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.
Tom Rowe, a lifelong advocate of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), received the Korbel Lifetime Achievement Award this year at our annual Korbel Honors—a fitting tribute to his extensive work in the field. As the founder and director of the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), Rowe has dedicated the past twenty-seven years to supporting mid-career professionals from marginalized communities and over 40 years to the Korbel School.
Rowe's commitment to advocacy stems from his upbringing in Michigan, near Detroit and Ann Arbor, where his politically active family and their opposition to racism influenced him. "I grew up in and around Detroit," says Rowe, "raised by parents who were very active in the union movement and the opposition to Henry Ford, who was a racist and antisemitic. My father was also a Quaker, and I remember attending many meetings in Ann Arbor, discussing human rights and peace studies." After he graduated high school, Rowe attended the University of Michigan and pursued his PhD/MA at Berkeley.
His career path took an unexpected turn when his dissertation supervisor at Berkeley informed him about a teaching position in Connecticut, where he could work on his dissertation. While in Connecticut, Rowe also received a call from Josef Korbel, who was seeking an assistant dean. Although Rowe did not take the position then, this was his first contact with the Korbel School.
Rowe's activism against the Vietnam War created challenges in Connecticut, prompting his move to Virginia. After confronting issues of gender inequality in Virginia, he finally made his way to Denver in the mid-1970s. At the Korbel School, during many years as Associate Dean and then Dean of the School, Rowe made a special effort to recruit students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions. Despite his success, he grew frustrated with the limited opportunities for credentialed Korbel School alums from underrepresented groups. Recognizing this gap and after several attempts to address it through existing channels, Rowe took the initiative to found ICAP in 1996, with funding from the Mellon Foundation. He was assisted in this by his wife, Emita Samuels, a former Director of Student Affairs at Korbel.
ICAP provides a comprehensive support network, including leadership training, career advising, mentorship, and policy analysis resources. It empowers professionals from underrepresented groups, with over 800 alums, including prominent figures such as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers of the US Department of State and leaders of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Texas ACLU, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and PepsiCo Foundation. The program's reach is far and wide, and its origin was creating a community for professionals to tackle issues like racism, ethnocentrism, and misogyny.
Each year, ICAP hosts its capstone program at Aspen Meadows Resort/Home of the Aspen Institute. The retreat allows participants to focus on personal and professional growth, career development, and broad policy issues. "My wife and I drove through the mountains looking for a place where people could step away from their daily lives," Rowe reflects, "focusing instead on themselves and each other."
Though Rowe is proud of ICAP's reach so far, he understands that commitment to programs like these is even more existential for marginalized communities in the years to come. "Issues of equity & inclusion have become politicized and controversial," Rowe says, "which is unfortunate because DEIB is about improving the quality of leadership and of folks' lives. It's ensuring that all talent of all populations in the United States is represented."
On the other hand, when Rowe gets discouraged, he thinks about how far we've come. "There really has been progress, and we will deal with this new backlash. We'll each step forward and renew our efforts. We may change some vocabulary and evolve, but we keep working. That's what we do."
To learn more about ICAP, you can check out its website here.
For alumnus Stephanie Trejo, the Korbel School quickly became a home that welcomed all aspects of her journey: her non-linear career path and her identity as a Latina woman, to name a few. Before Korbel, Stephanie wasn’t sure how to make her dream career possible. “Now, I’m finally doing it,” she says, “I have a career in International Trade. But for the longest time, I never had mentors or someone that could direct me to the right path to get where I am now.” Ultimately, Stephanie's leap of faith when she moved to Denver offered her the perfect path to a career in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie graduated in 2023 with her master’s in Global Economic Affairs, and while at the Korbel School, she worked as an Employer Outreach & Events Coordinator. She also landed positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission as a graduate student. Stephanie explains that these incredible opportunities were only possible after faculty and staff encouraged her to embrace her non-linear background, rather than seeing it as an obstacle. “At first, I was intimidated by a lot of my classmates,” she says. “They had really impressive internships and really impressive job experiences. My experience was not very linear.”
