The Global Appalachian Reading Group for Spring 2026 examines the complex intersections of regional identity, connectedness and disconnectedness to lived spaces, and environmental justice as they pertain to Appalachia and its connections to the wider world. Through thoughtful engagement with The Appalachian Trail by Philip D'Anieri, No Last Place to Rest by Dineo Skosana, and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, participants will explore the spaces that comprise and define Appalachia, reflect on the theme of dispossession within the context of Appalachia, and discuss global climate change through displaced species that find a home in Appalachia. This reading group invites participants to connect local narratives with global contexts, fostering deeper understanding and critical conversations about place, space, identity, sustainability, and the future of Appalachian communities.

The series theme is Spaces. Participation in all three events in the series is not required but encouraged. All events will take place from (please see dates below) 1:30-3:00pm (EST) in 4217 Posvar Hall. Copies of the books will be available in the Global Studies Center for local registrants to pick up. Please contact Veronica Dristas at dristas@pitt.edu with questions.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.

Pitt students: Join Kya Baat Hai, a Hindi-Urdu conversational club that practices language and celebrates South Asian culture, for weekly conversation hours!

Join Hindi instructor Vibha Shetiya from the Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center to discuss Hindi language books.

Hosted by the Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center

Join Brazil Nuts in the Global Hub for weekly Bate-Papo Conversation Hours to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo Conversation Hours are every Monday during Spring semester, starting January 26 and ending April 20.

Hosted by Brazil Nuts

UPDATE: Bate-Papo's meeting on January 26 has been postponed due to weather.

Join the German Club for weekly meetings on Mondays in the Global Hub to practice German and share about German culture! 

Hosted by the German Club

Join us for our weekly Global Distinction Drop-In Hours on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm in the Global Hub! Come learn how to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market, get the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receive special recognition at graduation, and stand out to prospective employers.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Join the Arabic Club in the Global Hub every other Wednesday during Spring semester, starting January 28, to practice Arabic language, structured by varying geographic dialects and level of speaker proficiency!

Hosted by the Arabic Club

Stop by the Global Hub to see Master's students in Professor Sera Linardi's PIA 2096 capstone course demo what they are learning this semester as they explore challenges and possibilities of waste management in our county.

Hosted by the School of Public and International Affairs

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.

Pitt students: Join Kya Baat Hai, a Hindi-Urdu conversational club that practices language and celebrates South Asian culture, for weekly conversation hours!

The Model African Union (MAU) offers high school students an exceptional opportunity to develop critical 21st-century skills through experiential learning. In this interactive simulation, students represent African countries and engage with real issues facing the continent. Unlike traditional debate formats, MAU emphasizes diplomacy and consensus-building, preparing students for collaborative problem-solving in our interconnected world.

Want to get involved? Volunteer with us!

Event information
April 10, 2026
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location
The Frick Art Museum and the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
Cost:
$35 Member
$45 Adult
$45 Senior (65+)
$20 Youth (3-17)
$20 College Student (w/ ID)

Members of The Frick Societies receive complimentary admission
Description:
Co-presented by The Frick Pittsburgh and the Nationality and Heritage Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh, this special program studies immigration, culture and labor in Pittsburgh through time. Beginning with a visit to the Nationality and Heritage Rooms, classrooms gifted from the ethnic communities who helped build Pittsburgh, and ending with a tour of the Lewis Hine Pictures America exhibition, this program will take attendees back in time to discuss the rich cultural fabric of Pittsburgh.

Advanced registration and pre-payment required. Program begins at University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning; participants are responsible for their own transportation. Click here to find additional information including directions and parking at the University of Pittsburgh.

This event is also being offered on March 28 and May 14.

https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/Event-Guided-Tours-of-the-Nationality...

Join Brazil Nuts in the Global Hub for weekly Bate-Papo Conversation Hours to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo Conversation Hours are every Monday during Spring semester, starting January 26 and ending April 20.

Hosted by Brazil Nuts

UPDATE: Bate-Papo's meeting on January 26 has been postponed due to weather.

Join the German Club for weekly meetings on Mondays in the Global Hub to practice German and share about German culture! 

