Awards
- John W. Ryan Award for Distinguished Contributions to International Programs and Studies (2020)
About Gabriel Filippelli
Service in Kiribati with the U.S. Peace Corps from 1987 to 1989 sparked Gabriel Filippelli's enduring passion and commitment for international issues. Filippelli earned his Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1994. Since joining the Department of Earth Sciences at IUPUI in 1994, Filippelli has furthered Indiana University's international profile through the interface of his research and diplomatic service to the United States.
Filippelli's international scholarship and initiatives have brought unparalleled opportunities for IUPUI's faculty and students. He brokered a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and IUPUI to bring the State Diplomacy Lab to campus. Alongside 19 other colleges and universities across the United States, this multiyear program enhances the State Department's ability to develop and implement foreign policy and diplomacy in creative ways. This will foster greater exposure to statecraft and international issues for IUPUI students, and provide opportunities for IUPUI faculty to address complex global challenges.
His work is global in scope and has resulted in lasting partnerships with international organizations and teams of scientists. Filippelli has led environmental health workshops at IU's Beijing Gateway Office, served as a delegate to the internationally renowned Beijing Forum, and created a video series on air quality and health for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
As the senior science advisor in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Filippelli played a key role in the bureau's efforts to protect vital marine and polar resources and raise the profile of marine conservation in the Arctic and southern Africa.