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The Russia-Ukraine Conflict
January 22, 2022As tensions rise, a Carolina expert explains the global importance of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, why the U.S. is involved and how the situation may play out. If Russia invades Ukraine, it will be “the most consequential thing that has happened in the world since World War II,” President Biden has said. What brought the two countries to this critical point? Why is Ukraine important to global politics? What can be done to avoid war? The Well turned to Graeme Robertson, a UNC-Chapel Hill professor of political science, for background on the countries’ relationship since Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after … Read more
The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs Announces Inaugural Faculty Awards for Global Excellence
October 28, 2021The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs (OVPGA) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announces the inaugural Faculty Awards for Global Excellence, recognizing Carolina faculty members whose contributions advance the University’s global vision, articulated in the 2020 strategic plan Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good. Up to three awards will be presented annually to faculty demonstrating achievements in any combination of the Carolina Next 7.0: Globalize three strategic objectives: Global Partnership | Strengthens global partnerships and brings the world to Carolina Global Education | Expands the menu of global education opportunities for all Carolina students; diversifies and strengthens global learning … Read more
NC Artists of Latin American Heritage Reflect on Identity, Diversity in ‘Being and Belonging’ Opening
October 14, 2021Thirteen North Carolina artists of Latin American heritage discussed themes of belonging, equity and climate at the Oct. 5 opening celebration of the art exhibition Being and Belonging: Perspectives in North Carolina in the Florence and James Peacock Atrium at the FedEx Global Education Center. Being and Belonging features more than 25 works ranging in theme, medium and tone, and celebrates the diversity of Latin American heritage. The artists draw inspiration from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Afro-Caribbean cultures. At the same time, their own voices shine through. In their remarks, many artists touched on the realities of a complex, multicultural South and the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality. Antonio Alanís sitting next to his displayed print pieces. (Photo by Donn Young). “I am here to counteract negative … Read more
OVPGA Announces First COIL Faculty Fellow
October 11, 2021The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs has appointed Lornaida Avilés as its first Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) faculty fellow for the 2021-22 academic year. Avilés, an assistant teaching professor of Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has developed an array of language and culturally focused courses on campus and abroad, including COIL. COIL is a flexible pedagogical approach to global education that involves shared learning between students in a course at UNC-Chapel Hill and peer students in a course at a global partner university. During her 10-month appointment, Avilés will organize and support the peer learning community of UNC-Chapel Hill faculty who have taught, are currently teaching or are planning to teach COIL courses. She will also create opportunities and resources (online … Read more
UNC PhD Students Turn Challenges of Pandemic into Opportunities in Galapagos
September 21, 2021Esteban Agudo recently started the third year of his doctoral program and feels fortunate to be in the Galapagos to conduct his research. He is a marine ecologist pursuing his degree in Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology (EEOB) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, working alongside UNC-Chapel Hill Professor John Bruno and USFQ Professor Margarita Brandt. Esteban’s journey to Galapagos was not straightforward. He was not able to travel to the Galapagos for his first two years of studies due to the pandemic – which for many students would have filled them with stress. For Esteban, he … Read more
Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita to Discuss US-Japan Alliance in Dialogue at UNC
September 5, 2021Koji Tomita, ambassador of Japan to the United States, will discuss U.S.-Japan relations—the strong foundations of the alliance and the promise of future cooperation—in a virtual dialogue hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs (OVPGA) on Oct. 6, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The event is part of the OVPGA’s Diplomatic Discussions series, which brings diplomats and foreign relations practitioners to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to discuss current issues in diplomacy and international affairs. The conversation with Ambassador Tomita will continue the University’s look at U.S. relations with members of “the Quad”—India, … Read more
Bringing the World’s Best to Carolina
August 23, 2021Traveling thousands of miles to study or work at Carolina sometimes isn’t the hardest part of an international student or scholar’s journey to Chapel Hill. For some, the hardest part is navigating the complexities of the U.S. immigration system. Fortunately, the immigration experts in the University’s International Student and Scholar Services are fully equipped to help those individuals and Carolina’s departments with the process. In pre-pandemic years, the number of Carolina students, faculty and academic staff (postdoctoral fellows and research scholars) from other countries remained steady. Most were in the United States with nonimmigrant status to study, teach or conduct research. In … Read more
UNC Global Hosts Exhibition Featuring NC Artists of Latin American Heritage
July 29, 2021Being and Belonging: Perspectives in North Carolina, an exhibition featuring the work of 13 artists, will open at the FedEx Global Education Center (GEC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Aug. 18, 2021. The exhibition, organized by UNC Global in conjunction with the Institute for the Study of the Americas, will be on display through Dec. 12. Being and Belonging brings together artists of Latin American heritage from across the state of North Carolina whose work evokes questions of identity, environment and home. The artwork represent a range of mediums, including print, paint and ceramics. With over 25 works of art that range in theme, medium and tone, Being and Belonging celebrates the diversity of experiences while also reflecting the … Read more
Two Carolina Students Receive Critical Language Scholarships from US Department of State
June 25, 2021Mattias Miller ’21 and Christina Oh ’22 have been awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study less commonly taught languages during Summer 2021. The Carolina awardees are among the nearly 700 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who received a CLS award in 2021. Recipients will spend eight to ten weeks at intensive language institutes around the world. As they did in 2020, many institutes will offer virtual programs this summer. The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to dramatically expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. It provides fully funded, group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences. Program participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship … Read more
Griffin McGuire ’21 Embarks on a Russian Flagship Capstone Year in Kazakhstan
May 28, 2021When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Griffin McGuire realized it was a pivotal moment — not only for world affairs, but for his own future. A high school student at the time, McGuire watched the crisis unfold and realized he wanted to use his Russian language skills to improve relations between the United States and Russia. “At that point it kind of solidified in my mind that was something that I wanted to pursue potentially for the rest of my life,” McGuire said. “In an era where Russian and American relations seemed to be taking every turn for the worse, it … Read more