Hosted by the German Club

Join us for our weekly Global Distinction Drop-In Hours on Tuesdays from 3-4 pm in the Global Hub! Come learn how to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market, get the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receive special recognition at graduation, and stand out to prospective employers.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Theme: The Pulse of Hope: Power and Praxis · El Pulso de la Esperanza: Poder y Praxis · O Pulso da Esperança: Poder e Práxis

A celebration of how we thrive. How do we keep lifting each other higher? How do we honor our heritage while growing into the future? How do we show up for one another in ways that keep our communities vibrant, connected, and full of life? The answer is already unfolding all around us — in classrooms and cultural centers, in art studios and town halls, in the everyday acts of care, creativity, and connection woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods. LatinxConnect 2026 is where we come together to celebrate, amplify, and learn from all of it.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.

Join us for our next Critical Research on Africa talk:

"In Situ Marginalization: The Urban Wetland-Livelihood (Dis)assemblage in Coastal Ghana"
by Seth Asare Okyere, Urban Studies Teaching Assistant Professor

Thursday, April 16
1:00 to 2:30 PM
5603 Posvar Hall & Zoom

In this talk, Dr. Okyere examines how wetland management policy plays out in rapidly urbanizing Ghana, where land has become a fiercely contested resource. Drawing on rich fieldwork from the Sakumono wetland site, he explores how regulations are selectively enforced to protect the interests of powerful elites while quietly marginalizing local communities in place. Through the lens of assemblage thinking, the talk reframes urban wetlands as vital spaces of survival, knowledge, and ecological justice. We hope to see you there!

Register for Zoom link: https://pitt.zoom.us/meeting/register/2flyLVwASLGvZjWk33rCMw#/registration

Read more about our Critical Research on Africa talk: https://www.global.pitt.edu/cas/events/critical-research-africa-series

Supported by Pitt School of Education

Pitt students: Join Kya Baat Hai, a Hindi-Urdu conversational club that practices language and celebrates South Asian culture, for weekly conversation hours!

As part of the State of International Legal Order Roundtable Discussion:

An important conversation about the state of multilateralism in international affairs and conflict resolution.

Why does "Never Again" keep failing? On the 75th anniversary of the Genocide Convention and the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect, this roundtable asks why the world still struggles to stop mass atrocities. From Rwanda and Darfur to Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, we invite you to consider why global commitments have repeatedly failed—and what can be done about it.

When the World Must Act: Why Multilateralism Matters in Preventing Genocide is a public panel discussion exploring the evolution, challenges, and future of multilateral cooperation in international affairs and conflict prevention.

Speakers:
Mikhail Minakov, DAAD Guest Professor, European University Viadrina
Jonathan Hafetz, Seton Hall University
Ruth Mostern, University of Pittsburgh

During this semester, 10 University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students served as virtual mentors to 11 students in Myanmar participating in the Stars Do Shine program. Stars Do Shine is a Burmese organization that prepares students to take online high school equivalency exams so they can apply to college.

As part of the mentorship, Pitt and Stars Do Shine students collaboratively produced a documentary that will be showing in the Global Hub on April 17.The documentary examines the collapse of education in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. Using local interviews, the documentary highlights educational challenges faced by students in four communities: an urban town in Myanmar, a rural area in Myanmar, an active conflict zone, and a refugee community along the Thai border.

The Stars Do Shine students will be joining remotely, and the Pitt mentors will be on hand to answer questions. Pizza and drinks will be served and OCC and Global Distinction credits will be available.

Mikhail Minakov is a political philosopher whose research focuses on political systems, historical consciousness, and democratic transformation in post‑Soviet and global contexts. He is currently a DAAD Guest Professor at the European University Viadrina and Editor‑in‑Chief of Ideology and Politics. From 2017 to 2025, Minakovserved as Senior Advisor and Principal Investigator on Ukraine at the Kennan Institute. His scholarship and policy work examine how international norms, multilateral institutions, and political ideologies shape state behavior during crises. Minakov brings a comparative and philosophical perspective to questions of why global commitments to prevent mass atrocities repeatedly falter in practice.

