Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
DENVER, CO — The Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver is proud to announce that Carol Spahn, former Director of the Peace Corps, will join its faculty in fall 2025 as the Rice Family Professor of the Practice of International and Public Affairs.
Spahn was appointed as Acting Director of the Peace Corps by President Joseph R. Biden on his first day of office and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate thereafter. During her tenure, she guided the agency through a historic global relaunch following the COVID-19 pandemic, where more than 3,000 volunteers returned to service across 61 countries. She led transformational efforts to modernize operations, strengthen volunteer safety and trauma-informed care, and launched new country programs in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, and Palau. She also successfully secured the Peace Corps’ first budget increase in seven years.
In addition to her recent government service, Spahn has more than 25 years of international development experience, including leadership roles at Women for Women International, Accordia Global Health Foundation, and in multiple Peace Corps posts as both Country Director and Volunteer.
“Carol Spahn embodies a lifelong commitment to public service and international engagement,” said Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. “Her experience and insight will be invaluable to our students and our broader community.”
The appointment of Spahn as the Rice Family Professor of Practice reflects Korbel’s deep and ongoing connection and commitment to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korbel launched dedicated scholarships for evacuated volunteers, resulting in a surge in RPCV enrollment. Korbel remains steadfast in its support for those called to service. In fact, the University of Denver and the Korbel School have consistently been recognized as one of the top volunteer-producing universities by the Peace Corps.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Stephanie Worden | Assistant Dean for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
Creating a truly inclusive learning environment takes more than good intentions—it takes commitment, creativity, and care. Korbel School Professor Rebecca Galemba embodies these values every day, and to mark this year’s Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), the University of Denver awarded her the GAAD Award for Accessible & Inclusive Classroom Experiences. This distinction highlights her outstanding efforts to ensure every student feels supported and empowered to succeed.
Prof. Galemba’s approach to accessibility is an everyday extension of what GAAD celebrates in higher education: inclusive and accessible teaching practices. One student remarked, “Prof. Galemba has placed such an emphasis on accessibility and making sure that all of her students can learn in the way that best suits them. Her efforts to make her course accessible really encouraged me to engage with her and her course.” This kind of student feedback underscores the powerful ripple effect of Prof. Galemba’s thoughtfully inclusive classroom.
The University of Denver and the broader Korbel community are proud to recognize Prof. Galemba’s unwavering commitment to her students. Her work not only exemplifies the spirit of GAAD but also raises the bar for what inclusive education can and should be. Congratulations to Prof. Galemba on this well-earned honor!
Teaching Assistant Professor Dr. Stefan Chavez-Norgaard’s lifelong interest in public policy began at just six years old. As he took Philadelphia’s SEPTA train from his grandparents’ house to Center City, he was struck by the disparate quality of livelihoods visible from his window. “Even as a young kid,” he said, “I was shocked by the inequalities that the city line could mean in terms of land use, tree cover, and house size.”
That early awareness of inequity sparked a lifelong passion for public policy and urban planning, one that eventually brought him to the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, where he is now completing his first year as a faculty member.
“That’s where it all started,” he reflected. “A six-year-old visiting his grandparents with his mom and dad.”
That moment on the train sparked more than curiosity; it ignited a lifelong commitment to understanding how people with different lived experiences exist alongside one another, and how systems can either support or hinder that possibility. “The throughline across all my research is how can people of different backgrounds — racial, ethnic, gender, and class — live together side by side, as opposed to being separated by walls, segregation, and disparity,” Dr. Chavez-Norgaard explained.
That guiding question led him to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he returned many times to study the Born Free Generation: the first cohort to come of age without direct memory of apartheid. “This generation represented a really amazing historical moment — a society of explicit racial hierarchy and oppression giving way to a multiracial democracy,” he said.
Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s research centers on local democratic governance — bottom-up forms of engagement — and in Johannesburg, he found a powerful case study of a multiracial society striving to transcend its past. “I’ve stayed in touch with many of the original interviewees from my undergraduate thesis. They became interviewees in my PhD dissertation — and now, I would call them friends.”
The insights gained from this work not only shaped his academic journey but also drew him to Colorado, where he was born and raised, and where the intersection of democratic engagement and urban development offered new opportunities to continue his exploration. So, when the opening for a faculty position at the Korbel School popped up, Dr. Chavez-Norgaard was immediately interested. “There’s a sort of pragmatism about democratic problem solving in Colorado,” he said. “And then there’s the nature and beauty of the region as well as dynamism and growth.”
