UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) officially kicked off the fall semester with a special stakeholder luncheon designed to showcase our office’s activities and programs. The event brought together key community partners and featured Rev. Dr. Gary Mason and Joyce Mason from Rethinking Conflict, who joined GPII all the way from Northern Ireland. GPII Executive Director, David Dumke, was thrilled to announce GPII's upcoming partnership with Rethinking Conflict on a new Conflict Transformation Initiative, which will focus on the experiences of the Northern Ireland conflict. 

UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) had the distinct privilege of hosting Ambassador David Welch at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Ambassador Welch was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Gretchen Welch, a former senior Foreign Service Officer, and John Sullivan, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Secure America (PSA).

During their visit, the distinguished guests engaged in a variety of activities, including an insightful dialogue with GPII interns and representatives from the various UCF Student Organizations, participating in podcast and TV interviews, and meeting with faculty. Additionally, the Ambassador shared his expertise on the U.S. role in the Middle East, offering valuable insights into the current geopolitical landscape during a well-attended public event at the Fairwinds Alumni Center.

For those who were unable to attend, a recording of the event is now available for viewing.

The Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) hosted a timely panel discussion on Thursday, November 21, 2024, titled “U.S. Elections & the Global Outlook.” The event came as the United States prepares for the return of Donald J. Trump to the presidency after the 2024 election, drawing global attention to the implications of his leadership on world stage.

With a diverse panel of experts, the discussion explored the potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy under a second Trump administration, particularly concerning the future of global economy, security, geopolitical stability, diplomacy, and climate action. The panelist also examined how the U.S. might respond to emerging challenges on the world stage.

The expert panel consisted of David Dumke, GPII Executive Director; Dr. Fernando Rivera, Director of UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub; Dr. Hakan Ozoglu, Director for UCF Middle Eastern Studies Program; Dr. Thomas Crisman, GPII Non-Resident Fellow and Professor at the University of South Florida; and Dr. Ted Reynolds, Director for UCF Terrorism Studies Program. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mirvate El Jerdi, GPII Assistant Director and Special Advisor for Middle East and North Africa.

GPII was honored to have hosted on Oct. 23 an exclusive evening with two incredible female authors: Nisreen Haidar Alghawi, author of Edge of Heaven & Dr. Yara Asi, author of How War Kills: The Overlooked Threats to Our Health. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Hakan Özoğlu, Director of UCF’s Middle Eastern Studies Program.
The authors discussed themes of resilience, community, loss, and hope in the context of conflict, highlighting the depth of the human experience. The captivating conversation also explored their unique journeys, the inspiration behind their work, how their backgrounds have shaped their writing, and their messages to readers and the world.

In September, a team from Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII), led by David Dumke and Dr. Mirvate El Jerdi, traveled to Washington D.C. for a week of impactful discussions with key leaders and organizations focused on peacebuilding. The delegation was joined by Rethinking Conflict founder, Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, and his wife Joyce Mason, for a series of conversations that explored critical global peace efforts and the future of conflict transformation.

One of the central topics of discussion was GPII’s new Conflict Transformation Initiative which aims to equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to lead efforts toward global peace. The program will provide opportunities for UCF students to be part of a new wave of peacebuilders who can bridge divides and facilitate meaningful dialogue in conflict around the world.

The new GPII Conflict Transformation Initiatives will draw from lessons learned in Northern Ireland, through a partnership with Rethinking Conflict, to help inform approaches to contemporary conflicts in the world. The Initiative will look at historical peace processes and lessons learned for guidance on resolving modern-day struggles, believing that understanding past successes and failures can be key to addressing ongoing challenges.

While in Washington D.C., the GPII team engaged with a broad range of influential policymakers, diplomats, and experts. Among the notable figures they met were Ambassador Bobby Mandell, Former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg; Kevin Sullivan, Chairman of Washington Ireland Program; Lara Friedman, President, Foundation for Middle East Peace; Mena Hanna, Director of Government Relations, American University Cairo; Dr. Susan Saxton, Interim President, Middle east Institute; and Jeremy Sharp from the Congressional Research Service. They also had the opportunity to meet with the Former Members of Congress organization, including Congressman Dennis Hertel and CEO Peter Weichlein who shared insights into U.S. policy related to peace and conflict resolution.

GPII is dedicated to creating access and opportunities for UCF Knights by offering networking events that help students build valuable connections. Our interns and fellows had the unique privilege to attend the 8th annual Hidden No More: Empowering Women Leaders in STEM event on Monday, November 4, 2024, hosted by WorldOrlando. The event, inspired by the groundbreaking film Hidden Figures, which chronicles the untold story of the women behind key moments in America's space history, was organized by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Launched in 2017 as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), this conference has become a pivotal platform for fostering meaningful dialogue among female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from around the globe.

This year’s gathering in Orlando welcomed eight distinguished speakers from Argentina, Mongolia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Sweden, and Austria. Each speaker shared insights into her unique role within the STEM fields and reflected on her personal experiences as a woman navigating traditionally male-dominated industries. Following their presentations, a Q&A session invited further engagement, where attendees explored strategies for advancing the future of women in STEM and discussed ways to overcome the challenges still facing women in these fields. The event underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation as key drivers of progress for women in STEM worldwide.

On September 18, UCF’s Burnett Honors College (BHC) hosted a Study Abroad Showcase designed to inform students about the various opportunities and benefits of studying abroad. The event aimed to raise awareness of global academic programs and provide students with valuable insights on how such opportunities can enhance their cultural and educational experiences.

One of the highlights of the event was a poster presentation by Petar Isailovic, a student who recently completed a semester at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, as part of the Nancy and Jonathan Wolf Global Academic Initiative. Petar shared his personal journey and the lessons he learned during his time abroad, offering firsthand knowledge of the academic, cultural, and professional benefits that come with getting out of one’s comfort zone and studying in a global setting.

The Nancy and Jonathan Wolf Global Academic Initiative award has a purpose of facilitating programmatic exchange that will promote ties between UCF and the American University in Cairo (Egypt). Students can get more information about this scholarship here.

Dr. Fernando I. Rivera, Professor & Director of the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub; Dr. Sara Belligoni, Postdoctoral Scholar at the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub; current and former Hub's affiliated students, Veronica Arroyo-Rodriguez, Sophia Chapdelaine, Varun Nannuri, and Ashley Streen Burgos, published in open access "Compound Crises: The Impact of Emergencies and Disasters on Mental Health Services in Puerto Rico." The research investigating how mental health services access in Puerto Rico is threatened by frequent emergencies and a healthcare crisis, is being published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health as part of the Special Issue 'The State of Mental Health Services: Challenges, Trends, and Achievements.' The article is available here:

Additionally, Dr. Rivera was part of a panel of community leaders alongside with Jeff Brandes, Dick Batchelor, and Laudi Campo that discussed the key issues facing voters for November’s election. The WUCF Newsnight Conversations “The Changing Political Balance in Florida” was moderated by Steve Mort and is available to watch via the button below.

Dr. Sara Belligoni, Postdoctoral Scholar at the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub, traveled to New Orleans to give the invited talk at Tulane University's River-Coastal Science and Engineering Department "Silent Waves: The Overlooked Impact of Post-DisasterFlooding on Health and Well-Being in Puerto Rico." The presentation provided an overview of the post-Atlantic tropical storms/hurricanes flood risk in Puerto Rico and nexus with the leptospirosis outbreak that occurred across the island after Hurricane Fiona in 2022.

David Dumke has a captivating conversation with Gretchen Sierra-Zorita, the Director for Puerto Rico and Territories at the White House. Gretchen’s work is grounded on extensive Federal government experience that included posts at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the U.S. House of Representatives. She has held leadership positions in multiple Latino, Puerto Rican and civil rights organizations.

David Dumke sits down with Ambassador Abderahman Salaheldin to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the Egyptian role in the region. Salaheldin is a retired Egyptian ambassador and member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Salaheldin previously served twice as the Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs, and as the ambassador to Turkey and to the Czech Republic. He spent 17 years of his four-decade diplomatic career in the United States.

David Dumke sits down with special guest Julie Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of two of Florida’s largest daily newspapers, the Orlando Sentinel and the Sun Sentinel. Anderson led the Sun Sentinel when it won journalism’s highest honor in 2019, the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, for its investigation into the Parkland mass shooting. Both newspapers have won dozens of journalism awards for their local news reporting.