This mini-course will explore the major forces shaping the global landscape over the next half-century including the role of a rising China, equipping participants with the tools to critically analyze and teach about transformative global trends. Through a multi-disciplinary lens, the weekend course examines how emerging technologies, demographic transitions, shifting economies, and global health and environmental challenges intersect to redefine power, security, and opportunity worldwide. This mini course will not attempt to predict how the future will unfold but will highlight some of the important issues of today that will transform the world on the global, regional, national, and local levels over the next fifty years.

In honor of Swiss Albert Gallatin and his important role in the founding generation of the USA, and the 100th anniversary of the NRIEP, the Swiss Nationality Room Committee and the NRIEP are pleased to present famed biographer Greg May, the leading biographer of Albert Gallatin, Saturday April 18, 2026 at 5pm in CL 332 at 5pm. Emigrating to the US at age 20, Albert Gallatin set up local western Pennsylvania roots near Uniontown, PA with his Friendship Hill estate and became a PA Congressman and Senator, was the first Ways and Means Committee Chairman, and served as Secretary of the Treasury under Jefferson that shepherded the Louisiana Purchase to completion. Gallatin funded the Lewis and Clark expedition and the National Road, serving under multiple presidents. He helped end the War of 1812 on the negotiation team and was ambassador to both France and England. Later in life, Gallatin founded the First National Bank of New York and NYU and became the leading ethnologist of the Native-American tribes.

With the topic of our growing national debt taking renewed interest in the current political climate, it is worthwhile to examine Gallatin's urgent message to run the new national government with frugality-not incurring huge debt, as his rival Alexander Hamilton wished. Greg May's talk will focus on this philosophical and financial debate of those times and will include many anecdotes of other aspects of this 'Swiss Founding Father's' life.

Greg May will be available to sell and sign his Gallatin book at the reception to follow in the Croghan-Schenley Room at 6pm. Gallatin re-enactor Ron Duquette will also be present in attendance at the event!

The Swiss Nationality Room Committee and the NRIEP feel this presentation will appeal greatly to: history profs and students, business and finance profs and students, French and German language majors, and all who have a sincere interest in the Founding Generation and unfolding of the American experiment between 1790 and 1840.

Speaker bio:
Gregory May is a historian who writes about the early American republic. He graduated from the College of William and Mary and the Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

After serving as a law clerk for Justice Lewis Powell on the United States Supreme Court, he practiced law in Washington, DC, and New York for over thirty years.

He is the author of Jefferson’s Treasure: How Albert Gallatin Saved the New Nation from Debt and A Madman’s Will: John Randolph, Four Hundred Slaves, and the Mirage of Freedom. He is now completing a book about the legacy of slavery that George Washington left to his heirs.

The underwater world, the forest with the Tree of Violence growing in its centre, revived monuments, bouquets of generations—these and other symbols of the post-Soviet space appear in Victoria Lomasko’smonumental works. Lomasko became internationally recognised as a graphic journalist telling stories about socially vulnerable groups and protests. Gradually, images from reality began to transform into poetic symbols and to change scale: from sketchbook pages to multi-meter murals and panels.

The pandemic, participation in the Belarusian revolution, the war in Ukraine, and emigration made this transformation irreversible—Lomasko believes that in times of historical change, artists must speak not about particular issues, as journalists do, but about a global process, as a visionary. Studying reality with a pencil in hand, participating in historical events, and transforming the knowledge gathered into symbols of one's time—this is a process many 20th-century artists used. Through their works and her own, Lomasko will show the logic of the changing artist’s role.

A century ago, the Russian Nationality Room was envisioned and designed by Andrey Avinoff — one of Pittsburgh’s most influential intellectual, cultural, and artistic figures of the early twentieth century. As Director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History from 1926 to 1945, Avinoff stood at the center of the city’s cultural life, bringing together science and art through his work as both an entomologist and an artist.

As we celebrate the centennial of the Nationality Rooms at Pitt, this historic space continues its mission as a living site of cultural dialogue.

On April 20, we welcome Victoria Lomasko, a prominent Russian artist and graphic journalist living in exile, whose work documents protest movements, marginalized communities, and everyday life across the post-Soviet space.

