| A Message from our Office
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| Message from David Dumke, GPII Executive Director
GPII Continues to Examine Global Challenges as Busy Semester Draws to Close
Across the globe, nation, and state, policymakers are struggling to find solutions to a multitude of challenges both new and old. It is often far easier to diagnose problems than identify answers to vexing questions. Global Perspectives & International Initiatives (GPII) believes it is important to understand the nature of contemporary challenges by looking at history, politics, culture, media, economics, and the application of science. Relying heavily on faculty expertise, we have adopted a comparative approach to examining the world which creates a better understanding of what solutions may work given differing contexts and variables.
As the Spring Semester draws to a close, GPII reviews a very busy period looking at a wide range of issues:
China. There is considerable discussion about the growing U.S.-China rivalry, and whether Beijing’s rise in global power inevitably comes at the expense of Washington. Some believe conflict over Taiwan, trade, or influence will inevitably lead to military conflict. Former U.S. Ambassador Max Baucus, who served in the Obama Administration, gave students, faculty, and community partners plenty of food for thought in discussing U.S.-Chinese relations during his recent visit to Orlando. Baucus, who represented Montana in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, clearly stressed the American need to listen and learn about China before jumping to conclusions about the inevitability of conflict. While Baucus noted that we must be vigilant about the legitimate security concerns posed by China, the Middle Kingdom does not have a history of military aggression. As the second most populace nation on the world with the second largest economy, China is not going anywhere. Moreover, the extent to which the American and Chinese economies are interdependent cannot be ignored. Accordingly, perhaps the best path forward is a renewed dedicated to engagement at all levels rather than planning for a superpower military showdown or economic brinksmanship.
Disaster. Last month, GPII and the Hollings Center for International Dialogue co-hosted a conference on disaster response. Held in Istanbul, the conference included participants from 15 nations who shared their experience and knowledge about how nations as diverse as Malaysia, Morocco, Turkey, and the U.S. have responded to disasters. The conference was moderated by GPII Executive Director David Dumke, and the Puerto Rico Research Hub’s Dr. Fernando Rivera led a panel which focused on the lessons learned from Hurricane Maria. Whether due to climate change, natural disasters, military conflict, or poor policymaking, good governance is critical for national, regional, and global stability. Failure to meet the needs and expectations of people threatens governments and leads to unnecessary suffering.
Climate. Similarly, climate change continues to loom large as a critical global issue. Dr. Jorge Duany, Director of Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute, gave multiple presentations about the impact of climate change on Caribbean migration. Duany focused particularly on Puerto Rican population, and how people are responding economically, socially, and politically to climate change and related challenges.
Conflict. GPII continues to work with Belfast-based Rethinking Conflict, the American University in Cairo, and other partners on developing a center on conflict transformation and peace. The center recognizes that no two conflicts are alike, but key ingredients often include disputes over land, identity, and religion. We believe the lessons learned in Northern Ireland, which has maintained a fragile but lasting peace for 25 years, can be applied to other global conflicts. Clashing narratives do not need to lead to violence, and we hope this new initiative can help promote a culture more conducive to peace and coexistence. Look for activities to kick off in earnest later this year.
Culture. While much time and effort is dedicated to focusing on challenges, threats, and adapting to change, we must remind ourselves of the many things that tie humanity together. GPII has been especially busy in the cultural realm, including helping the Puerto Rico Research Hub – with support from Major League Baseball and UCF Athletics – organize the third annual Puerto Rico Baseball Day. Florida has long been served a special role in baseball, as it is home to the Spring Training facilities for 15 MLB teams. Baseball has a longstanding connection to Puerto Rico, and as such the sport connects the state and mainland with Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and the world. As part of UCF Celebrates the Arts, GPII is also happy to sponsor an event looking at the restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, which suffered extensive fire damage in 2019 and will be reopened later this year. Finally, through WUCF’s Global Perspectives, GPII continues to highlight the power and importance of international education partnerships.
We appreciate the incredible support of GPII’s community partners which help make our centers, programs, and initiatives successful. We also thank UCF’s students and faculty for their participation and interest in our work. Indeed, GPII’s success is measured by how effectively we connect with Central Florida – both our campus and larger community.
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– David Dumke, Executive Director, UCF Global Perspectives & International Initiatives
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Congress to Campus Visit to UCF
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Tuesday & Wednesday, April 9 & 10, 2024
UCF Main Campus, UCF Downtown Campus
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UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives is honored to welcome Congresswoman Val Butler Demings and Congressman Ted Yoho to UCF on April 9th and 10th as part of the Former Members of Congress- Congress to Campus Program.