Throughout his first year, Dr. Chavez-Norgaard visited neighborhood associations and community organizations, which led to involvement in projects like the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The effort to bring public transportation to this part of Denver required collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders, creating a dynamic participatory process at the intersection of democratic principles and urban planning. “Who’s the envisioned rider of such a system?” he asked himself. “What about the displacement of existing residents of Colfax? Is BRT along Colfax even the right answer?” Projects like this, and the complex questions they raise, have affirmed that coming to Colorado was the right decision — a place where his research can take root and make a tangible impact.
All Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s efforts networking across the city culminated in making his debut Public Policy Analysis classes possible – one for undergraduates and another for graduate students. “These aren’t your typical lecture-based courses,” he said. “They’re chances for students to dive into real-world policy work, connect with professionals, and explore how cities like Denver interact globally.” Throughout the quarter, students meet with a lineup of inspiring guest speakers, taking an experiential learning approach.
Some of the guest speakers are former ambassadors, representatives from institutions like the Truman Center, the Pacific Disaster Center, World Denver, and multiple members of the Colorado Consular Corps. Students work directly with the U.S. Department of State and Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) on client-based projects.
Much of this is powered by the Korbel alumni network, which plays a big role in opening doors. Former students now working in these agencies are eager to give back, mentoring current students, and bringing their professional world into the classroom.
Dr. Chavez-Norgaard’s first year at Korbel has been defined by connection to his colleagues, students, and the broader Denver community. By grounding his teaching in hands-on experiences and his research in questions that matter across borders and backgrounds, he’s created a learning environment that is as intellectually rigorous as it is personally meaningful.
“I’ve felt welcomed and supported by the Korbel faculty from the very beginning, and I’m hoping to grow alongside faculty and staff colleagues at Korbel, whom I hope I can think of as lifelong friends,” he shared. That spirit of collaboration and purpose is shaping not just his own path, but the journeys of the next generation of public policy leaders — students learning to navigate complexity with clarity, empathy, and a drive to make a difference.
Dr. Hilary Matfess, Assistant Professor and Director of Korbel’s International Security Degree, never planned to study gender and war. However, a series of unexpected obstacles early in her career forced her to rethink her approach and ignited a passion for uncovering overlooked narratives—one that continues to fuel her work today.
“I love telling my students how I started this work because my entire career is an exercise in serendipity and mistakes,” she said.
From Serendipity to Passion
Dr. Matfess, who has taught at Korbel since 2021 and is an affiliate of the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy, examines how women mobilize for war globally with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. She looks at what they do in non-state armed groups, “which is a clunky academic term,” she explained, “for any group that’s not ‘official’ state military.” Her work explores why women join these groups, their roles, and their personal experiences within them.
“When I was getting my master's degree, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant tracking political or social violence in Nigeria,” she said. When she arrived to study Boko Haram, Dr. Matfess found that she couldn’t access the armed men at the heart of the conflict. “I was ambitious enough to think I’d get to the bottom of Boko Haram as a 20-something. Turns out, insurgencies are very good at staying hidden. I was really frustrated that I couldn't sit down with the people that I thought were at the heart of the war, which would be armed young men my age or younger.”
Fortunately for Dr. Matfess, what started as a roadblock became an opportunity that would shape the course of her work for years to come.
“Through other activists, practitioners, and academics, I landed interviews in displacement camps and with people who fled the crisis. Mostly women. Really embarrassingly, I treated them like a consolation prize at first, but they revealed conflict dynamics that I didn't see reflected in any of the narratives around Boko Haram. From then on, I became obsessed with shedding light on this under-explored dynamic of how armed groups function.”
Bringing Women’s Experiences from the Margins into the Light
Much of Dr. Matfess's research feels like assembling a puzzle with missing pieces. Alongside Associate Professor Meredith Loken, who teaches at the University of Amsterdam, she built the Women’s Activities in Armed Rebellion (WAAR) Dataset—tracking women’s roles across more than 350 rebel groups worldwide. The challenge? “Women’s experiences are often tucked away in offhand comments or footnotes, if they’re mentioned at all. It can be hard to track them down.”
