As we begin a new academic year, we are delighted to announce the launch of our expanded global studies center at UW-Madison: IRIS Global Connect is the formal home for global and transregional activities across the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) and closely aligns with and supports the International Division’s outreach and engagement mission.

Global Connect will continue the work, events and programming of IRIS NRC, including K-12 outreach programming, community college and community events, the Global Dialogues Series, partnerships such as the Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium, Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, UNA Dane County, and the Madison Committee on Foreign Relations to name just a few. Global Connect will also serve as a centralized unit to coordinate and assist with outreach programming run by our regional centers as the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium (WIRC). Programming includes Children’s International Story Hour, the Teaching Forward Fellows program, International Book and Film Clubs, Community College teacher workshops, World Cinema Day, and the bi-annual Global Learning Summit with DPI.

Maintaining a vibrant cultural and intellectual community for undergraduate and graduate students continues to be a key goal of our restructured center. Global Connect now serves as the administrative home for IRIS Awards, running the International Division Graduate Student Summer Fieldwork Awards, providing advising for Critical Language Scholarships and support for several regional center awards. Student engagement remains central to our mission, and we are excited to be working with exceptional student groups and organizations including the Wisconsin Model United Nations, the Journal of Undergraduate International Studies, the Wisconsin International Studies Major Association, and the new UW-Madison Chapter of USA-UNA.

We hope that you will consider joining us for an exciting fall semester of global and transregional events that support your teaching, research, and studies in international issues.

Wishing you all a wonderful Fall,

IRIS Global Connect

Stephen Young, Faculty Director; Csanád Siklós, Associate Director; Essie Lenchner, Assistant Director;
Isabella Cabello, Project Assistant, MPA ‘27