Events

Events

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 4

CLAS Speaker Series: Legitimated Knowledge? Uncovering Identity in the Hidden Curriculum of Textbooks
Time:
1:00 pm
Presenter:
Dr. Filipe Recch
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies

Dr. Filipe Recch is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice in Educational Research at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. Using methods from political science, comparative education, and data analysis, he studies how curriculum, governance, and policy affect educational outcomes.

One of Dr. Recch’s primary research agendas focuses on how K-12 textbooks in low- and middle-income countries affect different populations of students and the regionalization of education. Employing computational text analysis and Natural Language Processing (NLP), he studies large collections of curricular materials to identify patterns and understand how these vary in terms of space and populational characteristics. By adapting NLP methods to non-English contexts, his work with Brazilian textbooks has revealed that textbook content correlates with performance, school characteristics, and broader educational outcomes. Additionally, in a study of Indian textbooks, he found shifts in historical narratives that suggest evolving understandings of national identity and different population experiences.

Beyond curriculum analysis, Dr. Recch investigates how policy coordination and governance structures shape access to high-quality education. Focusing on decentralized systems, he has studied Brazil’s educational policy alignment across municipal and state governments, identifying conditions under which coordinated approaches can influence access to educational opportunities. This comparative perspective allows him to draw insights relevant to various contexts, including how parallel education systems—such as charter schools in the United States, selective schools in the United Kingdom, and private schools more broadly—may produce unequal learning opportunities.

Before pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Recch worked for five years in the social development and education departments of a state government in Brazil. He holds a Ph.D. in International Comparative Education and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Stanford University. Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh, he served as a Postdoctoral Research and Policy Associate at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Fall 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Time:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
Molly McSweeney
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Director's Office, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
Contact:
Molly McSweeney
Contact Email:
mcm206@pitt.edu

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Monday, November 10

Bate-Papo Portuguese Conversation Hour
Time:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Presenter:
Jennifer Villanueva
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
Contact:
Jennifer Villanueva
Contact Email:
jev76@pitt.edu

Join us in the Global Hub for to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo meet on Mondays, during Fall 2025, starting September 8 and ending December 15, EXCEPT on November 24.

Tuesday, November 11

Fall 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Time:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
Molly McSweeney
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Director's Office, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
Contact:
Molly McSweeney
Contact Email:
mcm206@pitt.edu

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Thursday, November 13

Peace Corps Info Session
Time:
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Presenter:
Nick Gasquet
Location:
Global Hub, 1st Floor Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Global Studies Center, Global Hub and University of Pittsburgh Peace Corps Recruiter
Contact:
Anna-Maria Karnes
Contact Email:
AWK19@pitt.edu

Pitt Alumni Nicholas Gasquet will present on the Peace Corps application process and his own personal experiences in Indonesia and Senegal as a current Peace Corps Volunteer.

Gasquet graduated from Pitt in 2024 with a major in political science, minors in economics and history, and an African Studies certificate.

The Peace Corps allows you the opportunity to serve in 60+ countries around the world in Africa, Central and East Asia and Latin America.

Monday, November 17

Growing Old in the Modern World
A Global History
Time:
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Presenter:
Alissa Klots (History) and Elizabeth Mulvaney (Social Work)
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies and Global Studies Center along with World History Center, Leibniz ScienceCampus Europe and America in the Modern World and Volkswagen Foundadtion
Contact:
Alissa Klots
Contact Email:
alissaklots@pitt.edu

Rapid population aging is a modern phenomenon that has been transforming societies across the globe. Roundtable participants will present their research of different aspects of aging from the role of grandparents in modern societies to the place of technology in accommodating older people across the globe.

Lunch reception: 12:30–1:30 PM

Bate-Papo Portuguese Conversation Hour
Time:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Presenter:
Jennifer Villanueva
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
Contact:
Jennifer Villanueva
Contact Email:
jev76@pitt.edu

Join us in the Global Hub for to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo meet on Mondays, during Fall 2025, starting September 8 and ending December 15, EXCEPT on November 24.

Tuesday, November 18

Fall 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Time:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
Molly McSweeney
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Director's Office, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
Contact:
Molly McSweeney
Contact Email:
mcm206@pitt.edu

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Wednesday, November 19

CLAS Speaker Series: Are Latin American Bureaucrats Democrats? Politics, Technocratic Orientation and Democracy
Time:
1:00 pm
Presenter:
Scott Morgenstern
Location:
4130 Posvar Hall
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies

Former director of CLAS; Books include 1) Are Politics Local? The Two Dimensions of Party Nationalization around the World & 2) Patterns of Legislative Politics: Roll Call Voting in the United States and Latin America’s Southern Cone, both with Cambridge University Press. Currently working on a book about US-Latin American Relations, in addition to various projects about political parties and democracy in the region.

Monday, December 1

Bate-Papo Portuguese Conversation Hour
Time:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Presenter:
Jennifer Villanueva
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
Contact:
Jennifer Villanueva
Contact Email:
jev76@pitt.edu

Join us in the Global Hub for to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo meet on Mondays, during Fall 2025, starting September 8 and ending December 15, EXCEPT on November 24.

Tuesday, December 2

Fall 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Time:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
Molly McSweeney
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Director's Office, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
Contact:
Molly McSweeney
Contact Email:
mcm206@pitt.edu

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Monday, December 8

Bate-Papo Portuguese Conversation Hour
Time:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Presenter:
Jennifer Villanueva
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
Contact:
Jennifer Villanueva
Contact Email:
jev76@pitt.edu

Join us in the Global Hub for to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo meet on Mondays, during Fall 2025, starting September 8 and ending December 15, EXCEPT on November 24.

Tuesday, December 9

Fall 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Time:
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Presenter:
Molly McSweeney
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, Director's Office, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
Contact:
Molly McSweeney
Contact Email:
mcm206@pitt.edu

Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

Monday, December 15

Bate-Papo Portuguese Conversation Hour
Time:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Presenter:
Jennifer Villanueva
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Hub along with Brazil Nuts
Contact:
Jennifer Villanueva
Contact Email:
jev76@pitt.edu

Join us in the Global Hub for to meet other students and to practice Portuguese of all levels!

Bate-Papo meet on Mondays, during Fall 2025, starting September 8 and ending December 15, EXCEPT on November 24.

Thursday, May 14

Global Issues Through Literature: The U.S. in the World
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings by Margarita Engle
Time:
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Location:
via Zoom
Sponsored by:
Center for Latin American Studies and Global Studies Center

This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global issues through literature. This year, we will explore the theme of “The U.S. in the World.” Through global and regional perspectives, we will discuss narratives of a “Global United States,” where the U.S. role in the world and its relationship with other countries and regions is informed by transnational narratives and dialogues shaped by global trends such as migration, environmental issues, human rights, and human conditions. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of this theme, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics.

Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with historically contextualized presentations, interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation.

The May 14, 2026 workshop will focus on the book, "Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings" by Margarita Engle.

Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (ET). Three Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book are provided for each session.

For more information and to register, please go to: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/GILS .

Hosted by the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the Political Institutions and Processes Section of the Latin American Studies Association. This is a virtual series to create a space for political scientists and other academics to discuss the critical social and political challenges facing Latin America today--including democratic backsliding, economic inequality, racial injustice, gender inequities, and a host of other issues.