Tag Archives: International Relations

UW Tacoma faculty involved in faculty exchange program

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university of bergen photoPP&E Professor Katie Baird will be spending fall 2015 in Norway as a part of the University of Washington-University of Bergen Faculty Exchange Program Visiting Professor appointments at the University of Bergen, Norway. Since the program’s inception in 1979, more than 70 UW faculty and 80 University of Bergen faculty have participated in the exchange, including some from UW Tacoma. Visiting scholars represent such diverse fields as Anthropology, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, English, Fisheries, History, Law, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Quaternary Research, Scandinavian Studies, Surgery, Women Studies, Zoology—and like Professor Baird—Economics.  She will be working on a project concern with education and employment outcomes with others from The Centre for Economic Studies in Social Insurance and Labour Economics.

We hope to hear more on Baird’s activities while she’s in Norway. Stay tuned next fall for updates.

Faculty takes part in Copenhagen human rights workshop

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PPPA professor Turan Kayaoglu traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark in February 2015turan's photo to take part in a workshop on the topic of human rights and  the  Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  The workshop, organized by the  Danish Institute for Human Rights–the third such meeting for the group which first met in 2013 at the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR)–had ten scholars presenting papers over a period of two days. Group members discussed their papers and developed a common framework for a forthcoming publication regarding the OIC and human rights. Kayaoglu and Marie J. Petersen will be editing the publication produced by workshop participants. Continue reading →

UW Tacoma student and alumni accomplishments

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2015 Rangel Scholar – A UW Tacoma first

Omer AdamHuge congratulations to UW Tacoma student Omer Adam–one of fifteen Rangel Scholars nation-wide. He will be spending his summer in Washington D.C. participating in the Rangel International Affairs Summer Program. There, he will learn about current issues in international affairs and acquire valuable skills to prepare him for a career in the field.Omer is most interested in how religion shapes foreign policy and hopes to improve relationships between the US and Muslim countries. Continue reading →

A new twist on an old course

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Human_Rights_International_Barnstar_HiresTPHIL 200 – Introduction to the Philosophy of Human Rights (Spring 2015)

As it always has, TPHIL 200 introduces diverse philosophical views on humanity, good, rights, universality and other concepts that have influenced our current understanding of human rights. It provides an overview of basic concepts in these areas, relating them to selected philosophical schools and thinkers, and discusses how they impact contemporary initiatives on human rights. However, during spring quarter 2015, we will focus on current writings on the philosophy of human rights and cosmopolitanism, particularly on the writings of contemporary German philosopher, Rainer Forst. Students will then engage in a direct dialogue with Forst during his visit to the University of Washington in April. Continue reading →

PPPA faculty members leading interfaith conversation on Israel-Palestine

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by Dr. Turan Kayaoglu

Interfaith gathering 1 15On January 25, 2015 about 100 people, many of whom are associated with a religious tradition, gathered at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) for an “Interfaith Conversation on Israel-Palestine.” This conversation–sponsored by UPS, and facilitated by Dave Wright, Director for Spiritual Life and Civic Engagement and UPS chaplain–was initiated by Associated Ministries in collaboration with the Temple Beth El, Mountain View Lutheran Church, and the Muslim Student Association of the University of Washington Tacoma.  PPPA faculty member Turan Kayaoglu was a member of the organizing committee. Continue reading →

Kayaoglu named editor of Muslim human rights’ journal

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muslim journalScholars associated with the prestigious Muslim World Journal of Human Rights recently selected Professor Turan Kayaoglu to be its new Editor.  The journal, how housed at UW Tacoma, serves as a forum for debate over various aspects of human rights in the Muslim World, and is edited by leading international scholars of Islamic studies, Middle Eastern studies and human rights.

New faculty joining PPPA

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We wish to welcome three new faculty members who will be joining us this coming year.  Jeramy Gee, who is now completing his PhD in Philosophy from UW Seattle, will be teaching philosophy courses.  Jeramy’s interest in philosophy was sparked during a schoolyard discussion about the existence of God with a friend, and he’s been interested inGee philosophical questions ever since.  His research focuses on understanding sentiments like anger and hatred when they are directed at wrongdoers, and the moral status of these attitudes. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the University of Washington, Tacoma this fall to teach introduction to philosophy, practical reasoning, and courses in ethics. The interdisciplinary character of IAS is also exciting and I look forward to great conversations with my new colleagues.”

