An exhibit of objects collected by anthropology graduate student Anthony Tumpag and put together by Hao Phan, curator of the Southeast Asia collection at Founders Library, is on display in one of the glass cases this week in front of the Blackhawk cafeteria in the Holmes Student Center.
“Celebrating Global NIU” is the focus of this year’s International Education Week on campus, which begins today (Nov. 12) and runs through Friday.
Sponsored by the Division of International Programs, the goal of the week of special activities is to draw attention to NIU’s increasing global profile, said Deborah Pierce, associate provost for International Programs.
NIU is actively pursuing opportunities for more students and faculty to engage in international study through such programs as the federally funded Fulbright awards and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Pierce said.
“We very much appreciate it that both the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education recognize and highlight the imperative of infusing global perspectives throughout the teaching, research and service missions of universities in the United States.
Because NIU has made great strides in that direction, this year we chose the theme of ‘Celebrating Global NIU,’ while still realizing we have more to accomplish as a global institution,” Pierce said.
Highlights of the week include a lecture by distinguished Asia scholar David Steinberg of Georgetown University and the announcement of winners of campus international education awards. International menus are being offered in the residence halls and Blackhawk Food Court all week long, and international displays are up in Holmes Student Center and Founders Memorial Library.
David Steinberg
There are also a number of campus activities open to all (see calendar). These include:
- Monday, Nov. 12. International marketing exchange from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Neptune Central.
- Tuesday, Nov. 13. Fulbright Specialist Award workshop for NIU faculty and research associates from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Room 406, Holmes Student Center. Amy Levin, English department chair, and Emily Prieto, director of the Latino Resource Center, will discuss how best to apply for, and experience, this short-term Fulbright appointment to spend two to six weeks at universities abroad.
- Wednesday, Nov. 14. Student Fulbright workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Sky Room, Holmes Student Center, and a minorities and study abroad session from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in 406 DuSable.
- Thursday, Nov. 15. A scarf-tying demonstration with NIU art historian and French fashionista Catherine Raymond from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Sky Room and a facilitated screening of “Crossing Borders,” a 70-minute documentary about four Moroccan and four U.S. university students, at 7 p.m. in 148 DuSable.
- Friday Nov. 16. The week’s capstone lecture, “The Last Amateur: Reflecting on 50 Years of Engagement with Asia,” will be given by Southeast Asia scholar and Burma specialist David Steinberg of Georgetown University at noon in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center. A light lunch buffet will precede Steinberg’s talk, which is being co-sponsored by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies as its 50th Anniversary Fall Lecture. A few hours later, International Education Week will conclude with the second annual International Dance and Global Village Potluck from 5:30 to 10 p.m. in the Barsema Hall atrium, sponsored by the College of Business, the Foreign Language Residence Program, the ELS Language Center and the AIESEC student group. There will be dance performances, cultural displays and an international food tasting followed by a DJ-hosted dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
In addition to public activities, the Division of International Programs is also hosting a number of invitation-only events during the week, including receptions for local exchange program host families, study abroad program directors and alumni, Cobb Fellows, international students and NIU’s outstanding international educator, department and student. Phi Beta Delta, the international honor society, will induct new members in a ceremony Nov. 13.
For further details, contact International Programs at (815) 753-9526 or slindell@niu.edu.
