News highlights for the Annual Report
A collection of commendable moments and recognitions from around KU International Affairs.
Brazilian Studies Association moves to KU
The Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA) moved to the University of Kansas for six years starting July 2026, led by Luciano Tosta as executive director. Tosta, associate professor of Spanish & Portuguese and director of KU’s Center for Global & International Studies (CGIS), studies race, ethnicity, and transnational Brazilian culture. Housed in CGIS, the BRASA secretariat is supported by Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, and KU International Affairs. CGIS assistant director Jennifer Duhamel will serve as its administrative director.
Tosta receives Woodyard International Educator Award
Professor Luciano Tosta received the 29th George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award, recognizing faculty who advance international education through teaching, research and global engagement. Colleagues cited his innovative teaching, mentorship and partnerships with institutions in Brazil, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania and Mexico. A longtime advocate for global learning, Tosta has led study abroad programs in Brazil, helped develop KU’s Race, History and Health in Brazil program, and brought international scholars and collaborations to campus. He is scheduled to accept the award at an October ceremony.
AEC program redesign expands multilingual student access
The Applied English Center (AEC) implemented a redesigned curriculum for 2026–27 to give students greater scheduling flexibility while maintaining learning outcomes. The new structure replaces block courses with individual classes focused on academic writing, reading, listening or speaking, allowing more targeted instruction and schedules that better fit academic, athletic and extracurricular commitments. According to AEC Director Pamela Pearson, the redesign responds to challenges faced by student-athletes and students in music programs. The updated courses align with standard university meeting times and preserve accreditation standards while supporting KU’s student success goals, driving a five-fold enrollment increase.
Social work researcher Claire Willey‑Sthapit receives international research award
In April, Claire Willey-Sthapit received the International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award, recognizing faculty who demonstrate outstanding leadership in international education through research. An assistant professor in the School of Social Welfare, she was honored for work examining domestic violence policy in the United States and Nepal. Her scholarship emphasizes collaboration with local practitioners and organizations, including Kopila Nepal, and highlights community-based approaches to prevention and response. She is also researching self-help groups in Nepal and their role in empowering women and marginalized populations.
CEAS marks change in leadership
KU’s Center for East Asian Studies completed a leadership transition this summer, with Akiko Takeyama concluding her five-year term as director and Hyunjin Seo, University Distinguished Professor in Journalism & Mass Communications, stepping into the role. Takeyama was praised for her leadership, grant writing and creative programming, leaving CEAS in a strong position. Seo brings extensive experience in global communication, international partnerships and research on networked communication and social change. CEAS looks forward to continuing its work under her leadership.
KU and Lawrence build global partnerships following World Cup outreach
When Algeria’s men’s World Cup team trained in Lawrence this summer, the city and KU turned hosting duties into lasting international engagement. KU units across campus provided cultural orientation, public programming, translation assistance, and multilingual outreach. Collaborating entities included African and African American Studies, the Kansas African Studies Center, the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, language departments, the Spencer Museum of Art, and the KU Natural History Museum. Beyond welcoming international teams and visitors, their combined work opened doors for long-term academic partnerships, including a proposed umbrella agreement with the University of Biskra centering on arid-region agriculture, aquifer management, oasis urbanism, and sustainable architecture.
Soaring Outreach Metrics
In April the area centers—Center for East Asian Studies, Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies, Kansas African Studies Center, and Global & International Studies Center—collaborated with the Spencer Museum of Art to bring families to campus to celebrate Children's Day through hands-on kite-making, cultural games, and international art exhibits.
Cultural Festival takes a run at getting her
kite alof.
This gathering was just one of many successes recorded after the centers launched a centralized tracking database in January to measure the reach and engagement of their public programming. Throughout the Spring 2026 semester, the centers hosted 157 outreach events, connecting with 6,314 attendees across campus, local communities, and the broader region. Program activity peaked in April, which saw 55 events and more than 2,500 participants in a single month. The data reflects a diversity of programming, spanning everything from interactive cultural celebrations, research symposia, and academic lecture series to K-12 classroom presentations, and language tables.