Ishita Nandi will also be joining PPPA this Fall. Ishita earned her PhD in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on labor and economic growth theory. Her current research is examiningNandi wage inequality between men and women in the United States. Ishita is a seasoned instructor, bringing with her over ten years of teaching experience.  For the past four years, she has been a faculty member at Oakland Community College. Next year she will teach courses in economic principles, public policy, and development economics.   Says Ishita: “Teaching has been in my family for generations and I am proud to continue this tradition by being a mentor and teacher to the bright and dedicated students of UW Tacoma.”cockrell

Finally, Andrew Cockrell will join the PPPA faculty this January.  Andrew has an MPhil from Oxford University, England and is currently completing his PhD at the University of Washington, Seattle. Andrew is a political psychologist who studies emotion in international conflict. He is a recipient of the 2011 UW Excellence in Teaching Award and will teach Introduction to International Relations and Introduction to Globalization both in the winter as well as the spring quarter.

Spring seminar series on Middle East and Africa

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In April PPPA hosted political analyst and essayist Mr. Faisal Roble (below center) of the Institute for Horn of Africa Studies and Affairs. His lecture, entitled “Post Civil War roble7Soma­lia:  Chal­lenges and Oppor­tu­ni­ties,” was well attended, and kicked off the first of several meetings and engagements he held with the UWT and Somali communities over a three-day period.  His visit was jointly sponsored by UW Tacoma Arts & Lectures Committee and the Somali Student Association at UW Tacoma.  As part of the same series, Dr. Nader Hashemi, Associate Professor Of Middle East and Islamic Studies and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies,  visited UWT in May to discuss current events in Iran and the Geneva Nuclear Deal.  His presentation can be accessed via this link: Dr. Nader Hashemi at UW Tacoma

Professor Hashemi keynote speaker in Middle East and Africa seminar

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PPPA’s seminar series focusing on the Middle East and Africa continues this Spring with a keynoteNader Hashemi photo address by Professor Nader Hashemi (right) of the University of Denver (UD).  Prof. Hashemi is an Associate Professor of Middle East and Islamic Studies at UD’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies. He is also Director of UD’s Center for Middle East Studies, and the author of several books on politics and the Middle East.  As a frequent guest on national television and radio shows, and with opinion pieces in places such as the New York Times, Prof. Hashemi has quickly become one of the most sought after experts on the Middle East.  His address is titled “Is Hassan an Iranian Gorbachev? An Assessment of the Islamic Republic after the Geneva Nuclear Deal.” This talk will take place May 7th at 4 pm in the Tacoma Room.

Also on tap spring quarter:  The distinguished Mr. Faisal Roble of the Institute for Roblethe Horn of Africa Studies will be visiting the UW Tacoma campus.  Mr. Roble (left) is a well-respected intellectual, political analyst, and essayist with extensive experience in Africa’s Horn region.  He will be delivering a lecture entitled “Post Civil War Somalia:  Challenges and Opportunities,”  on April 10th at 4 pm  in the Carwein Auditorium.  UW Seattle’s James Long (below), Assistant Professor of Political Science and an Academy Scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, will follow this up with a talk on Long“Electoral Fraud and Political Violence in Africa.”  Prof. Long’s research focuses on elections in fragile and developing countries, the dynamics of electoral fraud, the causes of electoral violence, and the effects of civil war and insurgency on state-building and development.  Long studies these issues in both sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan, and will be speaking on campus April 23rd, 12:30 pm in CP 103. Rounding out the spring schedule will be our own Michael Wotherspoon, a senior in Law and Policy, who will discuss “The Press, Ethnicity and Free Speech in Kyrgyzstan”.  His talk will be based on his experiences in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where he’s been working for Spektator Magazine.  May 29th, 12:30 pm in the Tacoma Room.  Thanks to both IAS and UW Tacoma’s Arts and Lecturer Committee for making these events possible.     Continue reading →