Senegambia region.

6:30 pm Film
Soldiers of Song
Location:
Frick Fine Arts Auditorium
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies and European Studies Center along with Graduate Organization for the Study of Europe and Central Asia
See Details

February 24, 2025 marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Join us for the screening of Soldiers of Song (dir. Ryan Smith). Officially selected at the Tribeca and Warsaw film festivals, this independent documentary film features Ukraine's most iconic musicians as they inspire unity and courage amidst the chaos of war. Matthew Hickey (President, GOSECA), Dean Adriana Helbig (Department of Music), and director Ryan Smith will discuss.

Tuesday, February 25

10:30 am Lecture
African Studies in the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges
Location:
4318 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Director's Office along with Department of History, Africana Studies Department and Department of Political Science
See Details

Join us for an upcoming lectures with special guest Dr. Assan Sarr!

Dr. Assan Sarr is an Associate Professor of African History and the Interim Director for the African Studies Program at Ohio University. His research focuses on land, agrarian change, and religion (particularly Islam) in West Africa’s Senegambia region.

2:00 pm Information Session
Financial Wellness Tabling
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with financial wellness
See Details

Stop by the Global Hub to learn more about financial wellness!

2:30 pm Information Session
Spring 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
See Details

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Wednesday, February 26

12:00 pm Panel Discussion
Slavery, Museums, and Public Engagement
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, European Studies Center and Global Studies Center
See Details

Keila Grinberg, History Professor and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh (Moderator)

Johanna Obenda, Researcher and Exhibit Development Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Kilolo Luckett, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Alma | Lewis

Jason Hank, Grade 7-12 Educator, Beaver Area High School

More information on "In Slavery's Wake": https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/in-slaverys-wake

1:00 pm Reading Group
Global Appalachia Reading Group: Session 2
Location:
4217 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center along with World History Center
See Details

The Global Appalachian Reading Group examines the complex intersections of regional identity, global influence, and environmental justice as they pertain to Appalachia and its connections to the wider world. The Spring 2025 theme is "Exploring Global Connections and Misconceptions in Appalachia and Beyond."

Session 2 Book: Big Coal: Australia's Dirtiest Habit by Guy Pearse, David McKnight, and Bob Burton

Copies of the books will be available for those planning to attend the event. Please stop by the Global Studies Center (4100 Posvar Hall) to pick up your copy. If you need the books shipped, that can be arranged.

Note: We are able to fund and distribute books to registrants as funding allows. Registration will remain open after this amount is reached. Registrants will be notified if we are unable to provide them with the reading material.

2:30 pm Lecture
From Durban to Dar es Salaam: Black Radicalism, Decolonization, and Racial Capitalism
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Director's Office along with Department of History, Africana Studies Department and Department of Political Science
See Details

Join us for an upcoming lecture with special guest Dr. Yousuf Al-Bulushi!

Dr. Yousuf Al-Bulushi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Global & International Studies at the University of California, Irvine. His research engages questions of political geography, racial capitalism, political theory, and social movements in Africa.

4:30 pm Student Club Activity
Bate-Papo Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
See Details

Join us on Wednesdays in the Global Hub for casual Portuguese conversation!

Bate-Papo meet on Wednesdays, during Spring 2025, starting February 12 and ending April 16, EXCEPT on March 5.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
German Club at Pitt
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with German Club
See Details

Join the German Club on Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice German speaking and listening skills.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
See Details

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

6:00 pm Lecture Series / Brown Bag
Asia Pop Hyejung Ju
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center
See Details

Squid Game’s phenomenal success calls attention to the local specificity of Netflix’s global expansion as it commissions original K-dramas. This practice has rich implications, both positive and negative, for Netflix’s production and distribution of Korean content. K-dramas classified as Netflix Originals have been riding its international market power to a wide range of transnational audiences, enabling national television creators to reimagine cultural spheres for both production and distribution that transgress the uneven circuit of transnational media. At the same time, the deterritorialisation of Netflix’s K-dramas raises concerns about its deep interpenetration of the Korean TV industry.

