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Maintaining Global Dialogue

Newsletter of UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives

Issue 34 – Spring 2026

GPII News

Lessons of the Good Friday Agreement: Bertie Ahern on Ending Conflict and Preserving Peace

Collage of Bertie Ahern Mandell Speaker Series Visit

The UCF Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives (GPII) welcomed former Irish Taoiseach and former European Council President Bertie Ahern as part of the Mandell Distinguished Speaker Series. A key architect of the Good Friday Agreement, Ahern reflected on the diplomacy, dialogue, and sustained leadership required to build and preserve peace, while offering insights relevant to today’s global conflicts.

Through a week-long series of events and community engagements, GPII provided UCF and the Central Florida community with a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the leaders who helped shape modern history. The main event, held in the Pegasus Ballroom and attended by more than 250 guests, featured opening remarks from Sarah Kavanagh, the Consul General of Ireland in Miami, and a performance by the Central Florida Irish Dancers. As special guests of the Central Florida Pledge Leadership Luncheon hosted by the Ginsberg Foundation, Bertie Ahern and Gary Mason from Rethinking Conflict, shared reflections on the lasting impact of the peace process and the work required to transform division into dialogue and shared understanding.

GPII extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Jonathan Wolf, Founder and CEO of Wendover Housing Partners, and the Central Florida Pledge for hosting events during Mr. Ahern’s visit. Their partnership helped broaden community engagement and foster meaningful conversations on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and civic dialogue.

The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) Congress to Campus Program: Another Successful Visit to UCF

Collage of U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress vists

For the past eight years, GPII has partnered with FMC to host Congress to Campus visits each spring semester. During these visits, a former Democratic and a former Republican member of Congress engage UCF students in candid discussions of current issues while demonstrating the value of healthy partisanship and civil dialogue across disagreements.

This year, GPII welcomed Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-Arkansas) and Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Florida) for several days of engagement with students, faculty, student organizations, and community partners. Through reflective conversations on current issues and public service, students gained a deeper understanding of civic engagement, bipartisan dialogue, and the importance of respectful disagreement in a democratic society. Discussions also offered insight into how legislation is developed, how Congress functions, and the realities of negotiation and compromise, while encouraging students to draw leadership and life lessons from the experiences of public officials who have navigated the complexities of government and public life.

A Fragile Peace: An Ongoing Journey

Collage of screening and talk by Rory Duffy, and Co-Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives, Debbie Watters on A Fragile Peace: An Ongoing Journey

GPII, in partnership with Global Peace 360, hosted the screening of the award-winning documentary A Fragile Peace: Brexit and Northern Ireland, which examines the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement and the ongoing challenges of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit.

This thought-provoking screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring the film’s director, Rory Duffy, and Co-Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives, Debbie Watters, who reflected on the political, historical, and community-level dimensions of peacebuilding as well as the work required to sustain peace beyond formal agreements.

Cyprus: A Crossroads of Europe and the Middle East

GPII welcomed Rashit Ismail, a historical documentarian and screen writer, for a timely discussion on Cyprus’s complex history and its geopolitical role at the crossroads of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Moderated by Hakan Ozoglu, the Director of Middle Eastern Studies at UCF, the event encouraged students to examine global issues through historical and cultural perspectives, reflecting GPII’s commitment to connecting academic inquiry with real-world international dialogue and critical thinking.

GPII Intern Earns Judge’s Choice Award for Comparative Research on Turkey and Venezuela

As part of her internship with Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII), Susana El Souki El Assal represented the office at both the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and the UCF Student Scholar Symposium during UCF’s 20th Annual Student Research Week. She presented original research exploring historical and contemporary political and economic challenges through a comparative analysis of 1930s Turkey and contemporary Venezuela.

Conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Ozoglu, the project drew on extensive archival research, including a review of more than 1,000 pages of U.S. Department of State records. The research highlighted the value of global perspectives in understanding complex issues across time and place, demonstrating how historical trends can provide valuable insight into current political challenges.

Her presentation at the UCF Student Scholar Symposium received the Judge’s Choice Award and a monetary reward.

Hub Students at UCF’s 20th Annual Research Week

Collage of 20th Annual Hub Students at Research Week

The 20th Annual Student Research Week at the University of Central Florida (UCF) served as a milestone celebration of two decades of student scholarship, taking place from March 23–27, 2026. This university-wide tradition highlighted the ambition and innovation of both undergraduate and graduate students through marquee events like the Student Scholar Symposium and the Creative Scholarship Symposium. Students affiliated with the Hub joined hundreds of their peers in presenting original research and creative projects, contributing to a vibrant culture of inquiry that spans all academic disciplines.

Civil Discourse on Puerto Rico’s Political Future

On March 10, 2026, the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub hosted a moderated dialogue on Puerto Rico’s political status, bringing together advocates for statehood and independence. Moderated by Dr. Fernando Rivera, Director of the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub, the discussion featured Martin E. Rivera of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council and Alberto C. Medina of Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR).

The event underscored the value of civil discourse, providing attendees with an opportunity to explore differing perspectives on Puerto Rico’s history, contemporary challenges, and future political status. Students, faculty, and community members participated in an open dialogue on self-determination, identity, and the island’s ongoing pursuit of a permanent political status.

Global Perspectives TV Show

Global Perspectives is an award-winning TV show on PBS (WUCF-TV), a regional Public Broadcasting Service station. Hosted by David Dumke, Executive Director of UCF’s Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII), the show features interviews with local, national, and international experts, authors, economists, politicians, journalists, diplomats, and activists who delve into issues of global significance and local impact.

WUCF TV's Global Perspectives Hosts Val Demings and Tim Hutchinson

David Dumke with Val Demings and Tim Hutchinson on WUCF TV's Global Perspectives

David Dumke sits down with former members of Congress, Congresswoman Val Demings and Senator Tim Hutchinson, to discuss the value of bipartisanship and civic discourse in strengthening institutions and promoting a healthy democracy.

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WUCF TV's Global Perspectives Hosts Dr. Tricia Wachtendorf

David Dumke with Dr. Tricia Wachtendorf on WUCF TV's Global Perspectives

David Dumke sits down with Dr. Tricia Wachtendorf, the Director of the University of Delaware Disaster Research Center. Dr. Wachtendorf discusses how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, highlighting the importance of resilience, coordination, and emergency planning.

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WUCF TV's Global Perspectives Hosts Jonathan L. Wolf

David Dumke with Wendovers Housing Partners, Johnathan Wolf, on WUCF TV's Global Perspectives

David Dumke sits down with Jonathan Wolf, the Founder and CEO of Wendover Housing Partners, to discuss the growing need for affordable housing and the role of public-private partnerships in creating thriving, connected communities.

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GPII Student Connections

GPII interns and fellows dive into global news to bring you the latest insights on key issues and regions. Read their latest articles and analysis on current issues shaping the global landscape.