UCF’s Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) is excited to host Jeff Nussbaum, former Special Assistant and Senior Speechwriter to President Joe Biden. Nussbaum will discuss his new book Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History. The book presents a fascinating insight into the most notable speeches that were never heard, speeches that if delivered would have changed the course of history – from John Lewis to General Eisenhower to King Edward VIII.


Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

More Info | All are welcome | Register here

Mark your calendars! UCF’s Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) cordially invites you to a discussion of science, diplomacy and policymaking, featuring Dr. Frances Colón. Dr. Colón is currently a member of the White House Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and formerly served as Deputy Adviser on Science and Technology to the U.S. Secretary of State. She has represented the U.S. at global climate change and environmental conferences and summits and is an advocate for the global advancement of women in science.

Please continue to check our event page for additional details. For more information, please contact Mirvate El Jerdi, mirvate.eljerdi@ucf.edu

UCF GPII was honored to host Dr. Tran Nguyen Khang and Mr. Michael Gormalley for a warm visit and discussion. Dr. Khang is a prolific writer and professor at the Saigon’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is also a U.S. State Department Fulbright Scholar studying the construction of American soft power through museum diplomacy. 

Michael Gormalley served in Vietnam in the 1970s, before going on to obtain a Master’s degree in education and serve as the senior director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) foundation. Today’s conversation focused on Dr. Khang’s work studying the implementation of US soft power via its extensive museum system, as well as on Mr. Gormalley’s experience working as a tireless advocate for US-Vietnam relations.

On March 10th, GPII had the opportunity to collaborate with UCF Global to host a group of ESL teaching professionals from several countries. These professionals are part of a project called "Navigating Intercultural Communication for Online English Language Teaching and Hosting Virtual English Language Fellow Exchanges," funded under the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered through FHI 360.

The ESL professionals discussed with GPII interns their experiences and challenges while highlighting the importance of the project for building bridges and facilitating more cultural communication and understanding. GPII is privileged to have hosted these guests and helped cultivate a conversation on intercultural communication.

On the weekend of February 9th, one of GPII’s intern, Caleb Rose, had the opportunity to compete with UCF’s MUN team at the Florida State University conference. Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation where students take on the role of ambassadors and participate in simulations of the United Nations. Delegates discuss issues including gender equality, climate change, global health, and more.

The delegates at Florida State University's NoleMUN conference honed their debate, diplomacy, and formal paper writing skills. UCF’s team is proud to have brought home two of the best delegate awards, from Caleb Rose and Katherine Weiss. The MUN team is looking forward to highlighting UCF’s international focus in future conferences.

Dr. Reynolds Presents at LIFE at UCF

On March 7th, GPII’s very own, Dr. Ted Reynolds, Director of the Terrorism Studies Program, presented at an event held by the Learning Institute for Elders (LIFE) at UCF. His presentation, titled “When the Lights Go Out: The Evolving Threat to the U.S. Power Grid,” served as a way to educate participants on the impact of a potential grid collapse, and the ways in which an attack on the grid could happen. 

Dr. Reynold’s presentation took a deep dive into the ways in which potential grid collapse could happen, as well as the result of each and every one of these attacks. Three unique “primary threats” were used to explain the potential for an attack: physical attacks, cyber-attacks, and Electro-Magnetic Pulse. Each of these areas for an attack was filtered through the “Possibility-Probability” lens as proposed. Dr. Reynold’s presentation for LIFE at UCF was a great way to inform members of the community about the possibility of an attack on the grid, the potential effects of an attack, and ways both we as citizens and the federal government should react to and be proactive about such attacks.

GPII is excited to announce that Zoe Colon, GPII’s Associate Director, has been elected as UCF Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LaFaSA) Vice President. LaFaSA at the University of Central Florida (UCF) presents the “collective interests of Latino/a/x faculty and staff at UCF” and is “dedicated to creating community and advocating for Latino/a/x faculty and staff at UCF.” (https://www.lafasaucf.com/about-us.html)

UCF Global Perspectives Hosts Katherine Hadda, Former US Senior Diplomat

David Dumke sits with Katherine Hadda, a former senior diplomat, who served as U.S. consul general in Hyderabad, India. During her tenure, Ms. Hadda advocated for the interests of over 130 U.S. companies in the district, managed one of the 10 busiest U.S. visa operations in the world, and led an active media and cultural program to promote U.S. strategic interests.

Start Watching

GPII Interns and Fellows scour the global news to write about what is happening in a specific issue area or region. Each post includes multiple sources and gives a brief recount of a timely event. Check out these articles: