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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A new institute at Â鶹´«Ã½ promises to give WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s and employees as well as community members new Â鶹´«Ã½ to participate in interdisciplinary research, experience collaborative instruction and engage in intercultural activities.

The Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies officially launches at the beginning of the fall semester and will be administered by WMU's College of Arts and Sciences.

It will house WMU's existing undergraduate major and minor in anthropology, along with the recently reinstated major and minor in African American and African studies. The institute also may serve as an administrative home for future intercultural programs in areas such as Latino/Latina studies and Latin American studies or indigenous peoples studies.

"The institute will serve as a place in which WMU Â鶹´«Ã½s, faculty, staff and community members can gather to pursue collaborative teaching, scholarship and community outreach activities related to these important programs," says Dr. Carla Koretsky, College of Arts and Sciences dean.

"We are proud to open this new institute that aligns with our mission to ignite and sustain a passion for learning and discovery, while also preparing Â鶹´«Ã½s to contribute to the betterment of our communities, from local to global."

In addition to fostering collaborative teaching and learning in intercultural and anthropological studies, the institute will provide cocurricular programming with a physical space in the University's Moore Hall.

This new degree-granting academic unit's primary offices will be located in Room 1071, main office; Room 1065, director's office; and Room 1061, Â鶹´«Ã½ commons.

Dr. Irma Lopez, professor of Spanish and past chair of the WMU Department of Spanish, will serve as the institute's interim director for the 2018-19 academic year. The College of Arts and Sciences will launch a search for a permanent director in the fall.

Learn more by visiting the Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies online.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.