Through the pop-up exhibition Sketching Protest: The Art of Victoria Lomasko, curated and annotated by students in SLAV 1400, and her public lecture, Lomasko will share how art becomes a powerful form of political expression and resistance.

Bringing Lomasko’s artistic activism into the Russian Nationality Room creates a powerful historical continuity — linking Avinoff’s vision of art as a cultural force with contemporary practices of visual protest and testimony.

This event invites the Pitt community to reflect on the enduring role of art in shaping public discourse across generations.

The underwater world, the forest with the Tree of Violence growing in its centre, revived monuments, bouquets of generations—these and other symbols of the post-Soviet space appear in Victoria Lomasko’s monumental works. Lomasko became internationally recognized as a graphic journalist telling stories about socially vulnerable groups and protests. Gradually, images from reality began to transform into poetic symbols and to change scale: from sketchbook pages to multi-meter murals and panels.

The pandemic, participation in the Belarusian revolution, the war in Ukraine, and emigration made this transformation irreversible—Lomasko believes that in times of historical change, artists must speak not about particular issues, as journalists do, but about a global process, as a visionary. Studying reality with a pencil in hand, participating in historical events, and transforming the knowledge gathered into symbols of one's time—this is a process many 20th-century artists used. Through their works and her own, Lomasko will show the logic of the changing artist’s role.

Join Hindi instructor Vibha Shetiya from the Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center to discuss Hindi language books.

Hosted by the Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center

Join the Political Science Department as students in Dr. Yuyang Pu's Chinese Politics (PS 1332) course present their research posters on topics related to Chinese politics.

Join Brazil Nuts in the Global Hub for weekly Bate-Papo Conversation Hours to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo Conversation Hours are every Monday during Spring semester, starting January 26 and ending April 20.

Hosted by Brazil Nuts

UPDATE: Bate-Papo's meeting on January 26 has been postponed due to weather.

Join the German Club for weekly meetings on Mondays in the Global Hub to practice German and share about German culture! 

Hosted by the German Club

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Stop by the Global Hub to see students in the School for Public and International Affairs' Policy and Social Impact Fellows Program showcase the community-engaged projects they have completed this year with local organizations.

The Policy and Social Impact Fellows Program is a co-curricular experience designed exclusively for undergraduate students who have a passion for public policy, community engagement, and social justice, regardless of their major. It empowers students to make a meaningful impact by equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experiences. During the year, students immerse themselves in a hands-on experience that allows them to apply their knowledge and skills to address real community and organizational needs.

Hosted by the School of Public and International Affairs

Join the Political Science Department as students in Dr. Yuyang Pu's Chinese Politics (PS 1332) course present their research posters on topics related to Chinese politics.

Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

Hosted by the French Club

Join the Arabic Club in the Global Hub every other Wednesday during Spring semester, starting January 28, to practice Arabic language, structured by varying geographic dialects and level of speaker proficiency!

Hosted by the Arabic Club

Join the Arabic Club in the Global Hub every other Wednesday during Spring semester, starting January 28, to practice Arabic language, structured by varying geographic dialects and level of speaker proficiency!

Hosted by the Arabic Club

Mangia con noi! Bring your lunch to the Global Hub every Thursday to chat with the Department of French and Italian and practice Italian!

Tavola Italiana will meet every Thursday during Spring semester, from January 15 to April 23, EXCEPT on January 29, February 5, February 12, and March 12.

Hosted by the Department of French and Italian

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.

This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through literature. This year, we will explore the theme of “The U.S. in the World.” Through global and regional perspectives, we will discuss narratives of a “Global United States,” where the U.S. role in the world and its relationship with other countries and regions is informed by transnational narratives and dialogues shaped by global trends such as migration, environmental issues, human rights, and human conditions. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of this theme, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics.

Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with historically contextualized presentations, interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation.

The April 23, 2026 workshop will focus on the book, "Grenade," by Alan Gratz.

Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (ET). Three Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book are provided for each session.

For more information and to register, please go to: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/GILS .

Pitt students: Join Kya Baat Hai, a Hindi-Urdu conversational club that practices language and celebrates South Asian culture, for weekly conversation hours!

Join the Center for African Studies on Thursdays to practice conversational Swahili in a social environment.