David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies

The David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies is an academic and international-engagement center at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Its principal role is to provide students with structured opportunities to study international affairs, develop regional expertise, and participate in educational and service experiences outside the United States. The center is named for David Matthew Kennedy, a former United States Secretary of the Treasury and a figure associated with international public service. The center is housed in BYU’s Herald R. Clark Building and organizes its academic work through interdisciplinary programs rather than a single traditional department. The six programs identified in reference material are Ancient Near East Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, International Relations, Latin American Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic. Together, these programs address geographic regions, languages, history, politics, economics, culture, and international institutions. This structure allows students from different academic backgrounds to approach global questions through multiple disciplines. In addition to its academic programs, the Kennedy Center manages BYU’s study-abroad opportunities. These activities connect classroom learning with international field experience and service-oriented education. The center therefore functions both as an academic hub and as an administrative and programmatic gateway to BYU’s international education offerings. Its activities are primarily directed toward the university community, although the subject matter and overseas programs give it an international operating scope. The center’s identity is closely tied to BYU rather than to commercial branding. It does not appear to market consumer products or operate as an independent corporation. Its principal offerings are educational programs, international-relations programming, area-studies expertise, and study-abroad administration. The available reference material identifies V. Stanley Benfell as director as of August 2021, following Renata Forste’s appointment as BYU’s international vice president. No reliable source in the supplied material establishes the center’s founding year, a complete succession of directors, financial information, or a separate legal ownership structure.

The David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies is part of Brigham Young University’s institutional effort to provide structured international education. It was named in honor of David Matthew Kennedy, who served as United States Secretary of the Treasury. The center’s namesake connects the institution to public service and international affairs, although the available reference material does not specify the date on which the center was established or provide a detailed account of its early development. The center is located in BYU’s Herald R. Clark Building. Its academic model is interdisciplinary and organized around six programs: Ancient Near East Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, International Relations, Latin American Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic. These programs give students opportunities to examine world regions and international issues through combinations of history, politics, language, culture, economics, and related fields. A major operational responsibility is the management of BYU’s study-abroad programs. Through these programs, the center extends international learning beyond the university campus and links academic study with overseas experience and service. The center consequently serves both as an academic home for international and regional studies and as a coordinating institution for global educational opportunities available to BYU students. The supplied reference identifies V. Stanley Benfell as the center’s director in August 2021. This followed Renata Forste’s appointment as BYU International Vice President. The available sources do not establish a full leadership chronology, detailed enrollment figures, independent financial results, or a separate corporate structure. The center is best understood as an academic unit within BYU rather than as a commercial brand or standalone enterprise.

• 2021

  V. Stanley Benfell identified as director

  [1]David M. Kennedy Center for International Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material identifies V. Stanley Benfell as the center’s director in August 2021, after Renata Forste’s appointment as BYU International Vice President.

• Center named for David Matthew Kennedy

  [1]David M. Kennedy Center for International Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  The international-studies center takes its name from David Matthew Kennedy, a former United States Secretary of the Treasury.

• International programs organized across six interdisciplinary areas

  [1]David M. Kennedy Center for International Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  The center’s academic scope includes Ancient Near East Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, International Relations, Latin American Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic.

A university-based interdisciplinary platform for international education, regional studies, global service, and study-abroad experiences.

• Academic program

  Ancient Near East Studies

  An interdisciplinary program focused on the history, cultures, societies, and related languages of the ancient Near East. The available reference identifies the program as one of the center’s six principal areas, but does not provide details about its curriculum, credentials, or enrollment.

• Academic program

  Asian Studies

  An interdisciplinary regional-studies program concerning Asia. It forms part of the center’s academic portfolio and supports the broader study of Asian societies, cultures, history, and international affairs. Specific program structure and degree information are not established by the supplied sources.

• Academic program

  European Studies

  An interdisciplinary program examining Europe and its historical, cultural, political, and international dimensions. It is listed among the Kennedy Center’s six studies programs. Further details about courses, qualifications, and associated faculty are not available in the supplied reference material.

• Academic program

  International Relations

  A program centered on relations among states, international institutions, global political issues, and related cross-border questions. It represents the center’s most explicitly global and policy-oriented academic offering, although the supplied sources do not specify its curricular or degree arrangements.

• Academic program

  Latin American Studies

  An interdisciplinary program focused on Latin America and its societies, cultures, histories, languages, politics, and international relationships. It is one of the six regional or thematic programs identified for the center. Detailed program information is not provided in the available sources.

• Academic program

  Middle Eastern Studies/Arabic

  A combined regional and language-oriented program concerning the Middle East and Arabic. The program reflects the center’s integration of geographic studies with language learning. The supplied reference does not specify its courses, credentials, or operating model.

• International education program

  BYU Study-Abroad Programs

  The center manages Brigham Young University’s study-abroad programs, giving students opportunities to pursue educational and service experiences in international settings. These programs extend the center’s work beyond campus and connect its academic focus on global and regional issues with direct overseas experience.

1. 1David M. Kennedy Center for International Studiesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies official websitekennedy.byu.edu