International Week To Highlight Faculty, Students

The Office of International Programs and the International Student Organization will showcase SHSU’s 277 students from 55 countries around the world through activities and presentations during International Week March 26 through April 1.

“We’re trying to give some focus to them where they have the opportunities to talk about their countries,” said Nancy Holloway, OIP department secretary.

“Most of this is centered around students and faculty on campus,” she said. “It should open up some eyes for students who want to study abroad, who are curious about these different countries and their cultures.”

The week will kick off on Monday (March 26) with keynote speaker Paul Garcia, faculty emeritus and founder for the Center of International Studies at Saint Louis University, who will discuss “International Mission of the University in the 21st Century” from 3-4:30 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 320.

That evening, three Muslim women on campus will discuss their dress, lives and culture from 7-8 p.m. in the Writing Center, located in Farrington Building 111D.

“Muslim Women Today,” moderated by French professor Shirin Edwin, will feature students Khulud AlYousef, from Saudi Arabia; Leila Ekici, from Turkey; and Sadaf Monam, from Bangladesh.

“They are still very traditional in their home countries, even though they are learning Western ways,” said Holloway, adding that one student’s marriage was arranged. “These women are also very strong. They are going for advanced degrees, some of them had to learn English first before they came over here, and they matriculated into our university.”

On Tuesday, some of SHSU’s international visiting scholars will present “Developing Joint Research, Faculty and Student Exchanges,” from 3-4:30 p.m. in LSC Room 307.

The panel presentation will include Andras Kroo, math department; Chen Jin, criminal justice; Pinjia Meng, criminal justice; and Hao Zhang, foreign languages department.

On Wednesday, assistant professor of economics Hiranya Nath and assistant professors of art Sharon King and Rebecca Finley will discuss “International Faculty Development Opportunities” through the Council on International Educational Exchange’s International Faculty Development Summer Seminars.

The discussion will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. in LSC Room 315.

As participants for the CIEE Summer Seminars in 2006, the three will discuss how faculty can apply for the summer seminars, as well as discuss their experiences and compliance criteria. The seminars have been funded by the university for the past two years, according to Reiko Clark, OIP director.

“It’s a really marvelous opportunity for faculty members to learn the subject areas as well as the cultures and people of the countries firsthand,” she said.

A study abroad fair, where students can get information on the places they can study and what courses are offered, will be held on Thursday, from noon to 3 p.m. in the LSC Mall Area.

Later that afternoon, students can get different perspectives of studying abroad, first from students who have traveled outside of the United States to study, and then from students from other universities who are studying at SHSU now.

SHSU students Allison Newton, Daniel Lee, Benjamin Garza and Eric Weesner, all of whom have studied in foreign countries, will discuss their “Study Abroad Experience” from 3-4 p.m. in LSC Room 315.

This will be followed by the other perspective, that of foreign students studying in the United States, from 4-5 p.m. also in LSC Room 315, with Mi Na Kim, from Keimyung University in Korea; Young Hwan Kim and Shin Young Park, both from SoonChunHyang University in Korea; Nora Markwalder, from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland; and Nikola Wachter, from the University of Education in Karlsruhe, Germany.

“Exchange Student Experiences at SHSU” will be moderated by Tichaona Ben Nyabadza, an SHSU student from Zimbabwe.

Huntsville community members can join in on the learning on Friday during “A Night of Latin Salsation: Salsa, Merengue, Samba, Tango, Lambada,” from 7-9 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

Free dance lessons will be offered to anyone interested, under the direction of David Gangitano, from Baylor University; Mary Zepeda, from SHSU’s dance program; and Robert Rangel-Alvarez, an SHSU alumnus.

Finally, on Sunday, the university and Huntsville communities can learn about the heritage of different SHSU students with the International Festival, from noon to 4 p.m. in the LSC Ballroom.

Among the events planned for the festival are ethnic foods, traditional cultural performances and demonstrations, a traditional clothing show, cultural artifact showing, displays from different countries and a children’s international game center.

There is no admission cost; however, there may be a small charge for food.

For more information, call the OIP at 936.294.4737 or e-mail OIP@shsu.edu.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
March 22, 2007
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