Global Currents Blog

  • CGS Director Dr. Jose Atiles Recognized for Excellence in Leadership and Criminology

    by Jasmine CarruthSep 4, 2026 11:30 am

    Dr. Jose Atiles Named 2026–27 PELP Fellow and Critical Criminologist of the Year

  • Celebrating CGS Faculty on IGI Faculty Research Grant

    by Jasmine CarruthSep 4, 2026 9:00 am

    Three faculty affiliates are among those awarded research funding by The Illinois Global Institute to advance international research. Please see the following press release on the work of Dr. Charles Fogelman, Dr. Brett Kaplan, and Dr. Rebecca Stumpf. 

     

  • Legitimizing Multilingual Voices: Lessons from Collaborative Autoethnography

    by Jasmine CarruthAug 31, 2026 8:00 am

    Illinois Associate Professor of Education and Center for Global Studies Advisory Board Member Dr. Hyun-Sook Kang and colleagues produced a collaborative autoethnography to explore how multilingual students and faculty perceive the role of English in enabling or constraining academic mobility. This book chapter was recently published in the latest edition of Critical Perspectives on Diversity in English Language Education (ELT). 

  • Examining U.S. Education Policy Effects and Inequities – A presentation at the 2026 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference in San Francisco

    by Donna C. Tonini, MBA, Ed.DJul 22, 2026 4:00 pm

    The 70th Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES),  “Re-examining Education and Peace in a Divided World,” was held 3/28/2026 – 4/1/2026 in San Francisco, highlighting pressing global and local concerns across regions experiencing division and conflict, including the U.S., with No Kings protests and rallies coinciding with conference programs. 

  • CGS Connections: Reflecting on Relationships with Think Tanks

    by Donna C. Tonini, MBA, Ed.DJul 13, 2026 5:45 pm

    CGS has spent the past year developing connections with think tanks through increased engagement with thought leaders at the On Think Tanks (OTT) School for Thinktankers’ conferences. Dr. Tonini, Associate Director of The Center for Global Studies, reflects on the 2025 and 2026 annual School for Thinktankers’ conferences and provides insights on prominent scholars, projects, and research in the field of think tank creation and strategy. 

  • An Economic Perspective on Korea’s Hagwon System

    by Jieun KimJun 30, 2026 8:15 pm

    Korean students spend a significant amount of time and energy at hagwons, and the social consequences are serious.

  • More Than New Friends, “Framily” For Life

    by Sandra McAnanyMay 18, 2026 10:00 am

    How I Became a Sponsor

    In early 2023, I read an article about Kyle Varner, a doctor in Spokane Washington who had sponsored over 40 Venezuelans through a humanitarian parole program and reached out to him via social media to find out more.  When I commented on his post on Facebook, my messenger started flooding with messages from individuals and families in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua who were looking for sponsors through the new Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela (CHNV) humanitarian parole program.  I met with Kyle virtually, learned the steps involved, and wanted to sponsor a few people.  After exchanging messages with individuals online and not knowing any of them, I decided to sponsor four single women who were working hard in Venezuela, displayed resilience and focused on having a safer future.  I added the mother of one of the four when I realized she would be all alone in Venezuela if her daughter left. For me, this was an opportunity to make a true commitment to immigrants after being an informal advocate for years. ...

  • CGS Faculty Honored for Excellence in Instruction

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 8, 2026 12:30 pm

    CGS is proud to celebrate the achievements of these Center for Global Studies faculty affiliates and congratulates them on their Campus Awards.

  • From Illinois to the UN: CGS Affiliate Professor Lisa Hinchliffe on Information Integrity

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 4, 2026 4:45 pm

    Professor Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe of the School of Information Sciences, Coordinator for Research Professional Development at the University Library, and CGS Affiliate, recently addressed the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the topic of libraries and information integrity.

  • Convening Global Perspectives: CGS’ Inaugural Global Policy Forum

    by Jasmine CarruthApr 30, 2026 12:15 pm

    The Center for Global Studies (CGS) hosted a successful two-day Global Policy Forum (GPF) on April 14th and 15th, 2026. With almost 100 registrants, this forum spotlighted student presenters from over a dozen departments, covering academic areas such as political science, human rights, climate resilience, and sustainable development.