Memory could have a stronger hold on our current circumstances than we think. Professor Alejandro Baer of the Department of Sociology and the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies explores the human ability to overcome conflict through public remembrance.

What do you do when a loved one mysteriously disappears and your government won’t investigate? What do you do when this happens over 61,000 times? This happened in Mexico, and Barbara Frey of IGS has developed a collaborative research program to raise visibility of this issue.

“Women were strong. They had their own will; they had their own say,” says Dr. Lena Norrman, lecturer of Swedish and Scandinavian studies. In the past year, Norrman has worked with an Icelandic manuscript to uncover a great curiosity: the role of Icelandic women in the Middle Ages.

Joseph Rojas learned abroad in three countries and three languages. He discusses how his experiences in Brazil, Venezuela, and France informed his career path. “Adaptability and flexibility are two of the greatest skills I learned as a result of studying abroad.”

Spring 2019 updates from the Institute for Global Studies featuring a chair letter and stories about students, faculty, and alumni.

The research will be used to aid policy recommendations for national and international governments.

Ethnomusicology is the study of music from different cultures, specifically non-western culture. Sofia Logan has studied in Ecuador, Cuba, India, and Brazil. All four times, she’s managed to pursue her passion for ethnomusicology, the crossroad of music and culture.

The Institute of Global Studies has been awarded more than $4 million during 2018-22 academic years to develop new curriculum that improves the readiness of graduates for life in a globalized world and to support students in the less commonly taught languages. Projects include the development of new courses, practica, and internships that take advantage of global-local connections in the Twin Cities, as well as connecting campus curricula to opportunities abroad.

The Institute for Global Studies is a community of students and scholars who explore today’s most pressing global issues. We make connections across boundaries— geographic boundaries, disciplinary boundaries, cultural boundaries, and boundaries across communities.