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Geographical groupings
LAS establishes five international Area Sudies Programs.
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The change is almost instantaneous.
One moment Michael Whiteford, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences (LAS), is discussing budget revisions. While doom and gloom
isn't spread across his face, you can tell this isn't his favorite subject.
Then the discussion does turn to his favorite subject and his face brightens
up with enthusiasm.
That subject is the College's international activities and in particular
a new direction LAS has gone in.
Recently LAS established five Area Studies Programs in African (and Middle
Eastern) Studies; Asian Studies; Latin American Studies; Russian, Eastern
European and Central Asian Studies; and Western European Studies.
"We want to provide visibility and a sense of community for scholars
in LAS who are interested in promoting scholarship, engagement and discovery
on a wide range of topics and issues as they relate to geographical areas
of the world," Whiteford said.
He hopes these programs will serve as a vehicle for starting seminars
and colloquia. The programs could also help identify department courses
that have geographic area-specific content and work with department chairs
and faculty in an effort to facilitate their offering. He also anticipates
other benefits.
"Ultimately this could result in collaborative research that otherwise
wouldn't take place," he said. "Undoubtedly it will result in
faculty members getting together and discussing issues that interest them."
One of the new Area Studies Programs has met somewhat on an ad hoc basis
for the past couple of years. Robert Baum, associate professor of philosophy
and religious studies, who is coordinating the African (and Middle Eastern)
Studies group, has convened a group of faculty with similar interests
in the past.
Other coordinators include Whitney Sanford, associate professor of philosophy
and religious studies, Asian Studies; Steffen Schmidt, university professor
of political science, Latin American Studies; James Andrews, assistant
professor of history, Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies;
and Paul Griffiths, assistant professor of history, Western European Studies.
Whiteford says he has asked the program coordinators to provide overviews
to the list of regional courses for the secondary undergraduate major
in international studies.
"These programs would be the focal point for gathering information
on fellowships, scholarship, contracts and grants that have a regionally-specific
focus," he said. "The programs would also provide the university
community with the names of faculty and students to serve as resources
for purposes of outreach."
Each Area Studies Program will establish advisory committees with membership
primarily comprised of LAS faculty.
"This is a great opportunity for us," Whiteford said, "with
particularly no negatives and all kinds of positives."
Left to right: Steffen Schmidt, Whitney Sanford, Paul Griffiths,
Michael Whiteford, James Andrews, Robert Baum.
Around LAS
November 17-30, 2003
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