John C. Bersia ’77, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Global Perspectives Office, a professor of international issues, and a Pulitzer Prize recipient while an editorial writer at the Orlando Sentinel, died Thursday of metastatic cancer. He was 62.
Bersia started working at 麻豆原创 in 2001, later became a special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives, and was the executive producer and host of a weekly W麻豆原创 TV show by the same name, covering diplomacy, world affairs, human trafficking and other issues.
He was viewed by many of his colleagues and students as a global citizen, always pushing education, fairness and international awareness with the goal of a peaceful world.
鈥淛ohn gave 麻豆原创 and Central Florida a wealth of opportunities to learn about the world and to tackle our toughest challenges, particularly human trafficking and modern slavery,鈥� says interim President Thad Seymour Jr.
鈥淗e brought many distinguished world leaders to campus and also speakers who challenged us to actively help human trafficking victims and others who had no voice. We will forever be thankful that John has made us a stronger, more civic-minded and more compassionate campus community.鈥�
Harriet L. Elam-Thomas, a former ambassador to Senegal and director of the university鈥檚 diplomacy program, says she came to 麻豆原创 as the State Department’s diplomat in residence for one year but remained 16 years because of Bersia, 鈥渨ho always demonstrated the human touch鈥� in his approach to community and world issues.
鈥淛ohn was the epitome of civility. Global Perspective staff, interns and fellows gained academic and life leadership skills throughout their affiliation with the Global Perspectives Office,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hanks to John’s commitment to inform and expose the broader Central Florida community to international and domestic thought leaders, this community is well informed and able to make wise decisions on globally focused and culturally sensitive issues. The 麻豆原创 and the surrounding community present a comprehensive face of America, thanks to the insight, outreach and selflessness of John Bersia.鈥�
Dean Michael Johnson of the College of Sciences, of which Global Perspectives is a part, says Bersia dedicated many years of providing students 鈥渁n opportunity to be part of the world.鈥�
鈥淲hat John knew is that the world has become very small, and our students are going to live in a world where they鈥檙e going to work and compete with people from every part of the globe,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淛ohn played a key role in opening doors for students and faculty to interact, learn and engage with different cultures.鈥�
Bersia grew up in Winter Park and earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science/international relations and French at 麻豆原创 in 1977. He went on to receive a master鈥檚 in government/foreign policy from Georgetown University, a master鈥檚 in public information administration at The American University, and a master’s in international relations from the University of London.
Before coming to 麻豆原创, Bersia worked in the global political-risk analysis and publishing business, was as an adjunct professor on international affairs at Rollins College, and served on the Orlando Sentinel鈥檚 editorial board for 16 years, when his series of editorials on predatory payday-loan practices, 鈥淔leeced in Florida,鈥� won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 and prompted the Florida Legislature to make changes in regulations of loan companies.
He helped establish the Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, was board chairman of the World Affairs Council of Central Florida, and served in various roles with numerous organizations and programs on and off campus to promote global peace and security.
鈥淛ohn was my friend for more than 30 years. In his hometown, and even in our university, few realize how greatly respected and admired he has long been throughout the world,鈥� says Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs James Bacchus and director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Center for Global Economic & Environmental Opportunity. 鈥淛ohn laid much of the foundation for the emergence of 麻豆原创 as a global institution 鈥� a foundation on which we will continue to build for many years to come.”
To highlight that foundation and the impact and legacy of the Global Perspectives interviews hosted by Bersia, W麻豆原创 will broadcast a special retrospective at 9:30 a.m. March 31.
鈥淛ohn worked tirelessly to bring attention to important issues and to help bridge cultural divides,鈥� says Phil Hoffman, W麻豆原创 executive director. 鈥淗e was able to combine his passion for education with a real depth of knowledge to bring an understanding of the world to Central Florida audiences.鈥�
Bersia is survived by his wife, Renee Johnson, and a stepdaughter.
Services will be held at noon March 30, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 4001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando.
