The Payson Center Graduate Student Association was created to facilitate the exchange of ideas between students and professionals in the field of International Development.

Our conviction is that development studies require a cross cutting, multi-sectoral approach. Informal and formal PGSA meetings provide a forum through which an interplay of ideas sparks discussion and student action via Brown Bag luncheons, symposia, and interdisciplinary project promotion.  Exchange of information and technologies is an essential step for such an integrated approach.

As students in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina, Payson graduate students have a unique opportunity to learn about and experience International Development in a post-natural disaster setting.  Supplemental activities available are service learning, student research opportunities, and participation in current post-graduate research studies provide a unique blend of theory, research, and skills training necessary for the transfer of information within the developing world. 

The PGSA continues to provide insightful media through which commentary and discussion prospect innovative methods for students and graduates to promote International Development.  Historically, the PGSA has successfully organized conferences on various issues both locally and abroad.  Topics have included Information and Communication Technology and HIV/Aids SIDA.  Our current focus is the systems approach to promoting Human Rights and Sustainable Human Development.

As a member of the PGSA, you will have the opportunity to network with local Non-Governmental Organizations in the redevelopment process, confer with industry leaders, and

organize events within the community. Monthly meetings provide the opportunity to develop upcoming events and ideas.

The development of our activities requires long term effort. We therefore welcome any interested student to contact us. 

Seminar Series

Crisis and Its Aftermath

Five in the year-long series

Rebuilding After Katrina: Human Rights, Labor and Law

April 22 , 2008

Civil Rights attorney, Tracie Washington, and staff attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration network (CLINIC), Kiroko Kusuda, present rights, labor, and legal issues in rebuilding in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Washington will discuss rights of Katrina survivors and advocating immigrant worker justice issues.  Mr. Kusuda will present the Gulf Coast Catholic diocesan immagration programs and legal rights for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees.

event flyer

Symposium

Second Annual

Symposium for Communication and Development between the US & the Moslem World

Feb 19, 2008

Aimed at developing a frank discussion of the issues and differences pertaining to friction causing communications between the parties. For further details, please visit the Symposium website at:

http://www.paysonislam.com/

Click here for Cassandra Vivian audio presentation.  See Youtube for video presentations.

Brown Bag Lunches
An hour long informal lecture over lunch to discuss relevant issues to students, graduates, and recent alumni to provide insight into working within the field of International Development.  Previous speakers include: Dr. Eamon Kelly, Stephanie Pedro, and various International Relief workers.  If you want to help us organize or would like to see a specific topic covered, please, contact us
Future Seminar
If you want to help us organize conferences or would like to see a specific topic covered, please, contact us! 

Past Guest Speaker
David Straub,
Director, Office of Korean Affairs Dept. of State
Kim Hae-yong
Embassy of Korea,
Joseph A.B. Winder,
Korea Economic Institute
"The Crisis on the Korean Peninsula"
Dr.Harvey Weinstein
"My neighbor, My ennemy : Justice and Community after mass atrocity
Dr.Stanley Samarasinghe
"The Peace Process in Sri-Lanka"
Gerry Adams
"The Irish Peace Process and the Reunification of Ireland"
Summer Institutes

Public Policy: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

June 2 - June 13: New Orleans - Methods of Evaluation

June 30 - July 11:   Geneva - Intro to Human Aspects of Disasters

                                          and Complex Disasters

July 14-July 25:      Rome   - Food Aid and Food Security in

                                          Humanitarian Setting

July 28 - August 8: Entebbe - Information & Communication                                                      Technology for International                 

Development                                       

July 28 - August 8: Entebbe - Program Management of HIV/AIDS                                            Malaria and TB in Developing Countries                                    

August 11 - August 22: Entebbe - Geographic Information Systems,

                                          Data Visualization, and Information

                                          Management

For more information see Payson Center website or send an email to the Summer Institute Coordinator at summer@tulane.edu

The Payson Center Graduate Student Association of  Payson Center for International Development and Technology Transfer, Tulane University

300 Hebert Hall, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118                             Ph: (504) 865-5240                            Fax: (504) 865-5241