Championing Women Through UCF and Beyond

October 19, 2022 from 11:00AM – 12:30PM
Virtual Event via Zoom.

The UCF Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) is excited to announce its upcoming virtual event: “Championing Women’s Issues Across UCF & Beyond.” The panelists, comprised of UCF faculty, will highlight their work on women’s issues locally and globally, and its importance.

This event is organized as part of GPII’s new initiative, the Global Women Think Tank (GWTT) which aims to advance women’s rights through research-informed work, leadership development, and strengthening institutions’ infrastructure.

More Info | All are welcome | Register here

Owen Kirby Visits Iraq

UCF GPII non-resident fellow Owen Kirby returned recently from a visit to Baghdad as part of an assessment mission with the International Republican Institute (IRI); his first visit to Iraq in over a decade. The mission came during the midst of a political stalemate between the country’s two largest political blocs that has left the country without a new government since elections were held in October 2021. The week-long trip witnessed political forces marching on parliament in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent its convening for a vote of confidence on the Speaker and ended with popular demonstrations in the streets marking the anniversary of widespread October 2019 anti-government protests. Political paralysis in the country is occurring as the economy begins to rebound from Covid pandemic lows with an estimated $60 billion in oil revenue in the first half of the year, leading to increasing concerns about fiscal transparency and the potential for continued unrest.      

Global Perspectives Visits Morocco

Tarik Kabbaj, Vice President Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager at Chase Bank and co-chair for the GPII Morocco Center Advisory Committee, met in Rabat with his Excellency Minister Abdellatif Miraoui, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. Kabbaj delivered a formal invitation to his Excellency from UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives and their director David Dumke to visit the UCF campus. Kabbaj, on behalf of GPII, discussed enhancing collaboration between UCF and higher education institutions in Morocco. 

GPII's New Series: Why Does it Matter?

GPII is thrilled to announce the launch of its new series, Why Does it Matter? This monthly video series is a foreign policy focused initiative that provides students the opportunity to engage directly with experts on issues ranging from the role of development assistance to whether the status of women should be a policy priority abroad. The series is hosted by Owen Kirby, GPII’s Non-Resident Fellow, and Mirvate El Jerdi, GPII’s Senior Coordinator and Special Advisor for Middle East and North Africa.

In this episode, Dr. Jonathan Powell and his students Devyn Escalanti, Abigail Reynolds, and Salah Ben Hammou discuss with Robert Jenkins, Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization and former Director of USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, the topic of “Fragile and Failed States: Should the U.S. care?” 

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UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub on The Take

Dr. Fernando I. Rivera the Director of UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub was hosted on Aljazeera’s flagship podcast, The Take. In this episode titled “After hurricanes, when to rebuild and when to retreat,” Dr. Rivera discusses rebuilding after Hurricane Ian in Florida and Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico.

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Global Perspectives Hosts Kal Penn, an Actor, Activist and Author

David Dumke sits down with Kal Penn to discuss his entertainment career and how he pivoted to work in the White House under the Obama administration. Penn also shares his insights into culture, friendships and the differences between Hollywood and politics.

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