Spring 2015 Global Lecture Series
**********
Security, Immigration, Forced Displacement, Refugees, and Development
Photo P. Rose
Introduction
Immigration, forced displacement, and refugees are both a global and local concern, drawing the attention of politicians,
policy makers, and the public at large. In the past several years, increasing numbers of sub-Saharan Africans, joined
more recently by Palestinians, Syrians, and Kurds fleeing war zones, have died while crossing the Mediterranean as
they’ve tried to reach Europe. Their fates have highlighted the social crises in their countries of origin, as well as in the
countries where they land, unwelcomed. This past summer, the illegal crossing of American borders by unaccompanied
underage migrants (often victims of human trafficking) from Mexico and Latin America turned into both a humanitarian
and a political crisis. Ongoing political insecurity and war in countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, and Syria are forcing people to flee their homes to become refugees in countries illprepared or reluctant to welcome them. This Global Lecture Series brings together scholars, students, and local partner
agencies and organizations working with or for refugees and immigrants to explore the complex social, political, and
ethical issues that arise when people are forcibly displaced.
The Lewis Global Studies Center (Lewis Center) and the Center for Community Collaboration (CCC) present this global
lecture series for interested faculty, students, and community partners. All lectures and panels are open to the public;
workshops are open to students and invited guests. Students interested in pursuing research or community-based
projects related to the theme of the lectures and workshop are encouraged to sign up for CCX 400 (Special Studies).
Schedule of Events
Lecture: Forced Displacement and Refugees: New Forms in the Global World, New Challenges, New Responses
Greg White, Professor of Government, Smith College
Thursday, February 12, 4:30p.m., Neilson Library Browsing Room
Workshop*: Being Student and Immigrant at Smith College: Adapting to Administrative, Cultural, Religious, and
Weather Differences
Facilitators: Giovanna Bellesia, Professor of Italian Language and Literature Smith College
Caitlin Szymkowicz, Associate Dean of the Office for International Students and Scholars
Organized in collaboration with the Hampshire County Smith Club
Tuesday, February 24, 4 p.m., Lewis Global Studies Center, Wright Hall
Panel: Immigration Policies and Local Answers to a Global Issue, Resettlement Experiences and Challenges of
Displaced People
Panelists: Joanne Corbin, Professor and chair of research sequence at Smith College
Susannah Crolius, Coordinator of Outreach and Resource Development, Western Massachusetts Refugee and Immigrant
Consortium
Jeff Napolitano, Executive Officer, American Friends Service Committee of Western Massachusetts
Monday, March 9, 4:30 p.m., Center for Community Collaboration, Wright Hall
Contact: Alfred Babo, ababo@smith.edu, global@smith.edu
Lewis Global Studies Center ● Center for Community Collaboration
Wright Hall, Smith College
Page 1
Videoconference**: Immigration, Displacement, and Mobility in the World: Ebola, Melilla, and Ceuta Enclaves—New
Causes and Global Consequences
Videoconference with the University of Quebec, Montreal
Greg White, Professor of Government
Mustapha Machafri, Professor and Dean at the University Mohammed V-Rabat and Fulbright Scholar at Smith College
Alfred Babo, Visiting Scholar at Smith College
Organized in collaboration with the CIRDIS–UQAM
Tuesday, March 10 (by invitation only)
Lecture: Immigration and Gender in the U.S.
Katherine Newman, Professor of Sociology, Provost of UMass Amherst
Organized in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology
Wednesday, March 25, 4:30 p.m., Nielson Library Browsing Room
Lecture: Forced Displacement, Refugees, and Development: Global Overview, Policies, and Local Answers to a
Global Issue
David Brotherton, Chairman and Professor of Sociology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Organized in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology
Friday, April 10, 5 p.m., Neilson Library Browsing Room
RELATED EVENTS
Student presentations: “Celebrating Collaborations”
Saturday, April 18, Smith College
Workshop*: Academic and community-based projects
Facilitator: Alfred Babo, Visiting Scholar at Smith College
Late April/early May 2015 (tbd)
About the Lewis Global Studies Center
The Phoebe and John D. Lewis Global Studies Center serves as a home base for international students, scholars, activists
and visiting professors. The Lewis Global Studies Center mission is to integrate, enrich and promote opportunities for the
critical study of global issues internationally and within the United States in order to advance the college's mission to
prepare women for global citizenship and leadership. The center engages Smith students, faculty, and staff in
international and intercultural studies and cultivates an understanding of the global context of a Smith education.
About the Center for Community Collaboration
The CCC is a place for building relationships, where students, faculty and community members may meet, talk about
common interests and goals, and make plans for working together. We are committed to working with communities
around our campus and around the world in partnerships for shared learning and growth, facilitating collaborations of
faculty, students, and community members on projects that provide opportunities for significant real-life learning and
engaged scholarship, while addressing community goals.
* Workshops are closed to the general public. All Smith students are welcome, as are invited faculty, staff, and
community members. (If interested, contact Alfred Babo at ababo@smith.edu.)
** Due to space limitations, the videoconference is for invited guests only. (If interested, contact Alfred Babo at
ababo@smith.edu.)
Contact: Alfred Babo, ababo@smith.edu, global@smith.edu
Lewis Global Studies Center ● Center for Community Collaboration
Wright Hall, Smith College
Page 2