Whitehead School Faculty,
Graduate Students Exchange Ideas Over Lunch

The classroom is not the only place where faculty and graduate students at the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations engage in dialogue about research in the field. Since the inception of the Faculty Luncheon Seminar Series in February 2004, the two groups have met once a month to discuss ongoing research being conducted by faculty of the Whitehead School. The goal of the seminar series is to provide a forum for faculty to discuss their research and obtain valuable feedback, as well as to further educate the graduate students about professional research and writing.

On Wednesday, April 6, Jean Kachiga, Ph.D., adjunct professor, will present his current research titled “The Dynamics of Alliances Formation in African Civil War and Conflicts,” which addresses the processes, causes, structures and types of African conflicts.

Each luncheon begins at noon in the Diplomacy Room of McQuaid Hall, and one faculty member presents for 30 minutes on the topic of his or her research. The rest of the hour is used as a forum for feedback and recommendations. The setting is informal but, the experience is invaluable.

“The seminar series provides the opportunity for graduate students to see first-hand how research on current issues is conducted,” says Omer Gokcekus, Ph.D., associate professor of international economics and development, who launched the program at the Whitehead School. “The informal setting allows faculty to let their guard down, test the waters and receive enlightening input that helps to shape their research.” Gokcekus participated in a similar program while he was a doctoral student at Duke University. He also implemented an informal seminar series program at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, where he was a professor from 1995-2003.

Gokcekus says the Faculty Luncheon Seminar Series is a complement to the Whitehead School’s World Leaders Forum, which assembles international leaders and influential policymakers to discuss today's critical global issues. The Whitehead School is also planning a formal seminar series that would convene practitioners and scholars from outside Seton Hall to address students and faculty. “These programs are the building blocks of the School,” Gokcekus explains. “They are part of a systemic approach to education and the free exchange of ideas.”

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  • John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations

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