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聽bring attention to important issues and to help bridge聽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.聽

Beginning in October, articles written at 麻豆原创 started appearing regularly in the newspaper published in India with a circulation of more than 300,000 and an online presence around the globe.

The early focus of stories has been on the U.S. presidential election and results because of the potential effects on India, but various topics are on the horizon.

鈥淲e鈥檒l take on subjects such as the impact of India鈥檚 culture in the United States, the lives and livelihoods of Indian-Americans, U.S. foreign policy and India, where Indian-American students go after graduating from U.S. colleges and universities, etc.,鈥� said John C. Bersia, special assistant to the 麻豆原创 president for global perspectives and co-chair of The India Center, who initiated the relationship. Kerstin Hamann, chair of the 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, also co-chairs The India Center.

The potential for collaboration started when a delegation from India representing multiple news outlets was hosted in Orlando last spring by The India Center and others from the 麻豆原创 and Central Florida communities. After discussing possible ties in the months that followed, representatives from The India Center at 麻豆原创 were extended the opportunity to write in The New Indian Express.

Hamann said the collaboration has already evolved into a productive relationship.

鈥淭he regular contributions from The India Center in The New Indian Express significantly increases the visibility of the center in India and presents a high-profile partnership between 麻豆原创 and the newspaper, but on a larger scale also between the two countries,鈥� she said.

Bersia added that the new relationship will give 麻豆原创 staff and students a special international experience: regularly presenting insights to primarily Indian readers on issues of importance to them.

鈥淚 believe the newspaper would say it benefits from having unique content originating in the United States that holds appeal for its main audience,鈥� he said. 鈥淔urther, the effects go beyond the United States and India, given that the online versions of the pieces greatly extend their reach.鈥�

So far, articles in the publication have been written primarily by Shannon Payne, a recent 麻豆原创 graduate, and Pratyush Goberdhan, the 麻豆原创 India Fellow this semester. Payne, a senior program assistant for The India Center and the Global Perspectives Office, majored in anthropology and minored in diplomacy. Goberdhan, a junior majoring in international and global studies, also minors in French and art history. Stories have featured comments from several Indian-American students at 麻豆原创.

are available for reading on The India Center鈥檚 website.

Payne said the writing collaboration will provide the opportunity to share with a broader audience the research capabilities of The India Center because many of the articles have a research component provided by the center.

鈥淭his partnership showcases the way international, professional exchanges are ideally supposed to work,鈥� Bersia said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e designed to plant seeds for ongoing, mutually beneficial interaction 鈥� communication, idea-sharing, collaboration, future exchanges, etc. 鈥� and possibly more-involved partnerships.鈥�

The India Center, supported by The India Group Annual Fund, The Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund and the India Studies Fund of the Global Connections Foundation, was established in 2012. It is housed in the Political Science Department in the College of Sciences at the 麻豆原创.

Since 2001, Bersia has helped shape global initiatives at 麻豆原创.聽A year ago, he was invited by Global Ties to participate in its work, including strategic planning. He described those duties as “opening the door more widely to international-exchange planning and programming, access that will benefit 麻豆原创.”

麻豆原创 offices, departments, colleges and other units have been involved in hosting international, professional exchanges for years in cooperation with the local Global Ties affiliate, the World Affairs Council of Central Florida. Bersia has been chairman of the council since 2015.

Bersia, who is a Pulitzer laureate, has worked with international visitors more than 30 years 鈥� many of them from the fields of journalism and communication.

鈥淣ow that the Global Ties board has offered me the privilege of a seat at the national level, the opportunities are virtually unlimited 鈥� including for 麻豆原创 as it strives to expand its international experience and affiliations. More potential partners will be introduced to us through Global Ties,鈥� Bersia said.

The organization uses the international exchanges to take on the challenges of a rapidly changing, increasingly complex world environment. The goal of its exchanges is to build bridges across borders, diminish and eliminate stereotypes, and encourage connections that contribute to peace, security, stability and prosperity.

Global Ties maintains a network that coordinates international exchanges, and organizes visits to the United States by leaders from across the globe. Its partner organizations in 45 states and 13 countries, supported by 38,000 volunteers, facilitate these programs. The international visitors and the communities that host them learn from each other, develop mutual understanding and, ideally, forge enduring relationships.

At Global Ties, Bersia is joining a board of directors that is drawn from the senior ranks of business, academic and nonprofit organizations. His board term will begin in February.

The conference features discussions on diplomacy, food security and unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones. Each panel or presentation highlights local and global trends related to these pressing issues.

The morning keynote features Ambassador Gary Grappo, former Head of Mission for the Office of the Quartet Representative Tony Blair, in Jerusalem.

A food-security panel will provide聽local insights on the issue from Gabriela Othon Lothrop, market director for East End Market, a neighborhood market and food hub in the Audubon Park Garden District of Orlando; national insights from Ricardo Salvador, director, Food and Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; and global insights from Jonathan Foley, director, Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota.

