Kellogg Working Groups
Working groups funded by the Kellogg Institute stimulate intellectual activity within the Institute community and more broadly throughout the University. Led by Institute faculty fellows, the groups typically draw together an interdisciplinary mix of faculty members, visiting fellows, graduate students, and even undergraduates to further inquiry on emerging research themes and or focus attention on topical, interdisciplinary issues.
Current Working Groups
Africa
The Africa Working Group provides a forum for resident faculty, graduate students, and outside scholars to present and discuss cutting edge research on Africa. Participants, who come from a range of disciplines, share a common interest in investigating Africa’s past, present, and future, as well as Africa’s place in the larger global order. The group also sponsors Africanist events, enriching the study of Africa on campus and building on growing student interest in the region.
Cochairs: Jamie Bleck, and Paul Ocobock
Student Coordinator: Catherine Reidy
Asia & Asian Studies
The Working Group on Asia & Asian Studies (WGAAS) provides a forum for faculty, graduate students, and outside scholars to share emerging research in Asian Studies, with a particular focus on the region’s democratic possibilities and human development. Strengthening the cohesion of Asian Studies across the University, the group unites expertise in anthropology, East Asian languages and cultures, education, and business, among other disciplines.
Chair: Lionel Jensen
Graduate Student Cochair: Megan Rogers
Development Studies
The Development Studies Working Group draws together graduate students and other members of the Notre Dame community interested in international development to share ideas, funding opportunities, and real-world experience. In addition to networking, the multidisciplinary group’s activities include a reading group, lectures by outside speakers, and forums for feedback on members’ research projects.
Faculty Cochair: Rahul Oka
Graduate Student Cochair: Gail Weaver (listserv contact)
Haiti
The Haiti Working Group draws together scholars and students from around the University to educate the Notre Dame community on the effects of political turmoil in a nation struggling for the most basic of human rights: access to decent health. Campus events spark interest in the history, culture, and socioeconomic situation of the island nation. The working group benefits from close ties to the University’s Haiti Program, whose public health goals include the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) from Haiti.
Chair: Rev. Tom Streit, CSC
Click here for a reflection by Haiti Working Group Coordinator Kate Gordon '12 on the Paul Farmer–Gustavo Gutiérrez dialogue and the group's work on Haiti.
Latin American History
The Latin American History Working Group brings together Latin American historians—both faculty and graduate students—for serious, extended, and creative intellectual exchange. Monthly meetings feature paper presentations by faculty members, graduate students, and invited scholars. Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach, the group aims to strengthen the growing community of Latin American historians at Notre Dame, to professionalize its graduate students, and to host notable scholars in the field at the University.
Cochairs: Karen Graubart, Ted Beatty, and Jaime Pensado
Graduate Coordinator: Felicia Moralez
Measuring Democracy
The Measuring Democracy Working Group invites wide involvement of Kellogg faculty fellows, graduate students, and members of the Notre Dame community in measuring democracy and related concepts and evaluating and using democracy indicators. Participants are encouraged to share related research with the group. They are also invited to provide advice to an international team of investigators led by Faculty Fellow Michael Coppedge, which is engaged in a wide-ranging, multiyear project to produce dozens of new indicators of democracy for all countries since 1900.
Chair: Michael Coppedge
Research Assistant: Cecilia Lero
Mexico
The Mexico Working Group serves as a venue for resident and visiting faculty and graduate and undergraduate students to consider issues related to Mexico. With the goal of strengthening the presence of Mexico at Notre Dame, the group supports conferences, talks, cultural events, and academic discussions. The group also fosters academic and cultural exchanges to link the University with Mexico and Mexican Studies institutions and coordinates a biennial Undergraduate Research Conference focused on Mexican issues.
Cochairs: Allert Brown-Gort and Jaime Pensado
Graduate Student Contact: Rodrigo Castro Cornejo
Migration
The Migration Working Group investigates the evolving nature of migration in a globalized economy. Working group members seek to better understand the relationship between migration, democracy, and citizenship in the region. Meeting regularly to discuss works pertaining to the group’s theme, the group also hosts visiting speakers on topics such as transnational migration, political participation across borders, and remittances.
Cochairs: Karen Richman and Jorge Bustamante
Graduate Student Coordinator: Maria Fernandez Sanchez
Student Coordinator: Katia Fernandez Soto
