Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, (one of America’s most livable cities) invites scholars at risk to bring their artistic, intellectual and academic talent to Carnegie Mellon University.

CMU’s Artists and Scholars At Risk (ASAR) Program upholds university values of academic freedom and freedom of expression through our support to scholars who are under threat in their home countries or regions.

Our Program

With the generous financial support from the Provost’s Office as well as the hosting units in the College of Fine Arts and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and our partner organizations, CMU hosts one to three scholars annually in the arts and humanities. Scholars remain at CMU for a period of up to three years.

Our History

Beginning in 2022, CMU began hosting at-risk scholars in response to global humanitarian crises, and from a sense of institutional responsibility to represent our values in action. CMU’s Artists and Scholars At Risk (ASAR) Program demonstrates values in action related to CMU’s strategic goals for global impact; we model cultural and artistic ambassadorship through this program. 

Our Association with CAS

The Center for the Arts in Society helps support the integration of artists and scholars at risk into the CMU and Pittsburgh community through event programming, such as our Afghan Dinner and a Movie series, moderated by Habib Sorosh; Syrian Dinner and a Movie series, moderated by Reem Alghazzi; and the Dinner and a Reading Event with Anouar Rahmani.

Our Leadership

A dedicated team of faculty and administrators serve on the Steering Committee to oversee the launch, direction, goals and administration of the program.

Steering Committee Members (2023-24)

• Wendy Arons, Professor of Dramatic Literature and Director of the Center for the Arts in Society - School of Drama
• Becky Culyba, Vice Provost for Operations and Strategic Initiatives - Provost’s Office
• Linda Gentile, Director - Office of International Education
• Alex Hiniker, Director of Sustainability Initiatives - Libraries
• Lisa Krieg, Associate Vice President - Global Strategic Initiatives
• Anne Lambright, Department Head and Paul Mellon Professor of Hispanic Studies - Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics
• Andreea Ritivoi, William S. Dietrich Professor of English and Department Head - English
• Jon Rubin, Professor of Art - School of Art
• Roger Turner, Coordinator - Global Strategic Initiatives

Impacts of the program accrue to the artists and scholars themselves, and across our institution, to faculty and hosting home departments, and to CMU students: 

• Local and regional connections – This program fosters partnerships, collaborations and connections to the refugee/asylum-seeking communities in Pittsburgh and beyond.
• Academic programs and faculty – This academic endeavor explores linkages to under-represented places and cultures. Our program connects to the CMU School of Art’s Mission: we believe that your curiosity, artistic vision, and creativity can help shape a new and better world. And, we explore exciting new areas of scholarship.   
• Students – Our students experience CMU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and global mission in action – both in and out of the classroom.  
• Scholar Impacts – Artists and scholars at risk are folded into the CMU community with a holistic approach of meaningful and scholarly engagement.
• Welcoming threatened artists and scholars aligns with CMU’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, with a specific focus on Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).