As a teacher-scholar, Dr. Ju believes that mass media lies in the multifaceted cutting-edge research field with inherent dimensional complexity as functioning as a social, economical, and cultural institution. Through teaching and mentoring students in mass communication, Dr. Ju strives to convey the body of knowledge about media and culture for individuals, society, communities, and the global society. Therefore she hopes that students can engage better in dynamic forms of media and communication practices to their day-to-day life.

Thursday, February 27

11:00 am Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 4 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 4 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Thursdays at 11 am-12 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

12:30 pm Lecture
African Studies: Shifting the Geography of Reason
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Director's Office along with Department of History, Africana Studies Department and Department of Political Science
See Details

Join us for an upcoming lecture with special guest Dr. Yousuf Al-Bulushi!

Dr. Yousuf Al-Bulushi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Global & International Studies at the University of California, Irvine. His research engages questions of political geography, racial capitalism, political theory, and social movements in Africa.

2:30 pm Student Club Activity
Språkcafé (Swedish Conversation Club)
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swedish Speaking Club is a space for practicing Swedish and deepening cultural understanding alongside others who are learning.

9:00 pm Student Club Activity
Persian Table Club
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Persian Club
See Details

Join the Persian Club for a general board meeting.

Friday, February 28 until Saturday, March 1

9:00 am Conference
Navigating Global Challenges: Eurasian Innovation and Local Solutions
Location:
TBD
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies along with The Graduate Organization for the Study of Europe and Central Asia
See Details

Join the Graduate Organisation for the Study of Europe and Central Asia for their 22nd Graduate Student Conference

Friday, February 28

3:00 pm Lecture
Empire of Collectibles: Manchuko Local Color Art and Imperial Networks
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center
See Details

Gina Kim is a Postdoctoral Associate in Japanese Studies, specializing in Trans-Asian art history and visual culture, with a primary research focus on Manchukuo.

Manchukuo (1932–1945), despite its short existence in northeast China during Japan’s imperial expansion, serves as a pivotal historical space for understanding trans-Asian experiences and discourses. This talk explores the art and cultural networks of Japanese settlers in Dalian, highlighting how they negotiated and redefined settler identities while cultivating a distinctive modernity. Through observing, producing, and collecting the cultural expressions of ethnic others—ranging from coolies to folk objects and toys—these settlers crafted unique narratives of identity and belonging.​

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Kya Baat Hai! Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub along with Kya Baat Hai!
See Details

Join undergraduate Pitt students for a conversation hour to practice speaking in Hindi and Urdu and connect over shared cultural experiences.

Kya Baat Hai will meet weekly, on Fridays, during the 2024-2025 academic year, EXCEPT on March 7.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 2 Conversational Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less Commonly Taught Languages Center
See Details

Swahili Level 2 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Fridays at 4-5 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

5:00 pm Lecture
Keynote Address: Innovative Digitisation in the Kyrgyz Republic: Advancing Growth, Democratisation, and Connectivity
Location:
104 David Lawrence Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies along with The Graduate Organization for the Study of Europe and Central Asia
See Details

Join Danica R. Starks to explore how private sector investment in digital infrastructure has supported economic development and democratization in Kyrgyztan, particularly in rural areas of this country. Her case study will provide valuable insights into the intersection of technology, governance, and regional resilience in Central Asia.

Danica R. Starks is Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs while she also serves in the roles of Senior U.S. Commercial Liaison and Advisor to the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank and Head of the Commerce Department’s Multilateral Development Bank Group. Danica has over twenty years of experience in international economic policy, commercial diplomacy, trade, and national security, with a specialization in Europe and Eurasia. Most recently Danica served as the Director of the Policy Team at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia. She has also previously done assignments as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Helsinki Commission and to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets.