CES News & Events May 3, 2020

Learning Through Experience How Pablo Rasmussen became a Rugged Internationalist

Pablo Rasmussen (Government, European History, Politics and Societies ) reflects on how his journey from Mexico City to Oklahoma and internships in Belgrade and Strasbourg have made him a rugged internationalist. He spoke to CES on the eve of his graduation from Harvard College. Rasmussen was the recipient of a 2019 CES Summer Internship Grant as well as one in 2018. Pablo Rasmussen ‘20 didn’t know what to expect when he found the list of European summer internships on the CES website. Dizzy with the prospect of living abroad, he applied to all of them. “I thought, you know, it’d be Brussels, Berlin, Paris, London. Right. I got the internship in Belgrade, Serbia.”  Read more

“In this world of exchanging from Harvard to DC to Belgrade, Strasbourg, ... Oklahoma, we all have to be our own diplomats. I can say that I’m from Oklahoma; I have a Mexican family; I went to school at Harvard; I represent all of these things." – Pablo Rasmussen '20

Celebrating Senior Thesis Grant Recipients

Join us in congratulating the following 2019 CES Senior Thesis Grant Recipients who received awards for their outstanding scholarly research.

Rebecca Thou (History & Literature and French, Jewish Studies, 2020) 'French' Theory? The Intellectual Reverberations of Hélène Cixous' Juiféminité Awards: Edward Chandler Cumming Prize  – awarded for the thesis of highest distinction in History & Literature. Harry and Cecile Starr Prize – awarded for the best thesis in Jewish Studies. View her senior thesis presentation here.

Selena Zhao (Government, Integrative Biology, 2020)  Understanding the Elite-Mass Divergence in Sectarianism: A Case Study of Northern Ireland Award:  Philo Sherman Bennett Prize  – awarded by the Department of Government for the best essay discussing the principles of free government. View her senior thesis presentation here.

Matthew Keating  ( Government, 2020)   From Lesvos to Leipzig: Comparative Legal Frameworks and Obstacles for LGBTQ Asylum Seekers in the European Union Award: Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize 2019-2020 – awarded for excellent undergraduate work.

Upcoming Webinar

June 3, 2020 | 10:00am-11:00am (EDT) Greece’s Success in Confronting the Global Pandemic This event is co-sponsored by the Consulate of Greece in Boston. Speakers: Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Secretary General for the Coordination of Internal Policies, Presidency of the Greek Government Alexandra Papadopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to the United States Sotiris Tsiodras, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Athens Medical School; Chief Scientific Advisor for the Greek Government's COVID-19 Pandemic Response; Press Representative, Greek Ministry of Health Chair: Elaine Papoulias, Executive Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University RSVP here.

Webinar Recordings

CES Senior Thesis Conference 2020 Harvard College Seniors, who were awarded CES grants to conduct their thesis research in Europe last summer, presented their interdisciplinary projects.

COVID-19 in Europe: Public Policy Responses and Consequences CES Visiting Scholars gave short interventions on public policy responses to COVID-19 in countries across Europe, including Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the Western Balkans.

CES Affiliates in the Spotlight

COVID-19 and Migrant Workers’ Social Rights Social Europe Friederike Römer , CES Visiting Scholar and John F. Kennedy Memorial Fellow, assesses the short- and long-term effects of the pandemic on immigrant workers across western-European countries. Fighting Lost Time The Harvard Crimson Nathan Grau, CES Graduate Student Affiliate and History Seminar Coordinator, is mentioned in this profile of graduate students whose research has been impacted by the pandemic.

Max the Fatalist The New York Review of Books Peter Gordon, CES Resident Faculty, reflects on Max Weber's legacy and significance on the centenary of the German sociologist's death. (Photo: Stephanie Mitchell, The Harvard Gazette) The Future of the EU: Too Many Plans, Too Many Hands Tocqueville21 Art Goldhammer , CES Local Affiliate, comments on the COVID rescue plans put forth by European leaders.

Photo  of the Week

Congratulations Laura! Laura Falloon, CES Program Coordinator, was among this year's Harvard Class of 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Liberal Arts (Social Science, International Relations) and a Graduate Certificate in Business and Communications from Harvard Extension School. Job well done!

CES Repost

On May 28, 2020, Harvard University celebrated the graduates of the class of 2020 with a virtual Commencement. This time last year, CES was honored to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel after she shared insights with graduates at the 368th Commencement, including, “Surprise yourselves with what is possible.” View photos.

Follow Us @EuropeAtHarvard:

‌ ‌ ‌