John C. Bersia ’77, director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Global Perspectives Office, a professor of international issues, and a Pulitzer Prize recipient while an editorial writer at the Orlando Sentinel, died Thursday of metastatic cancer. He was 62.
Bersia started working at UCF in 2001, later became a special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives, and was the executive producer and host of a weekly WUCF TV show by the same name, covering diplomacy, world affairs, human trafficking and other issues.
He was viewed by many of his colleagues and students as a global citizen, always pushing education, fairness and international awareness with the goal of a peaceful world.
麻豆精品 S淛ohn gave UCF and Central Florida a wealth of opportunities to learn about the world and to tackle our toughest challenges, particularly human trafficking and modern slavery, 麻豆精品 S� says interim President Thad Seymour Jr.
麻豆精品 S淗e brought many distinguished world leaders to campus and also speakers who challenged us to actively help human trafficking victims and others who had no voice. We will forever be thankful that John has made us a stronger, more civic-minded and more compassionate campus community. 麻豆精品 S�
Harriet L. Elam-Thomas, a former ambassador to Senegal and director of the university 麻豆精品 S檚 diplomacy program, says she came to UCF as the State Department’s diplomat in residence for one year but remained 16 years because of Bersia, 麻豆精品 S渨ho always demonstrated the human touch 麻豆精品 S� in his approach to community and world issues.
麻豆精品 S淛ohn was the epitome of civility. Global Perspective staff, interns and fellows gained academic and life leadership skills throughout their affiliation with the Global Perspectives Office, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hanks to John’s commitment to inform and expose the broader Central Florida community to international and domestic thought leaders, this community is well informed and able to make wise decisions on globally focused and culturally sensitive issues. The University of Central Florida and the surrounding community present a comprehensive face of America, thanks to the insight, outreach and selflessness of John Bersia. 麻豆精品 S�
Dean Michael Johnson of the College of Sciences, of which Global Perspectives is a part, says Bersia dedicated many years of providing students 麻豆精品 S渁n opportunity to be part of the world. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淲hat John knew is that the world has become very small, and our students are going to live in a world where they 麻豆精品 S檙e going to work and compete with people from every part of the globe, 麻豆精品 S� Johnson says. 麻豆精品 S淛ohn played a key role in opening doors for students and faculty to interact, learn and engage with different cultures. 麻豆精品 S�
Bersia grew up in Winter Park and earned his bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in political science/international relations and French at UCF in 1977. He went on to receive a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in government/foreign policy from Georgetown University, a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in public information administration at The American University, and a master’s in international relations from the University of London.
Before coming to UCF, Bersia worked in the global political-risk analysis and publishing business, was as an adjunct professor on international affairs at Rollins College, and served on the Orlando Sentinel 麻豆精品 S檚 editorial board for 16 years, when his series of editorials on predatory payday-loan practices, 麻豆精品 S淔leeced in Florida, 麻豆精品 S� won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 and prompted the Florida Legislature to make changes in regulations of loan companies.
He helped establish the Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, was board chairman of the World Affairs Council of Central Florida, and served in various roles with numerous organizations and programs on and off campus to promote global peace and security.
麻豆精品 S淛ohn was my friend for more than 30 years. In his hometown, and even in our university, few realize how greatly respected and admired he has long been throughout the world, 麻豆精品 S� says Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs James Bacchus and director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Center for Global Economic & Environmental Opportunity. 麻豆精品 S淛ohn laid much of the foundation for the emergence of UCF as a global institution 麻豆精品 S� a foundation on which we will continue to build for many years to come.”
To highlight that foundation and the impact and legacy of the Global Perspectives interviews hosted by Bersia, WUCF will broadcast a special retrospective at 9:30 a.m. March 31.
麻豆精品 S淛ohn worked tirelessly to bring attention to important issues and to help bridge cultural divides, 麻豆精品 S� says Phil Hoffman, WUCF executive director. 麻豆精品 S淗e was able to combine his passion for education with a real depth of knowledge to bring an understanding of the world to Central Florida audiences. 麻豆精品 S�
Bersia is survived by his wife, Renee Johnson, and a stepdaughter.
Services will be held at noon March 30, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 4001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando.
