This quarter, the Alumni department held two Fulbright Specialist talks examining how ideas travel across borders – from the evolution of American Studies as a global field to the real-world implications of artificial intelligence.
The first session was delivered by Dr. Lawrence H. Gerstein on October 15 at the USEFP office in Islamabad. With nearly 50 students and alumni in attendance, the discussion framed American Studies not as a nationally bounded discipline but as one shaped by global perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration. A lively Q&A session followed, reflecting strong interest in how academic fields evolve in response to shifting political, cultural, and global realities.
Dr. Gerstein, director of the Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, was hosted in Pakistan by Quaid-i-Azam University.
The second talk took place on December 19 at the Lincoln Corner inside the USEFP headquarters. Led by Dr. Mostafa K. Ardakani from Kent State University, the session drew nearly 40 participants for a focused discussion on how AI is reshaping sectors ranging from health and education to transportation and the economy.
Drawing on his research in machine learning, data analytics, and optimization, Dr. Ardakani explored both the opportunities and constraints of AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of ethical application and interdisciplinary thinking as the technology continues to accelerate.
Dr. Ardakani, of the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics at Kent State University, was hosted by the National University of Sciences and Technology.
