Feature
Global Conversations
| USF News
They talk about the global economy. About research that will change people's lives. About emerging trends and world politics and influencing policies.
During the past year, USF has played host to an impressive list of thought leaders, entrepreneurs and people who are making a difference. The conversations curating here are benefiting students, faculty, researchers and the public.
"These are all people who are players in the world," says Karen A. Holbrook, senior vice president for global affairs and international research. "Global is the context for everything we are doing at USF. We need to make sure it's embedded in everything we do."
USF has more than 200 signed agreements to partner in academic programs and research with other colleges, universities and institutions in more than 60 countries across the globe. There is a constant flow on campus of visitors and delegations meeting with counterparts at USF, attending events or spending time with students to share knowledge and culture.
USF World recently launched the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies, headed by Mohsen Milani, an internationally-recognized expert on the Middle East. The center will focus on researching critical international issues and formulating policy for those issues. When Holbrook took the reins at USF World in 2010, she envisioned a world of global connections and collaboration between USF students, faculty and researchers with counterparts in other countries; an entity that would be critical to exploring and solving some of the world's complex problems through research and international relationships.
"We have a lot of good connections," Holbrook says. "They grow out of relationships that faculty have developed, that the colleges have developed."
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In January, Sir Peter Westmacott, British ambassador to the U.S., met with USF President Judy Genshaft, faculty and students to talk about the future of higher education and the increasing role universities are playing in economic development.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News -
In April, CBS News correspondent Lara Logan spoke to hundreds of people gathered at the Marshall Student Center as part of the University Lecture Series. Logan talked about her work as a foreign war correspondent in Afghanistan and her career.
Photo courtesy of the USF Center for Student Involvement -
N. R. Narayana Murthy, an international business leader and founder of Infosys, was presented the USF President's Global Leadership Award by USF President Judy Genshaft. During the May meeting, Murthy also engaged business students in a question and answer session.
Photo by Anthony Morrison -
Christian Marclay, a world-renowned artist, calls USF's Graphicstudio "my studio away from my studio." He's made repeated visits to USF to work with the studio's master printers, including research associate Sarah Howard. This year Marclay was named one of TIME Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News -
Ian H. Solomon, U.S. executive director of the World Bank Group, talks with Karen Holbrook who oversees USF World. In May, he met with students and faculty at the Patel Center to talk about the World Bank and its mission to wipe out global poverty and promote sustainable development.
Photo by Aimee Blodgett | USF News -
Paul Farmer, one of the most notable humanitarians in the world and co-founder of Partners in Health, received an honorary doctorate in humane letters during the December 2011 commencement at USF. The Brooksville, Fla., native is also the United Nation's deputy special envoy to Haiti.
Photo by Mark Rosenberg, courtesy of Partners in Health