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When
the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, it had more than 40,000
nuclear weapons in its arsenal and enough uranium and plutonium
on hand to produce 40,000 more. Today, representatives from
UGA help officials in Russia and a range of other critical
countries control the spread of nuclear materials and weapons
of mass destruction.
"If
you are wondering whether one small unit of a land-grant university
in the southern U.S. can make a significant contribution towards
saving the world from nuclear holocaust, the answer is a resounding
yes," says Gary Bertsch, whose behind-the-scenes efforts are
perhaps more recognized in the halls of the Russian Federation
and in the U.S. Congress than at UGA.
While
Bertsch can be at home teaching a class and enjoying the life
of a college professor, he's often fighting jet lag and stealing
a nap in the lobby of a hotel where you can't spend a U.S.
dollar. With Martin HillenbrandÑwho was the United States'
first ambassador to Hungary prior to joining UGA's political
science facultyÑBertsch established the Center for
International Trade and Security, then called the Center for
East-West Trade Policy, in the spring of 1987. Even
before the fall of the former Soviet Union, the staff was
engaged in Russian and East-West studies.
CITS
has made UGA one of the leading U.S. universities actively
working with former Soviet governments and agencies to control
the export of materials used to build nuclear devices and
other weapons of mass destruction. The CITS staff has grown
from two to more than 20 since the center opened. The hiring
of Igor Khripunov, a former member of the Russian Foreign
Service, was crucial to the center's success. The center's
work is funded by a range of philanthropic foundations and
U.S. government agencies. The center's focus on real-world
problems greatly benefits the upperclassmen and graduate students
who make up its support staff and who actually do some of
the research and grassroots diplomacy.
CITS
doesn't represent the U.S. government. It represents the University
of GeorgiaÑwhich, according to Bertsch, actually helps rather
than hinders. "Universities can do things that governments
can't," he says. "We can work on the inside."
Competing in a Global Economy
The University of Georgia is at the forefront of the globalization
movement in higher education with a wealth of opportunities
for international experiences. Our students are flocking to
study-abroad programs, thriving on the challenges inherent
in confronting a new cultural environment. More and more,
students on campus are also making choices that reflect an
understanding of the importance of global awareness—from
living in a residence hall-based language community to starting
a radio program in another language to minoring in a foreign
language. These experiences, whether at home or abroad, influence
how our students perceive the world and their place in it.
We’re producing graduates prepared to be world citizens—well
informed, culturally sensitive and technologically sophisticated.
They’re ready to take on the challenges of our global
society, and they’ll be equally at home whether in the
Peach State or the Republic of Georgia.
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The
behind-the-scenes nuclear nonproliferation efforts of Gary Bertsch
are perhaps more recognized in the halls of the Russian Federation
and in the U.S. Congress than at UGA. 
