Contacts:
Dr. Patricia Goff, Wilfrid Laurier University
Associate Professor, Political Science
Incoming Director, ACUNS
(519) 884-0710 ext. 2588 or [email protected]
Kevin Crowley, Wilfrid Laurier University
Associate Director: News and Editorial Services
(519) 884-0710 ext. 3070 or [email protected]
WATERLOO - At its annual general meeting in New York on Friday, the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) selected Wilfrid Laurier University, in partnership with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), to host the ACUNS secretariat for a second five-year term. Officials also appointed Patricia Goff, associate professor of political science at Laurier and a senior research fellow at CIGI, as executive director of ACUNS for the 2008-2013 term.
"Keeping ACUNS here at Laurier is timely because of the momentum surrounding global governance studies in the Waterloo area, as well as Laurier's growth in related programs," said Goff. "Laurier's new PhD in Global Governance, our new Masters in International Public Policy, and the new North American Studies undergraduate program will support and benefit from our relationship with ACUNS and CIGI."
ACUNS represents nearly 1,000 international scholars and practitioners who study the workings and effectiveness of the United Nations (UN) system. It promotes research and teaching on the UN system, as well as dialogue between academics and practitioners on issues related to multilateralism and international institutions.
As the director of the Laurier Centre for Global Relations, Paul Heinbecker (who is also a distinguished research fellow at CIGI, an ACUNS board member and a former Canadian ambassador to the UN) has a keen interest in the relationship between Laurier, ACUNS and CIGI.
"Renewing the Laurier-ACUNS collaboration further cements Laurier's growing reputation for international studies," said Heinbecker. "Equally, Laurier's decisive contribution to ACUNS enhances the capacity and dynamism of this valuable institution."
During Laurier's second term as host, the university will take the lead on all programs, events, projects and publications, as well as the organization's daily operations. Goff, who will replace outgoing executive director Alistair Edgar, associate professor in Laurier's department of political science, also looks forward to augmenting the group's research output in consultation with the international board of directors, and bringing some ACUNS events to Waterloo.
ACUNS typically moves to a different host university every five years. In its 20-year history it has been housed at distinguished American institutions such as Yale and Dartmouth.
ACUNS represents nearly 1,000 international scholars and practitioners who study the workings and effectiveness of the United Nations (UN) system. It promotes research and teaching on the UN system, as well as dialogue between academics and practitioners on issues related to multilateralism and international institutions. ACUNS also connects its members via IGLOO’s online community, www.acuns.org , which now has over 600 participants.