The European Union Center in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington has been named a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence by the EU, having received a prestigious grant from the European Union Commission. The award will fund the Center’s flagship programs and support EU studies at the UW and throughout the Northwest.
The UW is one of only five universities in the United States to be named a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in 2018, and the only one in the Northwest. The grant, which begins in September 2018, will focus on issues related to “Changing Landscapes: Climate, Gender, and Equity in the EU.”
“We are immensely proud of our unique course offerings and scholarly work on the European Union, and we are honored to once again be named a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence,” said then Jackson School Director Reşat Kasaba upon learning of the award. “This grant will allow us to expand our reach to the public and bridge political divides during a critical time for transatlantic relations.”
Investing in EU-U.S. Relations
Established a quarter century ago, the EU Center at UW serves as a teaching and research anchor for graduate and undergraduate EU studies by providing critical educational programming on EU issues, strengthening ties to Europe and cultivating U.S. investment in EU-U.S. relations. For example, it supports travel for students, faculty, and community college educators to visit Europe to study and research, and aids in the creation of K-20 curricula to integrate EU studies at all levels of teaching.
The EU Center also every year develops public lectures with high profile experts on Europe and forums such as Model EU and the Euro Challenge. With this new grant, the Center will emphasize its engagement outreach to historically underrepresented demographics, and especially seek to grow regional participation in the Euro Challenge, a EU-sponsored national economic policy competition for 9th and 10th grade students.
Since 2020, the EU Center has been directed by UW Jackson School of International Studies Professor Sabine Lang, who works in comparative politics with a focus on civil society, the public sphere, the nongovernmental sector, and gender politics. Her current research focuses on transnational advocacy and multilevel governance in the European Union. Previously, the center was led by UW Professor of Political Science and Jean Monnet Chair James Caporaso, a specialist in international political economy and international relations theory. Dr. Caporaso retains his affiliation with the EU Center as a Senior Researcher.
The EU Center runs in tandem with the UW Center for European Studies.
Contact:
Philip Lyon
206-685-3113
plyon@uw.edu