Women’s experiences reveal how policymakers need to respond to crises and how counterinsurgency responses should adapt. “Bringing women’s experiences from the margins into the light — that’s the work. It’s essential to understanding not only conflict itself but also how we build more effective policies for peace.”
Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring Women's Stories in March and Beyond
For Dr. Matfess, Women’s History Month has been less about grand gestures and more about reaffirming why her work matters daily. “It’s a reminder of the power of global women’s networks, activism, and what’s possible when we center gender in building political movements and communities of care,” she said.
Her perspective is a call to action—one that acknowledges both progress and persistent challenges. As she points out, “We’re living through a backlash moment on gender equality, and it’s exhausting. We need to rebrand more inclusive institutions as meritocracies because that’s what they’ve always been. It’s not about political correctness. The best person for the job only emerges when the playing field is actually level.”
Dr. Matfess brings this same urgency and dedication into the classroom. As degree director for International Security, she prepares her students for careers ranging from defense and intelligence to advocacy and policy analysis, emphasizing that security extends beyond military might to include human security, gender justice, and economic stability.
Her students, in turn, fuel her optimism. “They care so much about the world, and they challenge me every day with fresh questions and new perspectives.” Their passion and curiosity reflect the change Women’s History Month and work like hers seek to inspire—not just in March, but every day. To learn more about Dr. Matfess's work, visit her website here.
Women’s History Month is a moment to reflect not only on women’s achievements but also on the untold stories of women whose experiences are often pushed to the margins—including those in conflict zones. To learn more, visit the official Women’s History Month website, or check out Korbel's initiatives through our Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative (IGLI).
For former US Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley (pictured above, to the left), the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) reaffirmed that she belonged in International Affairs. “ICAP provided the first gathering of foreign policy practitioners where I was not the ‘only’ in the room,” she said. “That gave me the ability to stop questioning my ‘appropriateness’ and focus on the mission at hand. It was key to my success in the field and raised my game as a proud American public servant.”
This Black History Month, the Korbel School honors the resilience, achievements, and lasting contributions that Black professionals have had on our culture, economy, and society. These influences have been profound for International Affairs and Public Policy — from embassies and classrooms around the world to grassroots organizers in our local communities. Founded by former Korbel Dean Dr. Tom Rowe, the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) has helped Black professionals in government, nonprofits, and the private sector navigate career advancement for nearly thirty years.
ICAP empowers Black leaders to drive meaningful change and achieve excellence in their fields through mentorship, policy discussions, and professional development. The program has been recognized by the US Congressional legislation and the Global Diversity List for its impact on diversity in leadership, and has a network of 900+ alumni who have ascended to senior roles, including US Ambassadors, executive directors, and CEOs.
ICAP’s impact is best seen through the success of its fellows. Latanya Mapp, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), shares how the program helped shape her career:
“Since my time at the Aspen Institute more than 20 years ago, the ICAP network has allowed me to understand and experience international affairs as a career professional moving from the UN to the US Foreign Service with USAID, to social justice NGOs and funds. I've left no stone unturned, and I am still going. I would not have the courage to use my voice without this amazing network and the power that comes with it.”
As we honor Black history, resilience, and progress during Black History Month and beyond, it is essential to recognize and support programs that create lasting opportunities for underrepresented communities. ICAP has long been a vital resource for advancing fair representation and inclusive leadership in international affairs and public policy. By fostering a strong network of professionals dedicated to meaningful change, the program continues to empower the next generation of leaders. To learn more about ICAP and its impact, or to apply to the 2025 cohort, contact Program Director Dr. Tom Rowe at [email protected] and Program Coordinator Angela Martinez at [email protected].
To learn more about how we celebrated Black History Month this year at the University of Denver, click here.
Studying abroad at the Korbel School isn’t just about hitting the books in a different country. It’s about creating opportunities for students to immerse themselves in new cultures, network with global leaders, and dare to redefine their futures. The month between the Fall and Winter Quarters — called “Winter Interterm” — is a chance for Korbel students to embrace these experiences.
This year, graduate and undergraduate students took three separate faculty-led academic trips to Kenya, Colombia, and the Balkans.