Originally, Stephanie graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the University of El Paso, Texas, and wanted to be a teacher. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she wanted to do something different and took the chance to finally explore careers in International Trade. After finding the Korbel School and moving to Denver, she quickly found support in her Global Economic Affairs community. “It’s a great program,” she says, “There were times when it was hard to navigate a new career or new life step, so the support that Korbel provided — that helped me feel included — was really great.” At first, working with so many talented faculty and students felt intimidating, but her mentors encouraged her to move past that. “That’s one thing I love about Professor Ilene Grabel. She always gave you the opportunity to speak, and she was always engaged in what you wanted to say.”
Stephanie’s career counselor also helped her see that many of the Korbel School’s most successful students and alumni had non-traditional paths, too. Once Stephanie discovered the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), everything clicked. ICAP is a mid-career, professional development program designed to bring greater diversity to senior management and policy making positions in International Affairs. Their annual, two week-long seminar in Aspen is a cornerstone event for many leaders in the industry seeking community, and Stephanie got to take part as a Program Manager supporting the event. “Up in Aspen,” she says, “they talk about career development, career history, and all their journeys in the government." For Stephanie, this experience helped her form invaluable connections to pursuing her career in International Affairs. “Sometimes, as a woman of color, a Latina, it is really hard to find good mentors, especially those who work in the government.”
When asked about Hispanic Heritage Month, Stephanie maintained the importance of community and celebrating each other’s accomplishments. "Anyone can achieve their goals with hard work and perseverance," she says, and for Stephanie, prioritizing strong connections with mentors and following their advice is one of the most important parts of the journey. "Mentees, treasure your mentors along the way, really make sure to value that connection. Treasure it because that will take you so far. Sometimes, there are a lot of obstacles, even though the world is changing for people of color, especially women. But having this month to recognize us and our hard work is really cool, because I feel like we are seen, we are heard, and we are recognized.”
Stephanie currently works as an International Trade Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and she plans to apply to be an ICAP fellow once she meets their mid-career benchmark. To learn more about ICAP, you can check out their website here.
For alumnus Stephanie Trejo, the Korbel School quickly became a home that welcomed all aspects of her journey: her non-linear career path and her identity as a Latina woman, to name a few. Before Korbel, Stephanie wasn’t sure how to make her dream career possible. “Now, I’m finally doing it,” she says, “I have a career in International Trade. But for the longest time, I never had mentors or someone that could direct me to the right path to get where I am now.” Ultimately, Stephanie's leap of faith when she moved to Denver offered her the perfect path to a career in Washington, D.C.
Stephanie graduated in 2023 with her master’s in Global Economic Affairs, and while at the Korbel School, she worked as an Employer Outreach & Events Coordinator. She also landed positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission as a graduate student. Stephanie explains that these incredible opportunities were only possible after faculty and staff encouraged her to embrace her non-linear background, rather than seeing it as an obstacle. “At first, I was intimidated by a lot of my classmates,” she says. “They had really impressive internships and really impressive job experiences. My experience was not very linear.”
Originally, Stephanie graduated with a degree in Philosophy from the University of El Paso, Texas, and wanted to be a teacher. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she wanted to do something different and took the chance to finally explore careers in International Trade. After finding the Korbel School and moving to Denver, she quickly found support in her Global Economic Affairs community. “It’s a great program,” she says, “There were times when it was hard to navigate a new career or new life step, so the support that Korbel provided — that helped me feel included — was really great.” At first, working with so many talented faculty and students felt intimidating, but her mentors encouraged her to move past that. “That’s one thing I love about Professor Ilene Grabel. She always gave you the opportunity to speak, and she was always engaged in what you wanted to say.”
Stephanie’s career counselor also helped her see that many of the Korbel School’s most successful students and alumni had non-traditional paths, too. Once Stephanie discovered the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), everything clicked. ICAP is a mid-career, professional development program designed to bring greater diversity to senior management and policy making positions in International Affairs. Their annual, two week-long seminar in Aspen is a cornerstone event for many leaders in the industry seeking community, and Stephanie got to take part as a Program Manager supporting the event. “Up in Aspen,” she says, “they talk about career development, career history, and all their journeys in the government." For Stephanie, this experience helped her form invaluable connections to pursuing her career in International Affairs. “Sometimes, as a woman of color, a Latina, it is really hard to find good mentors, especially those who work in the government.”
