International Affairs Graduate School Recruitment Events

Interested in a specific topic of study or want to learn more about fields within International Affairs? Hear from leading graduate schools that offer topic-focused grad school programs in a more intimate setting during these small group chats hosted by the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA):

Development and Conflict Resolution - May 10 at 4:00pm ET

Diplomacy and International Cooperation - May 16 at 4:00pm ET

Women, Peace, and Security - May 18 at 12:00pm ET

National Security and Global Threats - May 23 at 2:00pm ET

Global Communications - May 25 at 4:00pm ET

Human Rights, Social Justice, and Law - May 31 at 2:00pm ET

Energy, Sustainability, and Climate - June 6 at 4:00pm ET

Global Public Health - June 8 at 12:00pm ET

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/617760396977

Hanami: Cherry Blossom Matsuri at Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago

Join the Japanese Arts Foundation in partnership with the Japanese Culture Center, Chicago Park District, Shubukai, Tsukasa Taiko, and the Consulate General of Japan in Chicago for an afternoon full of dance, drums, and of course cherry blossoms!

We invite you to the annual Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, festival! Held in Jackson Park’s historic Garden of the Phoenix and surrounding the Columbian Basin, which is home to about 160 cherry blossom trees that typically bloom each spring. The trees are located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry and in the Garden of the Phoenix on the Wooded Island, a short walk south of the Columbian Basin.

The afternoon includes performances from Shubukai (traditional Japanese dance) and Tsukasa Taiko (taiko drum), origami folding, and cherry blossom sketching sessions with the IIT student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Come celebrate the fleeting beauty of sakura, or cherry blossoms, with us!

IUC Alumni Talks: A Career in Japanese Literature

Please join us for the next IUC Alumni Talks featuring Melek Su Ortabasi.

Melek will share her experiences living and studying in Japan and working as a Japanese literature professor. We’ll also discuss her successful efforts to lobby for the opening of Japan's borders after the pandemic.

Register on Zoom

About our speaker

Dr. Melek Su Ortabasi is Associate Professor of World Literature at Simon Fraser University. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature and has taught at universities in Canada, the US, and Japan. Her research interests include modern Japanese literature, world children’s literature, translation theory and practice, and popular culture. She is an accomplished author, with numerous published books, academic journal articles, and book chapters. Melek is dedicated to teaching and has taught a variety of courses in world literature at the undergraduate level. Currently, Melek is living in Yokohama with her youngest child while on a visiting professorship at Sophia University in Tokyo. Her latest project is working on a book manuscript about transnational influences on the development of modern Japanese children’s literature.

Join Melek to hear about her background as a bilingual German/English speaker who was raised and educated in different countries, giving her a unique perspective on language and culture. We’ll hear about her experiences studying Japanese literature, going from her time at the IUC to her academic career, and the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. We will also discuss how her lobbying made a difference for separated families hurt by Japan’s closed borders during the pandemic.

About IUC Alumni Talks

IUC Alumni Talks is a web series organized by alumni Richard ('03), Taranee (‘19), Mariah (‘23) and Megan (‘20).

The goal of these events is to create a space for the IUC alumni network to share their personal journeys with each other and with the wider public including future IUC students. Through this series, we hope to build a strong community among people with diverse associations with Japan.

If you have any questions or feedback, or if you’re interested in getting involved, please contact the organizing committee at alumni_talks@iucjapan.org.

Miss the previous sessions? Mondai nai! Watch here on the IUC Alumni Talks YouTube channel.