UC Berkeley joined the US network of French Centers of Excellence in 2021 with the generous support of the French Embassy. The Center of Excellence in French and Francophone Studies was established in 1987 as part of the Center for Western European Studies, and in 1999 was incorporated into IES. The Center consists of three pillars:
- The UC Berkeley Department of French
- The France-Berkeley Fund
- The Institute of European Studies
The goals of the Center are:
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To organize and advertise programs related to France and the Francophone world to Berkeley undergraduates, graduate students, and instructors as well as the general public
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To promote research and teaching by UCB faculty on topics relating to France and the Francophone world
- To encourage Berkeley students to pursue French and Francophone studies
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To foster the emergence of a French and Francophone community at UCB, including students, faculty, and visiting scholars from France and other Francophone countries
- To strengthen Berkeley’s academic, intellectual, and institutional ties to France
The primary actions of the Center are:
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Organizing public lectures, workshops, conferences, and research projects relating to French and Francophone studies across disciplines, including Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, Business, Law, and Technology
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Disseminating information to Berkeley students about the University’s French language program, study abroad options in France and other Francophone countries, and fellowships and scholarships for graduate and undergraduate study and research in those countries
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Informing faculty about research grants on topics relating to French and Francophone studies as well as visiting appointments and lectureship opportunities in French-speaking countries
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Working with the Embassy of France in the United States, the Consulate-General of France in California, and diplomats from France and Francophone countries to organize public events and support French and Francophone studies at Berkeley
Contact
Claire Delphine Tourmen Perron, Director
Rachaël Longuépée, Senior Program Officer
Advisory Board
Claire Tourmen Perron
Jeroen Dewulf
Peter Sahlins
James Claude Robinson
Richard G. Kern
Debarati Sanyal
Stephen Small
Larry M. Hyman
Jonah Levy
Akasemi Newsome
