Guided by the principles of academic excellence, forward vision, and community engagement, the Center for International and Regional Studies' (CIRS) mission revolves around five principal goals:

To provide a forum for scholarship and research on international and regional affairs
To encourage in-depth examination and exchange of ideas
To foster thoughtful dialogue among students, scholars and practitioners of international affairs
To facilitate the free flow of ideas and knowledge through publishing the products of its research, sponsoring conferences and seminars, and holding workshops designed to explore the complexities of the twenty-first century
To engage in outreach activities with a wide range of local, regional and international partners.