March 31, 2017 — Tracy Kijewski-Correa and Steve Reifenberg have been appointed co-directors of the Integration Lab (i-Lab), an innovative feature of the new Keough School of Global Affairs that engages students, faculty across disciplines, and partners around the world in addressing complex global challenges.

Kijewski-Correa is the Leo E. and Patti Ruth Linbeck Collegiate Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, and Associate Professor of Global Affairs. Reifenberg, who has taught international development and served as Executive Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies since 2010, is Associate Professor of the Practice in the Keough School.

The i-Lab will offer a theory-to-practice course each semester throughout the two-year Master of Global Affairs, beginning with the first class of students in fall 2017. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams with a “global partner” — a high-impact humanitarian, religious, or development organization, civil society network, government agency, or business, said Scott Appleby, Dean of the Keough School.

Together with Notre Dame partners — institutes and centers across the University — and faculty-mentors, students will address specific global challenges, which might include (for example) enhancing access to health care, improving water and food security, implementing a peace process, or supporting healing and human rights for refugees. Coursework and research will be integrated with student work with partners and in an extended field experience. Read more about the i-Lab »

“Tracy Kijewski-Correa is a world-class engineer and international development expert, and Steve Reifenberg is a remarkable institutional leader and creative teacher,” said Appleby. “We are fortunate that they will direct this ambitious initiative, which is an innovative way to prepare students to work and lead across geographic boundaries and cultures.”

“The i-Lab will foster new approaches to addressing global challenges through integral human development, and will create new possibilities for interdisciplinary scholarship,” said Peter Kilpatrick, Dean of the College of Engineering. “Professor Kijewski-Correa is the ideal person to build this bridge from the College of Engineering to the new Keough School of Global Affairs.”

“Steve Reifenberg’s extensive international experience and creativity will be deeply engaged with the i-Lab,” said Kellogg Institute Director Paolo Carozza. “We’re enthusiastic that the i-Lab will build on and strengthen many of the existing partnerships that the University has around the globe and that the Kellogg Institute actively supports.”

Contact: Tracy Kijewski-Correa, tkijewski@nd.edu or Steve Reifenberg, sreifenb@nd.edu