When asked about Hispanic Heritage Month, Stephanie maintained the importance of community and celebrating each other’s accomplishments. "Anyone can achieve their goals with hard work and perseverance," she says, and for Stephanie, prioritizing strong connections with mentors and following their advice is one of the most important parts of the journey. "Mentees, treasure your mentors along the way, really make sure to value that connection. Treasure it because that will take you so far. Sometimes, there are a lot of obstacles, even though the world is changing for people of color, especially women. But having this month to recognize us and our hard work is really cool, because I feel like we are seen, we are heard, and we are recognized.”
Stephanie currently works as an International Trade Analyst for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and she plans to apply to be an ICAP fellow once she meets their mid-career benchmark. To learn more about ICAP, you can check out their website here.
For current graduate student Alejandro Chavez, connecting his career with a sense of community and belonging is one of his biggest priorities. “My identity has always led me to be passionate about issues of immigration, economic opportunity, and education for the Latino community,” he says. As the Korbel School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting Alejandro’s experiences as a graduate student, dance troupe member, and advocate for migrant communities.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Alejandro spent some time working for a non-profit in Denver. He would eventually return to the Korbel School to pursue his master’s in International Studies with a focus on Latin American Studies. He is also balancing a part-time job as an Employer Relation Assistant for the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) and coursework for his certificate in Public Diplomacy. Both give him experiences that cut across his major — whether with other faculty members or employers looking for International Studies and Policy students in the area.
“Coming to DU during my bachelor’s,” says Alejandro, “I had a narrow idea of how I wanted my career to pan out, which was very focused on the federal government. As I get older, I have this strong passion for my community and culture, and so cultural diplomacy feels like a very strong fit for how I want to see my career proceed.” Alejandro is one of many students at the Korbel School who take advantage of the flexible, diverse curriculum that helps graduate candidates discover new passions and reconnect with old ones. For Alejandro, working with Professor Rebecca Galemba and a non-profit called Centro de Los Trabajadores Colorado — the only day laborer center in Denver — was one of those pivotal turning points. Together, they helped create an integration program to benefit Venezuelan migrants who were newcomers to the state.
Beyond his advocacy through the Korbel School, Alejandro also partakes in local dance and theatre that celebrates the heart and soul of Mexican heritage. “Both my grandfathers are immigrants from Mexico, and both my grandmothers grew up in a small town in southwest Colorado,” he says. “Growing up here in Colorado myself, I was part of Folklórico groups as a child. I got reconnected to that community in 2021 through friends that were starting their dance company here in Colorado.” Alejandro is a dancer in ArtistiCO and has performed in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House — with future performances on the near horizon.
Even though Alejandro attributes many community connections to his time at DU, he acknowledges there is a long way to go. “I think there are definitely some moments when you feel that imposter syndrome seep in,” he says, “especially when you first arrive on DU's campus. Often, I see that I am the only person of Latino descent in the classroom. But in this specific graduate program, I was grateful to have a lot of international students and students of color in my cohort.”
Alejandro was recently selected to join the 2025 cohort for the Capitol Fellowship Program with the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization, which provides public policy training to college students. His next ArtistiCO performances will be at the Gates Concert Hall on December 2nd & 3rd, titled Fiestas Navideñas. To reserve tickets, follow this link. To learn more about Alejandro’s journey and his relationship to Hispanic Heritage Month, follow this link for his full interview.
For current graduate student Alejandro Chavez, connecting his career with a sense of community and belonging is one of his biggest priorities. “My identity has always led me to be passionate about issues of immigration, economic opportunity, and education for the Latino community,” he says. As the Korbel School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting Alejandro’s experiences as a graduate student, dance troupe member, and advocate for migrant communities.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Alejandro spent some time working for a non-profit in Denver. He would eventually return to the Korbel School to pursue his master’s in International Studies with a focus on Latin American Studies. He is also balancing a part-time job as an Employer Relation Assistant for the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) and coursework for his certificate in Public Diplomacy. Both give him experiences that cut across his major — whether with other faculty members or employers looking for International Studies and Policy students in the area.
