Category: Featured News
Climate change, environmental diplomacy require coalition-building, say senior diplomats
March 22, 2024UNC-Chapel Hill hosts annual forum with the American Academy of Diplomacy Carolina students understand the urgency of climate change. During the most recent Diplomatic Discussion on Feb. 27, they heard directly from former senior government officials on how to use diplomacy to address environmental challenges. But what is environmental diplomacy? What are the specific skills and tools diplomats use to approach this enormous global challenge? The officials answered these questions at the Joseph J. Sisco Memorial Forum, an annual event presented by the American Academy of Diplomacy (AAD). This year’s forum included three panelists — Robert O. Blake, Jr., Alonzo … Read more
Carolina Global Photography Exhibition opens in FedEx Global Education Center
March 18, 2024Finalists revealed at reception, on display through spring semester On Thursday, Feb. 15, the mood in the FedEx Global Education Center was lively, celebratory, even inspired. That evening, students, faculty, staff, alumni and families gathered for the opening of the 2024 Carolina Global Photography Exhibition. During her brief remarks, Carolina’s Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson recognized 10 different photographers and described the key themes that emerged from this year’s collection. “Culture persists when its caretakers preserve it,” she said. “This exhibition showcases the importance of the preservation and resilience of culture, nature and humanity.” … Read more
Carolina joins Japan-led global education initiative
March 14, 2024Five-year project stimulates U.S.-Japan partnerships, exchange Carolina’s Associate Provost for Global Affairs Heather Ward returned to Japan in January 2024, weeks after a UNC delegation’s groundbreaking visit there. While in Japan, she helped launch a five-year initiative, which aims to strengthen ties between U.S. and Japanese universities. UNC-Chapel Hill is a named partner in the 2023-2028 Inter-University Exchange Project (IUEP), funded by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). For this funding cycle, MEXT has supported the creation of the Japan-hub for Innovative Global Education (JIGE), which is co-led by Chiba, Kansai and Tohoku Universities in Japan. … Read more
Carolina welcomes new diplomat in residence
February 16, 2024Stephanie Hutchison shares her passion for public service, foreign affairs with UNC students With more than 17 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Stephanie Hutchison recently became the diplomat in residence for the mid-Atlantic region. She serves Virginia and North Carolina, and she maintains an office in the FedEx Global Education Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her assignment lasts for two years and may be extended to three. The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs is pleased to welcome Hutchison to Carolina. Diplomats in residence are career foreign service officers posted at universities … Read more
UNC earns “Top Producing Institution” distinction for Fulbright
February 13, 2024U.S. State Department honors UNC for second consecutive year The U.S. Department of State has again honored the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students for the academic year 2023-2024. “[This designation] clearly demonstrates your dedication to promoting global engagement and mutual understanding among the peoples and nations of the world,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a letter to Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts in January. The Top Producing Institution designation recognizes institutions for having the highest number of accepted applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. For … Read more
UNC’s Diplomacy Initiative hosts live recording of prominent podcast
February 9, 2024Brussels Sprouts co-hosts discuss upcoming Russian presidential election On Wednesday, Jan. 31, before the start of the latest Diplomatic Discussion, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer Barbara Stephenson welcomed Carolina students and faculty and said, “We’re doing something different tonight, and I’m excited about it.” The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs has organized several Diplomatic Discussions on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the recent visit from Estonia’s ambassador to the U.S. Kristjan Prikk. And the latest event furthered this conversation in a format entirely new to the Diplomacy Initiative: a live podcast … Read more
At the Forefront: Ambassador Prikk explains Estonia’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine
February 8, 2024Aggression as a tool of statecraft cannot be rewarded in the 21st century, Kristjan Prikk, the ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Estonia, said during a Diplomatic Discussion on Thursday, Jan. 25 in Mandela Auditorium. “This is not just about Ukraine,” Prikk said. “We know that this is about whether the next aggressions will even happen, or whether the message to current and would-be aggressors is, ‘Don’t you even think about it.’” Prikk speaks during his Diplomatic Discussion. (Photo by Walker Winslow Stephenson) Prikk’s speech was the first Diplomatic Discussion of the spring semester. It was co-hosted … Read more
UNC delegation completes unprecedented visit with American, Japanese leaders
January 16, 2024Carolina, Japan strengthen relationships, prepare to tackle challenges The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Japan have fostered a meaningful relationship for more than a century. In 1893, Shinzaburo Mogi of Tokyo arrived at Carolina as UNC’s first international student. In 1951, after the atomic bomb damaged the library at Hiroshima University six years prior, UNC sent books to replenish its inventory. In 1952, the first cohort of Japanese Fulbright scholars reached the U.S., and some of those students attended UNC. In 2011, Hiroshima University presented UNC with four roof tiles that survived the atomic bomb as an … Read more
Global Heel: Kat Goodpaster
January 12, 2024Passion for Russian language propels the academic, professional journey of UNC’s Russian Flagship Program Assistant Director From Global Scholar to assistant director of the Russian Flagship Program, Kat Goodpaster has prioritized pursuing a global education and helping others navigate the intricate web of international learning. Growing up, Goodpaster’s family found joy in learning new languages and expanding their global knowledge, a foundation that would lead Kat to excel in her future career path. “We have a large multiethnic family so language learning is something that we take very seriously,” said Kat’s father, Jeremiah Goodpaster. “With it comes a deeper understanding … Read more
Carolina Asia Center trains Fort Liberty soldiers
January 8, 2024UNC faculty provide meaningful expertise to soldiers in Asian language, culture, history The Carolina Asia Center (CAC) is sharing UNC’s expertise on East, Southeast and South Asia with students on campus in Chapel Hill and with the U.S. military. As one of six area studies centers at Carolina recognized as a National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education, the CAC is tasked with outreach that makes deep knowledge on Asia accessible for various audiences beyond campus. One aspect of this work has been providing training and education opportunities for soldiers from Fort Liberty, one of the world’s largest … Read more