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BYU | David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies

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BYU | David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies

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Expand Your World. Website: kennedy.byu.edu
Instagram: The David M.

Kennedy Center for International Studies is the heart of international engagement for the BYU community. By supporting and implementing interdisciplinary international experiences on campus and abroad, the Kennedy Center raises global awareness and competency, and equips the community with international perspectives and tools to promote intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being throughout the world.

10/14/2026

It's officially Giving Cougsday! To celebrate, we thought we would highlight what your donations can do!⁠ 🌏️⁠📚️⁠
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Meet Marcus Ostvig. He went on the Global Opportunities for Healthcare Leadership Program this past summer. ⁠
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He said, "As we traveled through India, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam my eyes were opened and I gained a new perspective on what it means to learn, lead, and serve . . . As I have reflected on this program, I have realized that my favorite memories and the things I will remember forever are the people. Despite coming from different countries, religions, cultures, and life experiences, I found myself feeling a deep love for people I had only just met. I was continually inspired by the goodness and resilience of the human spirit. One phrase I saw outside the Baha’i Temple in India has stayed with me: “The world is but one country and mankind its citizens.” Throughout this experience, I began to feel that truth more deeply. We may come from different places and walk different paths, but we are all children of God . . . I want my future career in healthcare to be about more than⁠ being successful. I want to be someone who notices people, listens to them, and helps them feel loved and valued, as Jesus Christ would."⁠
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Help provide a life-changing experience abroad for a student like Marcus by donating to the Global Opportunity Scholarship fund at the link below!

https://give.churchofjesuschrist.org/schools/TheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints/giving-cougsday-2026/pages/kennedy-center-for-international-studies?utm_campaign=208190

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10/11/2026

What can movies, music, museums, and culture teach us about America?⁠
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Find out at the “America at the Crossroads” lecture series which explores the stories, ideas, and cultural influences that have shaped America and continue to shape its future.⁠
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📅 Every Thursday at 11:00 AM ⁠
📍 238 HRCB⁠
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Head to the following link to see each week's topic. ⁠

https://kennedy.byu.edu/america-at-the-crossroads

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09/26/2026

Last week, students gathered at the Wilkinson Student Center to attend the Peacemaker Fair.

We loved sharing our "peacebuilder's tool kits" there and talking about the small ways we can help create more peace in our communities.

"Therefore, let us follow after the things which make for peace."
— Romans 14:19

What is your favorite scripture about peace? Share it in the comments below!

09/10/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved director, V. Stanley Benfell, who passed away unexpectedly on the morning of September 7, 2026. Stan had served as Director of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies and Associate International Vice President of BYU since 2021.⁠
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Prior to that, he served as the Kennedy Center’s Associate Director for Academics and Research and faculty coordinator of the European Studies program. He was also involved directing numerous study abroad programs, including many to the BYU London Centre. He began his career at BYU in 1993 in the Department of Comparative Arts and Letters, where he focused on Renaissance and medieval literature and had a particular passion for Dante.⁠
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Stan was deeply admired, loved, and respected. He always had an open door and loved to listen to and learn from students, colleagues, and friends. His academic, interpersonal, and spiritual strengths led and shaped the Kennedy Center in lasting ways.⁠
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A viewing will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 9:00-10:30 AM, with the funeral following at 11:00 AM that day at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 925 North Temple Drive, in Provo, Utah.⁠
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You can share a memory of Stan or read his obituary at https://www.larkinmortuary.com/obituary/view/vincent-stanley-benfell-iii/.

09/06/2026

A little photo dump from our University Conference Faculty Open House! 🌎📸⁠
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As we kick off a new semester, it was great to have BYU faculty stop by, connect with colleagues, enjoy global food, and learn more about what’s happening at the Kennedy Center.⁠
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We can't wait for another semester full of global learning and opportunities! What advice do you have for students? Let us know in the comments below! 👇⁠
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08/19/2026

Welcome to Richard Houseman, our new International Vice President!
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BYU has named Richard Houseman, former Dean of Continuing Education, as the university’s new international vice president. In his new role, he will oversee Performing Arts Management, Continuing Education, and the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies.⁠
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Prior to being dean, Houseman was the manager of In-Field Services in the Missionary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as president of the Brazil Recife Mission. He has also taught entomology at the University of Missouri and conducted international research in Central America, Africa, and Asia.⁠ Read more about him at the link below.⁠
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We’re excited to welcome Vice President Houseman to this new role, and we look forward to working with him more closely at the Kennedy Center! ⁠
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📸: Abby Shelton/BYU⁠
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https://news.byu.edu/announcements/richard-houseman-named-byu-international-vice-president

08/13/2026

💙 Congratulations to International Vice President Renata Forste on her recent retirement! 💙⁠
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After 31 years of service, Renata has retired from BYU. During her time at the university, she served as Faculty Coordinator for the Latin American Studies program, as the Director of the Kennedy Center, and most recently, as International Vice President.⁠
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Over the years, she provided crucial support for the Global Opportunity Scholarship which provides funding for students to have their first academic experience abroad, she was instrumental in bringing the Women’s Studies program over to the Kennedy Center (now known as Global Women's Studies), and she was deeply involved in the acquisition of 31 Palace Court, the companion property to the BYU London Centre which houses faculty and student interns in the area. ⁠
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Additionally, she organized the Latin American Initiative, which gave a place and funding to faculty from different disciplines to collaborate on important projects relating to the region, and she championed the expansion of International Education Week across BYU campus. ⁠
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Her vision and leadership have helped create opportunities for students to learn and serve, both on campus and throughout the world.⁠
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We’re so grateful for the tremendous impact she has made at the Kennedy Center and in the BYU community at large, and we’re excited for the next chapter of her life—serving a mission with her husband for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand!⁠
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We love you Renata! 🫶🏼🌏️✨⁠
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08/09/2026

📚 This summer, Natalie Fernsten is taking an academic journey to Oxford! 📚⁠
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As part of the first group of BYU students participating in the Constitutional History study abroad at Pembroke College in Oxford, Natalie is also building on the research she completed as a research assistant for the Quill Project in conjunction with UVU.⁠
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Natalie was able to present her findings at the Oxford Education Research Symposium, where she was the only undergraduate presenter. What started as a paper for a BYU English class became an opportunity to share her work on an international stage!⁠
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Natalie's experience is a great example of how education, research, and hard work on campus can open doors to meaningful and life-changing opportunities abroad! ⁠
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📸: Natalie⁠ Fernsten⁠
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07/24/2026

Planning a trip abroad this summer? 🌍✈️⁠
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Professor Quinn Mecham has traveled to more than 100 countries, and he's picked up plenty of lessons along the way. Swipe through for some of his top travel tips to help you make the most of your next adventure.⁠
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📖 Read the full interview in our Bridges magazine by clicking the following link!

https://kennedy.byu.edu/alumni/bridges/interviews/an-interdisciplinary-place

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07/18/2026

🇮🇹💚⁠ One of the best parts of studying abroad is finding ways to give back to the places that become your home. 💚🇮🇹⁠
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During the Art of Italian Living in Rome study abroad program this spring, students spent a Saturday serving alongside Retake Roma, a local nonprofit dedicated to caring for the city. Together, they helped clean Villa Borghese, one of Rome's most treasured parks, and experienced the joy of serving in their community.⁠
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📸: Aaron ⁠Rose⁠
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Address

237 Herald R Clark Building (Brigham Young University)
Provo, UT
84602

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://kennedy.byu.edu/

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