Dear II Community,
As you know, July 1 marks the official beginning of a new administrative cycle at U-M. Before welcoming new and reappointed directors to their posts, let me first take a moment to thank the colleagues who have concluded their service: Kevin Carr (Graduate Studies/MIRS Program, interim), Douglas Northrop (Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia, acting), Łukasz Stanek (Copernicus Center for Polish Studies, acting), and Steven Ratner (Donia Human Rights Center), whose leadership and vision shaped their centers’ impact on campus and beyond over these past years. In particular, Steve's six-year directorship of DHRC has been remarkable and transformative, with the creation of the Donia Human Rights Fellowship Program and the Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Practitioner Fellowship. On behalf of the entire II, I would like to express deepest gratitude to these colleagues and wish them only the very best over the summer and in the new academic year.
For a three-year term from 2026 to 2029, the following colleagues have agreed to serve as directors.
New Directors:
Sueann Caulfield, director of the Donia Human Rights Center; professor of history
S.E. Kile, director of International Institute graduate studies/MIRS Program; associate professor of Asian languages and cultures
Reappointed Directors:
Gavin Arnall, director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; associate professor of Romance languages and literatures
Elizabeth J. King, director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; associate professor of health behavior and health equity
Ann Lin, director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies; Kenneth G. Lieberthal and Richard H. Rogel Professor of Chinese Studies; associate professor of public policy and political science
Melanie Schulze Tanielian, director of the Program in International and Comparative Studies and the International Institute undergraduate studies; associate professor of history
Please join me in thanking all of these colleagues for their generous contribution to the life of the International Institute.
Youngju Ryu
International Institute Director
Professor of Asian Languages and Cultures
