The associate professor of political science and policy studies took part in March 2015 in the Mellon Globalization Forum at Sewanee: the University of the South.
Safia Swimelar, an associate professor of political science and policy studies, and coordinator of international studies, gave a lecture in March on “The Globalization of LGBT Rights and Homophobia: East Europe and Beyond” and led a workshop with faculty on globalization in higher education as part of the Mellon Globalization Forum at Sewanee: the University of the South.
In Swimelar’s public lecture at Sewanee, she analyzed the simultaneous trends of an increase in the global awareness and protection of LGBT rights and greater activism on the one hand, and increasing political homophobia and restrictions of rights on the other.
Swimelar also led a faculty workshop where she discussed Elon’s best practices regarding global engagement such as study abroad and residential living and learning. In particular, she highlighted the successes of Elon’s Global Neighborhood as a model for integrating academic and residential experiences and deepening students’ interest and knowledge about global affairs.