Researching Green Energy in Kenya
For Grecia Castel, a first-year Global Economic Affairs MA student, the study abroad program in Nairobi, Kenya was a deep dive into her passion for sustainability and green energy. “I got to research what I was passionate about while also talking to locals about real-world issues,” Grecia said.
Assistant Professor Singumbe Muyeba and Postdoctoral Research Assistant Abigail Kabandula led the trip in collaboration with faculty from the University of Nairobi’s Department of Diplomacy and International Studies. Dr. Muyeba and Dr. Kabandula supplemented these lessons with research activities across the city, bringing students to United Nations offices and the Parliament of Kenya to experience Kenya’s green energy transition first-hand. “I learned how representatives write environmental law into the Constitution,” Grecia said.
Alongside their studies, there was time to explore the African countryside, too. “We got to see some lions in the middle of a hunt, and they even used the tourist vehicles to get closer to their prey. Everyone was quiet, and it was really interesting to watch and wait. It felt like National Geographic in real life,” Grecia said.
Connecting with Leaders in the Balkans
Teaching Associate Professor Keith Gehring led a group of undergraduates to the Balkans. “Dr. Gehring’s enthusiasm was contagious,” Micah DenBraber said, a junior majoring in International Affairs. “Whether we were meeting with local politicians or just walking the streets, he made everything feel incredibly relevant and personal.”
The group’s itinerary included lectures at the University of Osijek, oral histories on pivotal events like the siege of Vukovar, visits to Parliamentary Assemblies in Belgrade and Sarajevo, and meetings with Serbian and US ambassadors. The trip was grounded in experiences with locals across the Balkans, ranging from personal accounts of local conflict to lectures about diplomatic relations.
“The opportunity helped me understand how leaders relate to their people and what a dysfunctional nation-state looks like,” Micah said. “We talked to politicians, including Marina Raguš, a Serbian parliamentarian, and even attended a lecture from the chair of the Serbian Parliament’s foreign affairs committee in the actual parliamentary hall. That was really cool.” Alongside his studies, Micah shared how life-changing it was to spend mornings in a city like Sarajevo. “I’d wake up to the call to prayer echoing across the city. From my hotel room, I had an amazing view of all the minarets lit up at twilight. It was something I’ll never forget.”
A Career Epiphany in Colombia
“I always pictured myself as an intelligence analyst,” Helen Lee, a first-year International Security MA student, shares. “But after this trip, I realized I might actually want a career where I can travel, engage with people, and be on the ground. That was a huge shift for me.”
Associate Professor Oliver Kaplan and Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Affairs Lewis Griffith accompanied students to Colombia, where they toured Bogotá and engaged in meaningful conversations with government officials at the University of the Andes. They also traveled to Zipacón, a region famous for coffee cultivation, hearing from organizers about sustainability in the area. Students interviewed locals to hear what political advocacy looked like from people on the ground.
And for Helen, a simple late-night conversation in a hammock with a fellow student turned into an unforgettable bonding experience. “We stayed up until 3:30 in the morning, just talking about everything—life, career goals, travel. You build these relationships that you wouldn’t have in a normal classroom setting.”
Take the Leap
One thing all three students agreed on: spending December abroad was worth it. “Since this is only a two-year program,” Helen said, “I didn’t want to miss too much of my time here. So when I saw that there was a Winter Interterm program, I thought, ‘perfect!’”
Micah says that even the Winter Interterm application process at Korbel incentivized travel. “Applying was super easy. I wasn’t nervous because I knew it was a great fit. If you’re applying for a trip and don’t know much about the host location, that is totally fine. You come to Korbel for opportunities like this. Not every school has experts with such incredible networks and first-hand experience. You can’t put a price on that.”
All three students emphasized how invaluable traveling with peers in their cohort was. “It’s a unique experience you’re all sharing at the same time,” Grecia said, “so you get to know each other very well and very quickly.”
To learn more about earning a degree at the Korbel school, contact us here.
The University of Denver has awarded the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies the prestigious designation of "Institute status," recognizing its research excellence and its critical contributions to addressing today’s most pressing policy challenges. Established in 2018 through a transformative $14 million gift from Doug and Mary Scrivner, the Institute has become a leader in interdisciplinary research, civil discourse, and community engagement on local to global public policy issues.