“Coming to DU during my bachelor’s,” says Alejandro, “I had a narrow idea of how I wanted my career to pan out, which was very focused on the federal government. As I get older, I have this strong passion for my community and culture, and so cultural diplomacy feels like a very strong fit for how I want to see my career proceed.” Alejandro is one of many students at the Korbel School who take advantage of the flexible, diverse curriculum that helps graduate candidates discover new passions and reconnect with old ones. For Alejandro, working with Professor Rebecca Galemba and a non-profit called Centro de Los Trabajadores Colorado — the only day laborer center in Denver — was one of those pivotal turning points. Together, they helped create an integration program to benefit Venezuelan migrants who were newcomers to the state.
Beyond his advocacy through the Korbel School, Alejandro also partakes in local dance and theatre that celebrates the heart and soul of Mexican heritage. “Both my grandfathers are immigrants from Mexico, and both my grandmothers grew up in a small town in southwest Colorado,” he says. “Growing up here in Colorado myself, I was part of Folklórico groups as a child. I got reconnected to that community in 2021 through friends that were starting their dance company here in Colorado.” Alejandro is a dancer in ArtistiCO and has performed in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House — with future performances on the near horizon.
Even though Alejandro attributes many community connections to his time at DU, he acknowledges there is a long way to go. “I think there are definitely some moments when you feel that imposter syndrome seep in,” he says, “especially when you first arrive on DU's campus. Often, I see that I am the only person of Latino descent in the classroom. But in this specific graduate program, I was grateful to have a lot of international students and students of color in my cohort.”
Alejandro was recently selected to join the 2025 cohort for the Capitol Fellowship Program with the Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy Research Organization, which provides public policy training to college students. His next ArtistiCO performances will be at the Gates Concert Hall on December 2nd & 3rd, titled Fiestas Navideñas. To reserve tickets, follow this link. To learn more about Alejandro’s journey and his relationship to Hispanic Heritage Month, follow this link for his full interview.
Tom Rowe, a lifelong advocate of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), received the Korbel Lifetime Achievement Award this year at our annual Korbel Honors—a fitting tribute to his extensive work in the field. As the founder and director of the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP), Rowe has dedicated the past twenty-seven years to supporting mid-career professionals from marginalized communities and over 40 years to the Korbel School.
Rowe's commitment to advocacy stems from his upbringing in Michigan, near Detroit and Ann Arbor, where his politically active family and their opposition to racism influenced him. "I grew up in and around Detroit," says Rowe, "raised by parents who were very active in the union movement and the opposition to Henry Ford, who was a racist and antisemitic. My father was also a Quaker, and I remember attending many meetings in Ann Arbor, discussing human rights and peace studies." After he graduated high school, Rowe attended the University of Michigan and pursued his PhD/MA at Berkeley.
His career path took an unexpected turn when his dissertation supervisor at Berkeley informed him about a teaching position in Connecticut, where he could work on his dissertation. While in Connecticut, Rowe also received a call from Josef Korbel, who was seeking an assistant dean. Although Rowe did not take the position then, this was his first contact with the Korbel School.
Rowe's activism against the Vietnam War created challenges in Connecticut, prompting his move to Virginia. After confronting issues of gender inequality in Virginia, he finally made his way to Denver in the mid-1970s. At the Korbel School, during many years as Associate Dean and then Dean of the School, Rowe made a special effort to recruit students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions. Despite his success, he grew frustrated with the limited opportunities for credentialed Korbel School alums from underrepresented groups. Recognizing this gap and after several attempts to address it through existing channels, Rowe took the initiative to found ICAP in 1996, with funding from the Mellon Foundation. He was assisted in this by his wife, Emita Samuels, a former Director of Student Affairs at Korbel.
ICAP provides a comprehensive support network, including leadership training, career advising, mentorship, and policy analysis resources. It empowers professionals from underrepresented groups, with over 800 alums, including prominent figures such as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers of the US Department of State and leaders of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Texas ACLU, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and PepsiCo Foundation. The program's reach is far and wide, and its origin was creating a community for professionals to tackle issues like racism, ethnocentrism, and misogyny.
Each year, ICAP hosts its capstone program at Aspen Meadows Resort/Home of the Aspen Institute. The retreat allows participants to focus on personal and professional growth, career development, and broad policy issues. "My wife and I drove through the mountains looking for a place where people could step away from their daily lives," Rowe reflects, "focusing instead on themselves and each other."
