News and Events

Fall Conference 2025 - China

Oct 9, 2025, 5:00 PM – Oct 10, 2025, 5:00 PM

— Keynote Address — Brad Farnsworth, Principle at Fox Hollow Advisory Brad Farnsworth has more than three decades of experience as a campus leader, instructor, and association executive.  A recognized authority on China, he has travelled there since the early 1980s, and he maintains strong connections with Chinese universities and the Chinese government. 

2025 Negotiation Simulation - Korean Peninsula

Sep 26, 2025, 12:00 PM – Sep 27, 2025, 3:00 PM

This fall, students, faculty, and alums participated in the U.S. Army War College's ISCNE simulation on the Korean Peninsula. Teams were set a few days before the event, with students suddenly taking on the role of major superpowers as they navigate the political unrest that is ever bubbling along the DMZ.

Steve Pile - Affect and City Life: Notes from London

Apr 17, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Professor Steve Pile from Open University (UK) will be giving an exciting talk on Zoom entitled ‘Affect and City Life: notes from London’ (please see the abstract below). The talk will take place on April 17 at 2:00 pm at https://uky.zoom.us/j/4073288434 He has been invited as a speaker for a Gaines Center Cooperative composed of Michael Samers (Geography), Charlie Zhang (Gender & Women Studies), and Yujia He (Patterson School). All are welcome.

Patterson School Lexington Alumni Event

Apr 24, 2026, 5:30 – 8:30 PM

The Patterson School is excited to host a local event for our alumni. We invite you to join us here in Lexington, at the Old North Bar this April. PleaseRSVP if you plan on attending: https://forms.gle/j5ee4imRn9u3nkzB8.

Talking China in the Bluegrass - Panel Discussion

Apr 27, 2026, 5:00 – 6:00 PM

The panel discussion, Talking China in the Bluegrass, will be held April 27 from 5-6 PM at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Gratz Park, and will feature four great speakers, including Vice-Mayor Dan Wu and our own Yujia He from the Patterson School. The poster is below. This is open to a public audience, including students. Summary: Where do we find China in Kentucky? Join local experts and community members for a discussion of how global transitions in economy, migration, politics, and culture are changing life in Kentucky.

Patterson School Atlanta Alumni Event

Mar 17, 2026, 5:30 – 8:30 PM

Every year, the Patterson School takes a spring break trip and invites our alums to connect with our current students. This year, we are coming to Atlanta! We would like to invite you to a reception for Patterson Alums in the Atlanta area, our students and faculty, and diplomats in the region. You can RSVP here: https://forms.gle/R9UKpUzZBpHhJMr99

Friday Talk [Zoom] - Dr. Cara Wallis - Social Media and Ordinary Life: Affect, Ethics, and Aspiration in Contemporary China

Feb 13, 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 AM

As part of a Gaines Center Cooperative Grant, Dr Yujia He is co-hosting a series of webinars on 'affect' along with Dr Charlie Yi Zhang (A&S Gender Studies) and Dr Michael Samers (A&S Geography). The second of these will be presented by Professor Cara Wallis of the University of Michigan and entitled "Social Media and Ordinary Life: Affect, Ethics, and Aspiration in Contemporary China".

Patterson Open Houses - January 8th (online) and January 22nd (in-person)

Jan 8, 2026, 6:00 – 7:00 PM

The Patterson School will be hosting two open houses in January. Our first open house will be held on January 8th, from 6-7PM (EST). This Open House will be online via zoom. This the zoom link for that event.

Invited Speaker: Dr. Ben Anderson (10/31, 2-3PM, Zoom)

Oct 31, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

As part of a Gaines Center Cooperative Grant, Dr. He, in association with Michael Samers and Charlie Yi Zhang, will be hosting a series of webinars on 'affect'. The first of these will be presented by Professor Ben Anderson entitled "Too much, too little: The politics of intensity and the post 2008 conjunctural crisis". Professor Anderson is a leading figure on affect and his talk will delve deep into the topic of affect and politics in the context of rising right-wing populism in both Britain and the US post-2008.

Invited Speaker: Dr. Jess Reia (10/31, 1-2PM, Via Zoom)

Oct 31, 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/46OHjl4 (full link https://uky.zoom.us/j/87223903283?pwd=9GjjXqWTKXTaqr5raN9lGJO6knUbyN.1) Please join us October 31 from 1-2PM for a talk from Jess Reia, Assistant Porfessor of Data Science at the University of Virginia, entitled "Urban Music Governance: What Busking Can Teach Us About Data, Policy, and Our Cities."