From the fall of 2016 through the summer of 2018 Professor Birchfield will represent CETS and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech Lorraine, Georgia Tech’s European campus in Metz, France. She will teach EU and transatlantic themed International Affairs courses, thereby building the Nunn School and IAC presence at GT’s flagship international campus. Metz and the Lorraine region provide a fascinating environment for the study of Europe and European integration as geographically and historically it represents the very roots of post-war reconstruction and unification of Europe through the reconciliation of former rivals, France and Germany. Just outside of Metz lies the museum and final resting place of one of the EU’s main architects and key visionaries, Robert Schuman. Strasbourg, the main seat of the EU Parliament is a short train journey from Metz, and Luxembourg, home of the European Court of Justice, is also less than an hour away. Paris, Berlin and Brussels (‘the D.C. of Europe’) are also easily accessible, greatly enhancing research and experiential learning opportunities. The ten week EU summer program will continue to be offered with a one month residency for students at the GTL campus and the other six weeks divided among Paris, Berlin and Brussels.
Other plans during her appointment at GTL include creating a speaker series to broaden horizons and enrich the student and faculty experience through cultural and political programming, organizing site visits to EU and other government institutions and international organizations and connecting the GTL campus virtually to the Atlanta based CETS and Nunn School events. Specific goals are to increase the number of INTA and IAC students spending a semester at GTL and earning the EU Affairs certificate, providing student research and internship opportunities and exploring European funding mechanisms for CETS research and educational activities.