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NIU’s J.D. Bowers, Zeta Gamma receive national awards for international education

April 18, 2012
From left: Richard Deming, international president of Phi Beta Delta; NIU’s J.D. Bowers; and Yvonne Captain, former executive director of Phi Beta Delta.

From left: Richard Deming, international president of Phi Beta Delta; NIU’s J.D. Bowers; and Yvonne Captain, former executive director of Phi Beta Delta.

NIU representatives traveled to Kansas City last week for the annual conference of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars and returned with some impressive hardware.

NIU history professor J.D. Bowers received the Yvonne Captain Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education.

Bowers, the 2010 Outstanding International Educator at NIU, created and leads a study abroad program to Cyprus. He also founded the Genocide and Human Rights Institute (GHRI), an educational resource center for students and teachers.

The institute supports teaching and learning in the field of study dedicated to ending incidents of genocide, human rights violations and mass violence. The institute works closely with NIU’s Study Abroad program and Center for Southeast Asian Studies, regional school districts and national organizations through partnerships and associated programming to broaden the scope of its outreach and training.

Bowers also serves as university coordinator of teacher certification at NIU and is president-elect of NIU’s Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta.

“Through teaching and service, Dr. Bowers realizes the goal of a truly comprehensive internationalization of the curriculum,” said Deborah Pierce, NIU associate provost for International Programs. “He is richly deserving of this national outstanding faculty award.”

NIU received the Eileen Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter Award, signifying the strongest contributions to international education by a Phi Beta Delta Chapter over the preceding year. From left: J.D. Bowers; Christopher M. Jones, past president of Zeta Gamma Chapter; International President Richard Deming; and Deborah Pierce, chapter coordinator.

NIU received the Eileen Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter Award, signifying the strongest contributions to international education by a Phi Beta Delta Chapter over the preceding year. From left: J.D. Bowers; Christopher M. Jones, past president of Zeta Gamma Chapter; International President Richard Deming; and Deborah Pierce, chapter coordinator.

Pierce attended the conference with Bowers and Christopher M. Jones, associate vice provost for University Honors and former president of Zeta Gamma, which was recognized by Phi Beta Delta with the Eileen Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter Award.

The NIU chapter has an unusually high number of inducted and active members, sponsors numerous lectures and activities on campus.

Members also are raising funds to support scholarships to help NIU students travel to scholarly conferences and hosts an annual fall reception with NIU President John Peters for chapter members and exchange visitors.

“Folks out there think we’re doing something right with Global NIU,” Pierce said. “It’s wonderful to see these efforts gaining national and international notice.”