CAS and the Goldstein Center for Human Rights Announce New Leadership

Lana Obradovic, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science, has been named the Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

Obradovic previously served on the Goldstein Center for Human Rights (GCHR) Executive Committee, working to promote the understanding of human rights issues through teaching, research and creative activity, and both national and international community engagement. In addition, she is the Director of International Studies and Program Director of the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship Program, a project funded by the U.S. Embassies in Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia that develops a robust network of young leaders in the Balkans working to create innovative solutions to civic engagement issues in their communities. She has taught courses in international relations and comparative politics for the past 22 years at St. John’s University, City University of New York, and Mercy College in New York City, and at Yonsei University in South Korea. She is the author of Gender Integration in NATO Military Forces (Routledge, 2014), which won the ERGOMAS 2015 Best Book in Civil-Military Relations award in Tel Aviv. She is also the 2021 UNO Faculty Excellence in Engagement award recipient.

The Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights was established in 2017 through the generosity of Shirley and Leonard Goldstein’s children: Don Goldstein, Kathy Goldstein-Helm, and Gail Raznick. The community chair enhances the work of the GCHR by serving on the executive committee and one of the three standing committees and bringing new energy and expertise to expand on the broad range of human rights initiatives at UNO.

Obradovic says she is ready to further the initiatives of the GCHR and their shared desire to create an impact, “I am excited to work on fostering faculty, student and community engagement with human rights, promote open dialogue, and create a space where we can discuss, research, and engage in complex issues, and share different perspectives.”

The previous Community Chairs, Drs. Laura Alexander and Ramazan Kılınҫ, used their role to develop new programming, such as the Human Rights Forum, the Human Rights Essay Contest, and the Landscapes of Belonging refugee series. As UNO’s third Community Chair, Obradovic will continue the programming started by her predecessors while tapping into her passions to consider new opportunities.

“I aim to spearhead research, educational programs, and community outreach that explore human rights issues, with a special emphasis on the refugee experience in Omaha, health and education disparities, Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and technology and human rights,” Obradovic says. “Through collaborative efforts, particularly with the Goldstein Center’s Executive Committee and affiliated faculty, I hope to develop meaningful projects and foster understanding of human rights and community engagement within our community.”

Angela Brown, project and design manager for the GCHR, has worked closely with all three community chairs and is excited to support Obradovic in her work.

“I worked with Lana when she initially served on the executive committee and have seen her be an active part of many key decisions that moved the GCHR forward. I look forward to learning from her and working with her to support her vocations and help turn them into public good.”

Find more information about the GCHR and the Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights on their website and consider joining their mailing list to stay connected and learn about upcoming events and other opportunities for engagement.