Under the leadership of Professor and Director Dr. Naazneen Barma, the Scrivner Institute has seen remarkable growth, expanding its faculty and partnerships, more than doubling research funding, and producing numerous publications and policy reports. It has also developed innovative initiatives like the Colorado Project, Denver Dialogues, and Scrivner Policy Roundtables. “This recognition from the University is testament to the exceptional work of our faculty and staff and the Institute’s commitment to fostering meaningful policy research and dialogue at local, national, and global levels,” said Dr. Barma.
Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Josef Korbel School, praised the milestone: “The Scrivner Institute exemplifies what it means to be a hub for actionable, collaborative, and innovative public policy research. We are excited to see how its new Institute status will further elevate its impact.”
Learn more about the Scrivner Institute and its groundbreaking work at korbel.du.edu/scrivner.
Denver, CO— The Josef Korbel School of International Studies is proud to support those who serve by offering a 50% tuition scholarship and waived application fees to individuals entering or transitioning out of federal service, government contracting, or government affiliated programs. This initiative recognizes the expertise and dedication of public service professionals and their vital role in shaping policy and global affairs.
Whether you are entering government service or returning to the private sector, we are committed to helping you take the next step in your career. The Josef Korbel School provides rigorous training in international affairs, public policy, security, and development. Our programs equip professionals with the skills, networks, and expertise needed to lead and make an impact in a rapidly changing world. With this scholarship, we aim to make a world-class education more accessible to those dedicated to public service.
“At the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, we believe that service is essential to building a better world. Those who dedicate their careers to federal service play a vital role in shaping policy, advancing diplomacy, and strengthening our communities. This scholarship is our way of recognizing their contributions and ensuring they have access to the education and resources needed to lead effectively—whether they are stepping into federal service or transitioning to new opportunities. We are proud to support them on their journey” – Dean Frederick “Fritz” Mayer
About the Josef Korbel School of International Studies
The Korbel School at the University of Denver is the 12th-ranked program in the world to earn a master’s program in International Relations and the 20th-best place to pursue an undergraduate in International Studies by Foreign Policy. Located in Denver, Colorado, the Korbel School offers flexible undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs, allowing students to build skills to solve real-world challenges. Studying in Denver offers a unique blend of global engagement and fresh perspective—where a thriving, forward-thinking city meets unparalleled access to the outdoors, providing the space to think beyond the beltway and approach complex challenges with clarity and vision.
Dr. Suisheng Zhao, Professor and Director of the Center for China-U.S. Cooperation (CCUSC) at the Josef Korbel School, continues to receive widespread recognition for his book, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press).
Foreign Affairs magazine has named Zhao’s work among its Best Books of 2024, further solidifying its contribution to the field of international relations.
The book has also garnered high praise from leading scholars and journals:
Explore the full list of Foreign Affairs’ Best Books of 2024, at foreignaffairs.com.
More on Dr. Zhao and Center for China-U.S. Cooperation at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies here.
Dean Mayer and Dean Karim El Aynaoui formally signed a student exchange agreement during a ceremony held at UM6P’s Rabat campus, coinciding with events from the Atlantic Dialogues.
The Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver is excited to announce a new Student Exchange Agreement with the Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences (FGSES) of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco. The agreement, finalized on December 13, 2024, establishes a robust partnership enabling graduate students to participate in academic exchanges between the two institutions beginning in the 2025/26 academic year.
Dean Frederick “Fritz” Mayer of the Korbel School and Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, Dean of FGSES, formally signed the agreement during a ceremony held at UM6P’s Rabat campus, coinciding with the events of the Atlantic Dialogues conference. The agreement aims to foster academic collaboration, broaden students’ international experiences, and strengthen ties between the U.S. and Morocco.
Korbel students will have the opportunity to study in UM6P’s renowned graduate programs in political science, global affairs, and economics. Similarly, FGSES students will have access to Korbel’s diverse academic offerings, including its Master’s programs in Global Economic Affairs, Global Environmental Sustainability, International Development, International Human Rights, International Security, International Studies, and Public Policy.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to preparing students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world,” said Dean Mayer. “We look forward to the enriching academic and cultural exchanges this collaboration will bring.”
The signing event included presentations on UM6P’s programs, a campus tour, and engaging discussions with students and faculty. Both institutions also pledged to explore future opportunities for broader cooperation in teaching, research, and professional development.
For more information about the exchange program, please contact Dr. Kevin Archer at [email protected].
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