Though Rowe is proud of ICAP's reach so far, he understands that commitment to programs like these is even more existential for marginalized communities in the years to come. "Issues of equity & inclusion have become politicized and controversial," Rowe says, "which is unfortunate because DEIB is about improving the quality of leadership and of folks' lives. It's ensuring that all talent of all populations in the United States is represented."
On the other hand, when Rowe gets discouraged, he thinks about how far we've come. "There really has been progress, and we will deal with this new backlash. We'll each step forward and renew our efforts. We may change some vocabulary and evolve, but we keep working. That's what we do."
To learn more about ICAP, you can check out its website here.
The Josef Korbel School of International Studies has partnered with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) to offer CHCI alumni a 50% tuition discount for any of its graduate programs and an application fee waiver. This partnership will expand educational opportunities for CHCI alumni and reduce their educational costs while bringing CHCI’s network of Latino Professionals to Korbel.
“I am delighted to share the news of our partnership with CHCI. This is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to making graduate education more accessible and affordable. The talented professionals in the CHCI program will be right at home in our community of scholars, thought leaders, and changemakers.” – Dean Fritz Mayer
CHCI addresses issues facing the Latino community by bringing together the most influential actors in policymaking: members of Congress, other elected officials, corporate executives, and influential nonprofits. CHCI provides leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Hispanic students and young professionals, which complements the Korbel School’s dedication to training the next generation of leaders in international affairs and public policy.
“We are excited to collaborate with the Josef Korbel School of International Studies to offer the CHCI alumni network another incredible opportunity,” said Marco Davis, CHCI President and CEO. “This partnership advances our goal of making higher education more attainable and maintains our commitment to fostering leadership and service. This collaboration will prepare our alumni to tackle global challenges with greater expertise and dedication.”
The Korbel School will allow CHCI participants to earn a master’s degree in any one of the following programs:
The MA and MPP programs at the Korbel School require 60 credits and two academic years of full-time enrollment. To apply to our programs, follow this link.
About the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute:
CHCI is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization in the country dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders®, providing leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding students and young professionals, and convening Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community.
The University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies has been named the 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations by Foreign Policy magazine, moving up from 14th in the previous ranking. Korbel’s undergraduate degree program was ranked 20th in the United States. These rankings are based on an extensive survey of more than 900 international relations scholars.
Dean Fritz Mayer expressed pride at the news. “It is hard to overstate how remarkable these rankings are given the formidable competition. Such glowing recognition by those who know international affairs programs best is a wonderful testament to the excellence of our faculty, the strength of our programs, the quality of our staff, and the accomplishments of our students and alumni.”
Foreign Policy also separately surveyed policymakers and think tank staffers, who ranked the Korbel School master’s programs 18th and 28th, respectively. The school was one of only five outside of the East Coast that ranked in the top 30 by all three respondent groups.
The University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies offers master's degrees in:
MA and MPP programs at the Korbel School are 60 credits and take two academic years of full-time enrollment. To learn more about our programs, follow this link.
The Best International Relations Schools in the World – Foreign Policy
The latest ranking of the top 50 IR programs for undergraduates, master's, and Ph.D.s.
One of the Korbel School DEI committee’s biggest projects of the year was to combine two bodies of research that — despite often being siloed — have so much to offer each other. Current graduate student Alex Nelson led the project: a new database for the intersection of LGBTQ Studies and International Affairs, highlighting queer contributions in policy work, diplomacy, and research in International Studies. He sat down to share his experience as the project lead and to highlight the LGBTQ Zotero Database Project.
During his first quarter at the Korbel School, a friend recommended Alex to the DEI Committee; now a second-year M.A. student in International Human Rights, Alex contributed to the committee in a very tangible and significant way by helping to compile the work of LGBTQ researchers in international relations. "As an advocate, you have to understand other perspectives to be effective," he says. "If you are better equipped to know about international LGBTQ issues, you can be a better diplomat." The decision to be part of the committee led to project management of the new research database. Alex quickly found, "a lot of LGBTQ Studies already delved deep into topics like Public Health and International Relations, illuminating certain experiences that other disciplines can't." The next step was finding those connections in pre-existing citations and bringing them together in a central location for reference.
