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Director John D. Stephens of the Center for Contemporary European Studies smiles at the camera.

John D. Stephens

Director

Gerhard E. Lenski, Distinguished Professor of Political Science & Sociology | UNC-Chapel Hill
PhD in Political Science | Yale University
BA in Social Relations | Harvard College

3211 FedEx Global Education Center
(919) 843-9852

John D. Stephens, Gerhard E. Lenski, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology; Director, Center for European Studies, European Union Center of Excellence, and Trans-Atlantic Masters program; received his B.A. (1970) from Harvard University and his Ph.D. (1976) from Yale University. His main interests are comparative politics and political economy, with area foci on Europe, the Antipodes, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He teaches European politics and the political economy of advanced industrial societies. He is the author of The Transition from Capitalism to Socialism (1979) and coauthor of Democratic Socialism in Jamaica (with Evelyne Huber, 1986), Capitalist Development and Democracy (with Evelyne Huber and Dietrich Rueschemeyer, 1992; Outstanding Book Award, Political Sociology Section, ASA), Development and Crisis of the Welfare State (with Evelyne Huber, 2001; Best Book Award, Political Economy Section, APSA), and Democracy and the Left: Social Policy and Inequality in Latin America (with Evelyne Huber, 2012, Outstanding Book Award, Sociology of Development Section, ASA; Best Book Award, Political Economy of the World System Section, ASA). He has also contributed articles to, among others, The American Political Science Review, American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, The British Journal of Sociology, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of European Social Policy, and World Politics. He is currently working on a study of social investment policy in Europe and Latin America.
A picture of Katie Lindner.

Kathleen Shanahan Lindner

Executive Director

MA in TransAtlantic Studies | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
BA in International Studies, German | UNC-Chapel Hill

3210 FedEx Global Education Center
(919) 962-6765
(919) 962 0398 (f)

Katie Lindner joined us in 2015 from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin where she spent many years managing and organizing programs including TAM, Euromasters, German-Turkish Masters as well as the international doctoral program at the Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences. She focused on such aspects as program development, student and career services, international recruitment, and collaboration with international partners. Katie has a BA in International Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MA in Trans-Atlantic Studies (TAM Program) from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Before moving to Berlin, she worked at the International Visitors Council in RTP, which is where she discovered her love of organizing programs and international education. In 2015, she moved back to Chapel Hill with her husband and three children after sixteen years in Berlin, and has been enjoying the North Carolina sunshine immensely.
A picture of Sarah Hutchison.

 

Sarah Hutchison

Associate Director, TransAtlantic Masters Program

PhD in Comparative Literature | UNC-Chapel Hill
BA in Comparative Literature | Columbia College, Columbia University

3208 FedEx Global Education Center
(919) 962-4507

Inspiration: The creativity, drive, and the accomplishments of the TAM students and grads. I know it sounds cheesy-fake, but it’s true.

In free time: I love to hike with my husband, daughter, and our three dogs.

Committed to: the inter-institutional partnerships and experiential learning involved in TAM. The opportunities TAM provides to young people are life-changing, and it is fascinating to be involved in such an innovative international educational project. I love working with the TAM applicants, students and alumni!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Brett Harris

International Education Program Coordinator

MA in Political Science | UNC-Chapel Hill
BA in Comparative Literature; Contemporary European Studies | UNC-Chapel Hill
3209 FedEx Global Education Center
(919) 843-9852

CES Journey

I entered UNC in 2018 as part of the Excel@Carolina EURO-TAM BA-MA assured admission track. While working as a Program Assistant for CES, I completed my undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature, Contemporary European Studies, and Urban Studies & Planning, earning Highest Honors in European Studies in 2021.

I entered TAM in the fall of 2021 in the European Governance Track, and spent two semesters abroad at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where I also worked with SEEK Development, a global development consulting firm.

I’m so excited to return to CES and continue to build relationships and community with our triangle partners and educators across the state!

Headshot of Victoria.

 

Victoria Vass

Business Manager

BA in Public Policy | UNC-Chapel Hill

3207 FedEx Global Education Center
(919) 962-2152

Favorite European Food: Pierogi- pan-fried filled dumpling wrapped in unleavened dough.

In free time: I play board games, hike, dance, and watch movies.

Favorite thing about CES: The focus on creating shared experiences that lead to a better, more just future for all.

Prior Work: I received my B.A. (2015) in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill. Previously, I served two terms in the AmeriCorps program and worked as an operations coordinator for a nonprofit specializing in homelessness prevention.

 

Kayla Bassett Andrade

Student Services Manager

BA in Education | UNC-Chapel Hill

3213 FedEx Global Education Center

(919) 843-4285

Global experience:

I studied abroad in the Spring of 2019 at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. My favorite class while studying there was Sociology of Education. I loved the weekly small group discussion where I listened and learned about the varying education experiences from students all across Europe. During my time abroad, I was fortunate enough to travel to 15 countries, but my favorite trip was in Scotland hiking Isle of Skye.

Prior work: I joined CES after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in May of 2021 with a BA in Education majoring in Human Development & Family Studies. While at UNC, I worked at Morehead Planetarium & Science Center teaching STEM-based curriculum to local elementary and middle school students.

Favorite European food: Borscht – an Ukrainian beet soup with beans, potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots. It is also popular in Russian and Polish cuisine.