Conference on the Americas comes to UNG

For nearly two decades, scholars with expertise on the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada have shared their insights at the Conference on the Americas. In February, the University of North Georgia will host the 23rd annual conference on UNG's Gainesville Campus.

The Conference on the Americas will be Feb. 21-22 in the Martha T. Nesbitt building at 2571 Mathis Drive in Oakwood, Georgia. Conference registration fees are $95-$100 for faculty and professionals, $50 for graduate students, and $25 for undergraduate students. Visit the Conference on the Americas website to register.

Attendees will gain new insights, discover new research, and network with faculty from University System of Georgia (USG) schools and other universities. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to attend and participate in the students' paper competition.

More than 12 public and private institutions from Georgia and three out-of-state colleges will be represented. UNG scholars who have participated in the conference in the past include Dr. Elizabeth Combier, department head and professor of Spanish; Dr. Kristi Hislope, professor of Spanish; Dr. Alvaro Torres-Calderon, associate professor of Spanish; Dr. Donna Danns, professor of economics in the Mike Cottrell College of Business; and Dr. George Danns, professor of sociology.

Abstracts and papers were accepted from faculty as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Topics and categories will focus on migrants and immigration, the ecology and environment, gender, politics and economic issues in the region, social problems in relation to Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada and study abroad programs. More than 50 faculty and student presenters are confirmed for the conference.

"Our presenters and panelists will bring to the conference new knowledge and deeply interesting and very integral insights about the region we study," said George Danns, a member of the Americas Council.

As the main sponsor, the purpose of the Americas Council of the USG is to provide a venue in which faculty can engage and share their interest and expertise regarding the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The consortium of USG institutions provides an annual conference for presenters and participants to explore critical sociocultural, political, economic, global, regional, and national issues.

"Hosting this conference will provide UNG with a strategic opportunity to showcase and advance its work in the region, as well as foster engagement with all of the USG institutions' scholars and students in the process," George Danns said.

Donna Danns has attended the conference for the past 10 years and still finds it interesting. She said presenters and panelists are multidisciplinary and multicultural.

One year, Donna Danns heard a presentation from Combier. Danns was so impressed she invited Combier to speak to two of her classes about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"There are scholars from UNG and from other universities who are sharing their expertise," Danns said.

Dr. Paget Henry, professor of Africana studies and sociology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, will deliver the keynote address Feb. 22. Henry is the author of several books and numerous research articles. His areas of research include dependency theory, Caribbean political economy, sociology of religion, sociology of art and literature, Africana philosophy and religion, race and ethnic relations, post-structuralism, and critical theory.

For more information, email George.Danns@ung.edu and Donna.Danns@ung.edu or visit the Conference on the Americas webpage.