Alex uses Zotero, an open-source reference management software that compiles bibliographic data. From journals like Comparative Political Studies, Critical Africa Studies, and Review of Radical Political Economics, LGBTQ perspectives already exist in their studies, so bringing these articles into a Zotero database paves the way for future scholars to add to an LGBTQ and International Affairs canon. He is optimistic that the database will reach 300 articles and is already well on its way. Working closely with faculty at the Korbel School who have been involved from inception to launch, Alex regularly presents his findings, and faculty approve any new additions.
Alex also discusses how Queer Theory – a subset of LGBTQ Studies – is difficult to find outside of Secondary Education and International Security. Scholars often laud queer theory as a useful critical tool for examining institutions, their influences, and imagining new possibilities. Though largely born from LGBTQ advocacy, Queer Theory has immense capacity on its own as a theoretical framework. "In International Relations," Alex says, "[Queer Theory] is not as present, even though it could have a lot to offer." In many ways, the Korbel School presents a perfect opportunity for Queer Theory to find a home in International Studies as an institution that champions the intersection of theory and practice. "Theory and practice are not mutually exclusive," Alex explains. "They can be different, but you put them in dialogue so they intersect in a way that is meaningful for students."
Alex also thanked several contributors for their help with the project: Program Manager for the DEI Committee Kristen Noble, Professor Tamra d'Estrée, Teaching Professor Lynn Holland, and fellow graduate students Hasten, Prosper, and Koy. Whether it was a student sending him articles or faculty approval after a presentation, Alex cites the project as a collaborative effort. He plans to continue adding to the database next year and advocate for a "Men Engage" chapter on campus to promote healthy masculinity.
You can find the link to the Zotero database here.
One of the Korbel School DEI committee’s biggest projects of the year was to combine two bodies of research that — despite often being siloed — have so much to offer each other. Current graduate student Alex Nelson led the project: a new database for the intersection of LGBTQ Studies and International Affairs, highlighting queer contributions in policy work, diplomacy, and research in International Studies. He sat down to share his experience as the project lead and to highlight the LGBTQ Zotero Database Project.
During his first quarter at the Korbel School, a friend recommended Alex to the DEI Committee; now a second-year M.A. student in International Human Rights, Alex contributed to the committee in a very tangible and significant way by helping to compile the work of LGBTQ researchers in international relations. "As an advocate, you have to understand other perspectives to be effective," he says. "If you are better equipped to know about international LGBTQ issues, you can be a better diplomat." The decision to be part of the committee led to project management of the new research database. Alex quickly found, "a lot of LGBTQ Studies already delved deep into topics like Public Health and International Relations, illuminating certain experiences that other disciplines can't." The next step was finding those connections in pre-existing citations and bringing them together in a central location for reference.
Alex uses Zotero, an open-source reference management software that compiles bibliographic data. From journals like Comparative Political Studies, Critical Africa Studies, and Review of Radical Political Economics, LGBTQ perspectives already exist in their studies, so bringing these articles into a Zotero database paves the way for future scholars to add to an LGBTQ and International Affairs canon. He is optimistic that the database will reach 300 articles and is already well on its way. Working closely with faculty at the Korbel School who have been involved from inception to launch, Alex regularly presents his findings, and faculty approve any new additions.
Alex also discusses how Queer Theory – a subset of LGBTQ Studies – is difficult to find outside of Secondary Education and International Security. Scholars often laud queer theory as a useful critical tool for examining institutions, their influences, and imagining new possibilities. Though largely born from LGBTQ advocacy, Queer Theory has immense capacity on its own as a theoretical framework. "In International Relations," Alex says, "[Queer Theory] is not as present, even though it could have a lot to offer." In many ways, the Korbel School presents a perfect opportunity for Queer Theory to find a home in International Studies as an institution that champions the intersection of theory and practice. "Theory and practice are not mutually exclusive," Alex explains. "They can be different, but you put them in dialogue so they intersect in a way that is meaningful for students."
Alex also thanked several contributors for their help with the project: Program Manager for the DEI Committee Kristen Noble, Professor Tamra d'Estrée, Teaching Professor Lynn Holland, and fellow graduate students Hasten, Prosper, and Koy. Whether it was a student sending him articles or faculty approval after a presentation, Alex cites the project as a collaborative effort. He plans to continue adding to the database next year and advocate for a "Men Engage" chapter on campus to promote healthy masculinity.
You can find the link to the Zotero database here.
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