I am delighted to welcome you to the webpage of the School of Global Studies at Arizona State University. A major initiative at Arizona State University, the School provides innovative approaches to global challenges, and develops transdisciplinary perspectives across the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities in both research and teaching. The School does not so much emulate other such programs across the country and around the world, but provides a unique approach and setting across a range of thematic areas: governance; migration; urban studies; environmental studies; and violence. The School is one of the most exciting, stimulating and promising places--anywhere--for scholars, students, practitioners and visitors to engage international and global issues.
 
The School also has an extraordinary group of nationally and internationally recognized faculty. Brief biographies of the faculty, many newly recruited, are noted on our website. We also have an outstanding student body, with a deep thirst to learn and engage on global issues. Our Bachelor’s degree is intellectually demanding and stimulating, while at the same time ensuring students will leave with defined and marketable skills for careers in corporations, governmental agencies or non-governmental organizations.
 
The School facilitates a highly engaged as well as imaginative environment for study and research, avoiding a "warehouse" of faculty and students doing disparate and isolated work. We seek a flexible and productive scholar-practitioner relationship, bringing together the collective wisdom of faculty and students, and of the academy, government, non-government groups and corporations to address the most compelling issues of our time. The School encourages rethinking of how we understand the world institutionally, socially and politically; encourage imaginative, innovative and rigorous scholarship, and find ways to more effectively bring our knowledge to address global challenges.
 
For now virtually, and I hope in the future on our campus, welcome aboard.

February 2007