Melissa von Mayrhauser reported today that the Beijing branch of the Columbia global centers has finally found a permanent director.

All directors will be convening in New York for a summit to discuss the future of the global programs.

Ipek Cem-Taha, director of the global center in Istanbul, said that the global centers are starting to flourish “now that the existence and survival issues are no longer in question.”

“This is the time to start thriving, and to do that, there needs to be an even stronger bond between campus and the centers,” she said.

The programs are still growing, with new centers expected to launch in Nairobi and Rio over the next year or two.

There’s also a startlingly dazzling array of opportunities for every major out there already. Check out the Global Center website for more information on the various projects here.

For undergraduates, there are opportunities to do summer research in Beijing, learn Arabic in Amman, have Eurotrash parties study diligently in Europe, or take a fifth year abroad.

Can’t pick between Jordan, Chile, India, China, Turkey, or France? You can always scrap all that and just do one of the myriads of other study abroad options. There is an incredible amount of flexibility and choice: can’t find what you want? Try another university or come up with your own program.

If you’re a sophomore or a junior with dreams of flying away from the New York hustle and bustle for a semester or two, don’t forget to go to the Study Abroad fair in Roone on September 28th from 12:30-3:30. And sign up for emails from the amazing Sara Ede (Who, while having a slightly more pronounceable than Niamh O’Brien, could still steal a Varsity Show with her emailing prowess.) for the heads up on interesting and useful events, from trying Indonesian food sponsored by the Consulate to LGBTQ abroad meetings.