Our
challenge is to make sense of the extraordinary changes in global society
and culture that surround us at this moment in history, and to help
train leaders for the global society of the future. Fortunately UC-Santa
Barbara has a wealth of intellectual resources that rise to this challenge,
found in a variety of departments and schools throughout the University.
It is exciting to realize that the gift provided by Paul Orfalea and
the Orfalea Family Foundation has provided opportunities to reach out
across the campus and create new activities, research projects and
teaching programs that build on the strengths that are here. It is
a bright new day for global and international studies at UCSB.Like the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, the new Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies will not administer academic programs or conduct research on its own. Instead, it will play a supportive role in animating the intellectual life on campus with regard to global and international issues. It will work closely with instructional and research units, including the new graduate M.A. program in global and international studies, for which the Orfalea Center will provide much of the external funding. It will also provide support for other groups and individuals throughout the campus, subject to the availability of funds.
The Orfalea Center will be administratively located in the division of social sciences in the College of Letters and Sciences. An advisory committee for the Orfalea Center will include representatives of all units on campus that want to be involved in the Center’s mission and activities.