About Us

The Center for Global Initiatives is a catalyst for the innovative work of faculty and students. 

It offers an array of competitive funding opportunities including the Fulbright Program, Curriculum Development, International Internships, Conference Participation, Undergraduate Research, and Pre-Dissertation Travel.

The center generates flows of ideas through research projects such as the annual Navigating the Global American South conference and the book Going to Carolina del Norte: Narrating Mexican Migrant Experiences, through training programs such as the Rotary Peace Center and K-12 Outreach, and through online resources that highlight faculty expertise and student internship experiences.

Founded in 1993, the Center has received $20 million in grants from agencies and private donors including Ford, Freeman, MacArthur, Mellon, National Science Foundation, Z. Smith Reynolds, Rockefeller, Rotary International, United Nations University, U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department’s of State and Education, and the World Bank.

For its work, the Center is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of only nine National Resources Centers for Global Studies.

The Center for Global Initiatives is currently focusing particular attention on four themes: 1) Peace and Conflict Resolution, 2) Global Health, 3) Migration, Citizenship and Identity, and 4) the Globalization of the American South.

The Center’s director reports to the Associate Provost for International Affairs, who leads the university’s effort to raise its international profile.  This institutional connection offers a broad academic scope spanning the entire university, and the Center for Global Initiatives complements the work of other units focusing on thematic and area studies, study abroad, service learning, career services, and external relations.

To learn more about the Center for Global Initiatives, please stop by our offices on the 3rd floor of the new FedEx Global Education Center.  We encourage you to come discuss with us innovative ideas that expand and amplify the global work of UNC.