The Ralph J. Bunche Center

Howard University established an international affairs center in 1993 to serve as a focal point for the University's many and varied international activities and interests. Substantial financial support was provided by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, which made the Center one of only 10 Kellogg-supported Centers of Excellence in the United States. In 1996, with United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and members of the Bunche family in attendance, the Center was re-christened The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center in honor of that great African American internationalist and Nobel Laureate who was a Howard University professor for a number of years.

In a few short years, the Bunche Center has had a major, positive, and catalytic impact on the University. Not only has it organized and coordinated numerous lectures and other internationally oriented programs, it also has become an incubator and focal point of interdisciplinary programs of study and discussion. The Center has featured appearances by heads of state, other prominent individuals and scholars, such as former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Ambassador Ruth Davis, Director General of the U.S. Foreign Service; and Rubens Ricupero, Secretary General of UNCTAD, and frequently features lectures and discussion on such topics as ethnic conflict, democratization, economic development, and the global financial crisis.

• The Center serves, in addition, as Howard's point of contact for a range of inquiries from entities outside the University: foreign embassies, governments, universities and corporations, as well as U.S. government agencies.
• It serves as the locus for international conferences and meetings, such as one of the founding gatherings of the White House Initiative on South Africa.
• The Center houses the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Program, which honors one of the University's most notable graduates with a celebrated Annual Lecture, internships, and scholars in short term residence, including, among other, Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
• Sasakawa Fellows (Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund), doctoral fellows in international studies, are assigned to the Center for counsel and support.
• The Center houses Howard University's Study Abroad Program.

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Due largely to the leadership, advocacy, and untiring effort of Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, the Bunch Center received recently $1 million in appropriated funds from the U.S. Congress to finance the "Principles of Cooperation" between Howard and the U.S. Department of State. Under this agreement, signed by President H. Patrick Swygert and then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and endorsed by Secretary of State Colin Powell, programs have been initiated to encourage greater interest in international affairs among African Americans and to increase the pool of African Americans qualifying for careers in diplomatic service. Some of these include:

• Undergraduate and graduate fellowships for study of international affairs
• "Prep" sessions for Foreign Service Written Examination takers and the Oral Assessment.
• A summer enrichment program, including 3 courses, in Political Science/government, economics and English.
• Conferences for international affairs advisors at HBCUs
• Writing workshops for potential exam takers
• Conferences for Student Government leaders
• Overseas and Public Service internships
• Outreach workshops in foreign affairs for secondary school students

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• Howard University is committed to making international affairs a vibrant area of interest and study.The College of Arts and Sciences has an multidisciplinary minor in Caribbean Studies.Under development at present are multidisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs
• Providing certificates in international affairs to students enrolled in Howard's degree granting departments and schools.
• Howard University is committed to helping to reduce the substantial deficit of African Americans and other minorities in the field.
• We encourage, support, and help to prepare students from secondary schools for international and public affairs careers through the HU Summer Enrichment Program for High School Students.

International Training

The Bunche Center conducted a training program in party democracy for Croatian political party leaders, an NGO Development and Management Program, and a course on principles and practices of real estate and cooperative housing for selected Ukrainian Western Cape, the Center and the Harris Program conducted a course on diplomacy for South Africans not represented in this area field at the time of Independence.

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The Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center and the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Program are Howard University entities. Over the years, both have received considerable financial support from the W.K. Kellogg, MacArthur, Henry M, Jackson, DACOR Bacon House, and the Una Chapman Cox foundations. Support from the U.S. Department of State is in the form of the assignment to Howard of Diplomats-in-Residence.