GPII has partnered with the Association of Former Members of United States Congress for several years to bring bipartisan teams to UCF to engage with students and faculty. The goal is to instill a sense of the importance of public service and that bipartisanship is still possible even in the most contentious times. The visit provides students with a unique civic education by engaging them in a reasonable and respectful dialogue which brings today’s issues to the forefront and showcases the benefits of healthy partisanship and civility within disagreement. The members will be visiting several classes and participating in various activities and meetings across campus.
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Rebuilding Notre-Dame: Five Years of Restoration and Discovery
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Thursday, April 11, 2024 7:00 PM
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Art
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UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives is proud to partner with UCF Celebrates the Arts to bring Dr. Jennifer M. Feltman to Dr. Phillips Center. Dr. Feltman is an art historian and associate professor of Medieval Art and Architecture at the University of Alabama whose research focuses on French Gothic architecture and sculpture. She is a member of the Chantier scientifique de Notre-Dame, a team of scientists and historians authorized by the French Ministry of Culture to study the fire-ravaged cathedral as it is being restored. This lecture will provide insight into the rebuilding process and the major discoveries that have been made over the past five years.
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Disaster Management and Recovery: Creating Cooperative Opportunities Conference
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UCF Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives and The Hollings Center for International Dialogue hosted a dialogue conference titled, Disaster Management and Recovery: Creating Cooperative Opportunities. The conference was held in Istanbul, Türkiye. This conference cultivated a multidisciplinary dialogue by bringing together a diverse group of experts, including academics and practitioners, from the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States.
This collaborative initiative had a core objective of expanding UCF impact globally and supporting its strategic goal of becoming a university for the future through producing and implementing impactful, innovative, high impact practices and creative activities.
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Puerto Rico Baseball Day Event
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Major League Baseball, University of Central Florida Puerto Rico Research Hub, and UCF Athletics teamed up for the third time for a free introductory diamond sports clinic for kids ages 5-12 at the UCF Softball Complex on Saturday, March 30. The kids came excited and ready to play while families enjoyed food samples and free Tickets to UCF’s Baseball game vs. Texas Tech. This event is part of MLB’s PLAY BALL initiative which aims to encourage engagement in is baseball or softball related activities.
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The Cuban and Puerto Rican Diasporas in Florida
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UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub (PRRH) had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Jorge Duany, Director of the Cuban Research Institute at FIU, to UCF. Dr. Duany presented at the Learning Institute for Elders at UCF (LIFE) for more than 200 guests and led a round table discussion at the PRRH with students and faculty to discuss the Cuban and Puerto Rican Diasporas in Florida. Born in Cuba and raised in Panama and Puerto Rico, Dr. Duany is a renowned Anthropology Professor who previously served as Acting Dean at the University of Puerto Rico.
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Dr. Hakan Ozoglu at Consul General of India Visit
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Dr. Hakan Ozoglu, GPII’s Middle Eastern Studies Program Director, participated in the leadership meeting with Mr. Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, Consul General of India in Atlanta, at UCF Global on Monday, March 4. The Consul’s visit served to strengthen collaboration with UCF and bring opportunities for students, faculty and staff.
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Expedition to Puerto Rico
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Dr. Sara Belligoni, a Postdoctoral Scholar with the Puerto Rico Research Hub, served as a delegate of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) to the International Flood and Resilience Dialogue Expedition (FREDx) in Puerto Rico from March 4th to March 7th of 2024. The initiative was promoted by the ASFPM International Committee and hosted at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust in San Juan. The goal of the initiative was to expose the ASFPM delegation to flood management policies and practices in Puerto Rico while fostering connections and sharing scientific knowledge across flood risk management professionals.
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| Global Perspectives TV Show
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WUCF-TV's Global Perspectives Hosts Dr. Yara Asi, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida
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David Dumke sits with Dr. Yara M. Asi, an Assistant Professor at the School of Global Health Management and Informatics, to discuss public health risk due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Dr. Asi’s research agenda focuses on global health, human rights, and development in fragile populations. She has also worked with Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International USA, and the Palestinian American Research Center on policy and outreach issues.
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GPII Interviews Dr. Raúl Santiago-Bartolomei
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Puerto Rico Research Hub interns Andre Tang and Raphael Merritt discuss post disaster housing in Puerto Rico with Dr. Raúl Santiago-Bartolomei. Dr. Santiago-Bartolomei is an Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Graduate School of Planning and has an extensive background in urban planning research, specializing primarily in economic development, infrastructure, post-disaster recovery, and other related fields. In their discussion, an array of topics spanning from housing market issues in Puerto Rico, urban planning developments, and economic shifts post- Hurricane Maria are all touched upon.
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|  | UCF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
4356 Scorpius Street, Orlando, FL USA 32816
Phone: 407.823.2337 | Fax: 407.823.2526
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