Welcome to the Center for International Studies and Albuquerque International Association
We are joining in an effort to make Albuquerque a better place — intellectually vibrant, internationally flavored, exciting, and globally savvy. As they say, “it takes a village” to achieve these goals. You can be part of this village. With your support, AIA will go forward with its mission: to bring the world to Albuquerque, and Albuquerque to the world.
Sad News to Report
We regret to share with you the very sad news that Dr. Marina Oborotova, the Founder and the Past-President of the Center for International Studies and the Albuquerque International Association, passed away Monday, March 6, after a short illness. She was at home and in the presence of her son, Philip Skorokhodov.
Marina was raised and educated in Russia, when it was part of the Soviet Union. She obtained an M.A. from the Moscow State University for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Foreign Office and a Ph.D. from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russia’s leading think-tank, where she worked as a senior researcher. Her career included experience in many parts of the world in foreign policy, international business, academic research, and university-level teaching. She has written two books and over 40 articles on foreign relations and has presented numerous papers at international conferences.
After living and working in Moscow for 33 years, she relocated to the U.S. in 1992, where she taught at the University of New Mexico in the Departments of History, Political Science, the Anderson School of Management and the Honors program.
In 2007, Marina founded the Albuquerque International Association (AIA) whose mission is to increase public understanding of the world in which the US plays such an important role, as well as to contribute to the internationalization of the City of Albuquerque. Since that time AIA has provided a forum for enlightenment, intellectual challenge, discussion and fun, offering high-quality information on the most important and controversial issues of the day. It has served as an educational resource for multiple generations, from high-school and university students to professionals and retirees.
Since its founding until her retirement in 2021, Marina very effectively led AIA in accomplishing its broad mission.
Marina always delighted in sharing her knowledge in her own lectures. During her time with us, among the many topics she addressed were Russian Art and Culture, the history of St Petersburg, Moscow and Ukraine, Protest and Terrorism in Russia, and Russian leadership from Gorbachev to Putin.
Marina truly gave Albuquerque “an eye on the world”. Her passing is truly a loss to all of us and to the community.
– Submitted by Steve Czuchlewski, Board Chair Emeritus
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2023 International Lecture Series
US Foreign Policy and Global Leadership
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Upcoming Events
The Role of Provincial Dress in Shaping National and Local Politics in Scandinavia
Thursday, March 23 at 4 pm – The Albuquerque International Association is pleased to present a lecture by Dr. Carrie Hertz on the current exhibit at the Museum of International Folk Art entitled “Dressing with Purpose: Belonging and Resistance in Scandinavia”. Dr. Hertz will discuss her research as curator of the exhibit and author of the book of the same name.
Ireland and Brexit
April 27th at 2pm – The Albuquerque International Association is pleased to announce a lecture by Dr. Caleb Richardson that will address the implications of Brexit for Ireland—on both sides of the border. After the Brexit referendum in 2016, the complexities of untangling the UK from the European Union became clear. Negotiators spent years haggling over debt, trade agreements, legal jurisdiction, and everything up to and including the color of passports. But few anticipated how difficult it would be to sort out the details concerning the one part of the British Isles that now shared a land border with Europe: the island of Ireland.
Spanish Connections
Thursday, May 18th – Mark L. Asquino, U.S. Ambassador (Ret.) and President, Global Santa Fe, will be speaking about his book “Spanish Connections: My Diplomatic Journey from Venezuela to Equatorial Guinea.” More information will be posted soon.
Other Announcements
AIA Book Club Meeting
March – The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century, by Kirk Wallace Johnson.
May – Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall, by Helen Merriman.
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