Queen¡¯s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Hosts Partners from George Washington University
Queen¡¯s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ recently welcomed an inbound delegation from colleagues at long-standing partner George Washington University.
The delegation included Alexander van der Horst, Associate Professor of Physics and Chair of the Department of Physics; Evie Downie, Professor of Physics and Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives; Rachel Riedner, Professor of Writing and Dean of Undergraduate Studies; and Steve Velasquez, Curator at the National Museum of American History.
The visit was supported by Queen's colleagues from the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics including Jamie Pow, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Director of Internationalisation and Olwen Purdue, Professor of Social History and Director of the Centre for Public History. As Olwen noted, the week “further demonstrated the strength and depth of this partnership,” with engagement across disciplines reflecting “a shared commitment to work together in order to develop academic collaboration and world-class teaching.”
Jamie added: “Our two universities have been working closely together over the last decade or so, mainly on student exchanges, so it is wonderful to see this partnership advancing in new directions. A Letter of Intent for Collaboration recently signed with George Washington University opens the door to further opportunities.”
The programme included a series of workshops on Writing and Pedagogy, facilitated by Rachel Riedner, Alexander van der Horst, and Jessica McCaughey, who is currently visiting Queen’s from George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar. The workshops explored innovative approaches to teaching, curriculum design, and student engagement.
A highlight of the visit was the History Seminar, “Artifacts of Migration – Crafting Latino Representation from the Desert”, delivered by Steve Velasquez. The seminar examined how artifacts and material culture can be used to tell stories of migration, identity, and community, drawing on his curatorial work at the Smithsonian Institution. He shared insights from major exhibitions and projects focused on Latino history, offering valuable perspectives on contemporary approaches to public history and representation.
A dedicated Physics Seminar, facilitated by Evie Downie and Alexander van der Horst and supported by Professor Gianluca Sarri, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ provided an opportunity for academic exchange on current research and future collaboration.
Steve Velasquez delivers the Artifacts of Migration seminar at Queen’s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. (L) Evie Downie and Alexander van der Horst lead a collaborative physics session with Gianlucca Sarri. (R)
The visit concluded with an International Women’s Day Mini Symposium in collaboration with Queen's Gender Initiative and facilitated by Olwen Purdue, reflecting on progress in gender equality in higher education. The panel addressed key themes including structural barriers, the effectiveness of equality initiatives, and the evolving understanding of gender across diverse social and institutional contexts, and discussed milestones such as the 25th anniversary of the Queen’s Gender Initiative and 20 years of the Athena Swan Charter.
Panel discussion at Queen’s International Women’s Day Symposium, highlighting gender equality and inclusion in academia.
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For more information contact the International Partnerships team by emailing partnerships@qub.ac.uk