Mehrangiz Najafizadeh, associate professor of sociology, is the recipient of the 2023 George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award. She will give a talk on her work in international education during an award presentation and reception at 4 p.m. April 9 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room.

The award recognizes Najafizadeh’s extensive collaboration and connection with international scholars in Eurasia and Central Asia, including two Fulbright Scholar awards to Azerbaijan, and her efforts to build institutional partnerships in that region. In addition, the award honors Najafizadeh’s 30-year association with the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies and her work with the centers for Russian, Eastern European & Eurasian Studies and Global & International Studies as well as her excellence in teaching and her commitment to incorporating international and cross-cultural perspectives into the classroom.

“Dr. Najafizadeh has devoted her career to teaching and mentoring, research and service related to international issues. Her commitment to the internationalization of the curriculum and to enhancing the international perspective of students represents the ideals of the Woodyard International Educator Award,” wrote Joane Nagel, University Distinguished Professor of Sociology, in a nomination letter. 

>> Read more about Najafizadeh's contributions

Recognized for innovation in incorporating international education in the classroom, Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science, is the inaugural recipient of the KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Teaching Award. 

Zhang will give a lecture on his work in international education during an award presentation and reception from 2:30 to 4 p.m. April 18 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room.

The award honors KU faculty members who have provided outstanding and sustained leadership in international education through teaching, advocacy and mentorship. In particular, the selection committee was impressed with the international lens and experiential learning opportunities that Zhang has brought to his courses, along with his commitment to mentorship and research.

“In a short time, Jack Zhang has had a tremendous impact on the way we teach international material at KU, the way we bridge research and teaching, and the way we collaborate across disciplines when we do internationally engaged work,” wrote Melissa Birch, director of the Institute for International and Global Engagement, in a nomination letter.

>> Read more about Zhang's work

This month the University of Kansas welcomed visitors from the University of Regensburg. KU has a long-standing institutional partnership with the German university.

Udo Hebel, UR president, and visiting scholar Birgit Hebel-Bauridl met with KU administrators and faculty to talk about existing and future partnerships. Since 2008, KU has sent 28 undergraduate students to UR and UR has sent 22 students to KU. In particular UR has a vibrant relationship with KU’s American Studies department, including faculty traveling to Regensburg, partnering on the Leibniz Foundation-funded project Europe and America in the Modern World and hosting graduate students from Regensburg.

Hebel-Bauridl, professor of American studies, was at KU for two weeks as a visiting researcher and guest of the Max Kade Center and Department of American Studies. While at KU she gave two talks about her research on public memorial sites.

Pictured above are Arash Mafi, executive dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; Ben Chappell, professor and chair of the Department of American Studies; Birgit Hebel-Bauridl, Marike Janzen, director of the Max Kade Center; Chancellor Douglas Girod, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer, Udo Hebel, Roberta Pokphanh, associate vice provost for International Affair; and Angela Perryman, director of Study Abroad and Global Engagement.

Through your many contributions, this year's One Day. One KU. was one of our best ones yet. Thanks to your efforts on March 6, International Affairs raised almost $69,000 in donations with more than 130 gifts. In all, KU received $2.6 million in 24 hours. 

The money given during One Day. One KU. supports several important international education initiatives. 

Amy Millet, a doctoral candidate in history and former recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Student award to Austria, was interviewed by Fulbright Austria about her research. Millet recently published the article "Global Connections and Culinary Conceptions of Cultural Identity in Austrian Food Literature of the Nineteenth Century" in the Journal of Austrian Studies. 

Join International Support Services for the final two Atlas Series events of the year. On April 9, South Korea will be the featured country and Paraguay will be the focus of the April 23 event. 

During the semester, Atlas Series is held every other Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Watson Library in the 3 West Reading Room. The event features foods, drinks, activities and presentations on countries from around the world. 

Hosted in partnership with international students and student clubs at KU, Atlas events are open to all KU community members including international and American students, scholars, staff and families. 

RSVP on Rock Chalk Central.

The interdisciplinary conference When Global East Meets Global South: East Asia & Latin America will examine historical and contemporary links between East Asia and Latin America. Scholars will elaborate on connections between the regions in terms of politics, diplomacy, economy, migration and the arts. 

The hybrid event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 29 in Watson Library, rooms 455 and 503A. 

Keynote speakers will include Junyoung Verónica Kim, assistant professor of visual culture and media at the University of Pittsburgh, and Evan Ellis, research professor of  Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College's Strategic Studies Institute.

The event is organized by KU’s centers for Global and International Studies, East Asian Studies, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. It is sponsored by the departments of East Asian Languages & Cultures, History, Political Science and Spanish and Portuguese, and the Institute for International and Global Engagement and KU International Affairs.

>> Register to attend

The Eighth Annual International Jayhawk Festival will return from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 in the Burge Union. The event is an opportunity for all Jayhawks to celebrate our global community and international engagement. The festival will include free t-shirts, food, performances, activities and a study abroad fair. All are welcome. 

>> More Details

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