The panel on unmanned aerial vehicles will be moderated by John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives at 麻豆原创, and includes local perspectives on the issue from Lt. Chris Francisco, Emergency Management/Homeland Security Section, High Risk Incident Command Division, Orange County Sheriff鈥檚 Office; and national and global insights from Bernard Finel, associate professor of National Security Strategy, National War College.

The luncheon keynote will feature Tamara Wittes, senior fellow and director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings Institution.

麻豆原创 students, faculty and staff, and Central Florida community members are invited to attend but advance registration is required. Registration is provided at no cost, thanks to the event鈥檚 sponsors. To register, or for more information, email global@ucf.edu.

In addition to Global Perspectives, sponsors and partners of the event include the 麻豆原创 Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies, The India Center at 麻豆原创, 麻豆原创 Diplomacy Studies, 麻豆原创 Middle Eastern Studies Program, 麻豆原创 China-Taiwan Cross-Strait Program, 麻豆原创 Kurdish Political Studies Initiative, 麻豆原创 Global Peace and Security Studies Program, 麻豆原创 Al Ghazali Islamic Studies Program, 麻豆原创 Human Trafficking Awareness Program, 麻豆原创 Isle of Man Small Countries Program, Chastang Charitable Foundation, The India Group, Orange County Sheriff鈥檚 Department, 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, 麻豆原创 International Services Center, 麻豆原创 LIFE and the Global Connections Foundation.

The teachers heard from multiple presenters throughout the day. John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives at 麻豆原创, shared personal anecdotes of lessons learned from Nobel Peace laureates. Ted Reynolds, Global Connections Fellow of Terrorism Studies and an adjunct instructor at 麻豆原创, discussed the growing problem of xenophobia in Europe, and how it poses a threat to security in several countries. Amal Kahn, advisory board member of the 麻豆原创 Global Peace and Security Studies Program, focused on the topic of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, and whether they are an international responsibility.

Keynote speaker Ambassador Gary Grappo discussed mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his former role as administrative head of the Quartet on the Middle East, and outlined the steps that would be most effective to resolve the conflict. The Quartet is a partnership of nations and international organizations led by Special Envoy Tony Blair.

After lunch, representatives from three Central Florida educational institutions discussed peace and security teaching resources. Paul Chapman, professor of humanities at Valencia College, talked about the school鈥檚 Peace and Justice Initiative. Bersia discussed 麻豆原创鈥檚 Global Peace and Security Studies Program, which he co-chairs. Vincent Intondi, professor of History at Seminole State College, talked about his work against nuclear weapons. Each school, while engaging peace and security issues from different approaches, offers materials and opportunities for high schools to get involved.

Jessica Gagnon, public affairs coordinator for the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office and an advisory board member for the Global Peace and Security Studies Program, gave a presentation on resources available to teachers to implement the lessons learned at the workshop.

This workshop was made possible by a partnership of the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, 麻豆原创 Global Peace and Securities Studies Program, United States Institute of Peace, 麻豆原创 Terrorism Studies Program, 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, Valencia College Peace and Justice Initiative, Seminole State College and the Global Connections Foundation.

Issues that have particular consequences for small countries, including those in the Caribbean, will be the focus of a new program at the 麻豆原创.

The Isle of Man Small Countries Program aims to develop greater awareness about small countries; encourage the exchange of information about their security, political, economic, social and environmental issues; and facilitate links between 麻豆原创 and those countries. Toward those ends, it will present public discussions involving prominent speakers, panels and other meetings; encourage scholarship; and work with partners from the United States, the Isle of Man and the Caribbean.

The program is a cooperative undertaking of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Global Perspectives Office, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Political Science Department, the Small Countries Financial Management Centre (SCFMC) on the Isle of Man, and the Global Connections Foundation. It is supported by the Ellan Vannin Fund of the Global Connections Foundation, in association with the Isle of Man business community.

鈥淭his small-countries initiative represents yet another step in 麻豆原创鈥檚 efforts to sharpen its international focus and bring more global content into the regional mainstream,鈥� said John C. Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives at 麻豆原创.

Tim Cullen, executive director of the SCFMC, said the program will build upon the work of the center 鈥渋n underscoring and addressing the unique challenges facing small countries, which are disproportionately affected by global forces.鈥� Cullen added that the SCFMC 鈥渨as established with the purpose of contributing to the growth and prosperity of small countries through education programs that provide improved skills in government financial activities.鈥�

Kerstin Hamann, chair of the Political Science Department at 麻豆原创, said 鈥渢he program represents an excellent opportunity for cooperation in light of our new Ph.D. program in security studies, as well as many of our other global interests.鈥�

Because of 麻豆原创鈥檚 proximity to and connections with the Caribbean, the program will have a special focus on that region, but it will also promote awareness and discussion of small-country issues throughout the world.