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International Affairs honors KNPE

January 6, 2020
Nicholas Grahovec, Brad Bond, Chad McEvoy, Steve Howell and Paul Wright
From left: Nicholas Grahovec, Brad Bond, Chad McEvoy,
Steve Howell and Paul Wright

NIU’s Division of International Affairs honored the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KNPE) with its 2019 Award for Outstanding Department Contribution to International Education.

Recipients are chosen for meeting one or more of these criteria:

  • Supporting NIU-sponsored Study Abroad Programs that benefit NIU students or faculty.
  • Offering or supporting international courses, or including international issues in courses.
  • Recruiting international faculty, staff or students.
  • Co-sponsoring or implementing international professional development programs, such as training programs or conferences.
  • Supporting faculty in international work, such as research, technical assistance or conference participation.
  • Supporting international students through, for example, tuition waivers, assistantships, financial aid, or support for international travel or conference participation.
  • Hosting visiting international scholars and exchanges.
  • Receiving external funding for international projects, including research and development.
  • Administering NIU-sponsored events to promote international understanding, such as international conferences and lectures, or educational exhibits with an international focus.
  • Collaborating with campus units on international activities, projects or programs.
Dwight Lewellen (left)
Alternative Spring BAE: Belize, March 2019

KNPE is quite active globally.

The department and Chair Chad McEvoy long have nurtured a thriving relationship with the University of Tetova that has included KNPE participation in an international workshop on sport sciences held in Macedonia.

Faculty members who have conducted research abroad include Paul Wright and Jim Ressler; in 2016 and 2017, Ressler hosted a professor of physical education from Yunnan University in China who spent a year conducting research at NIU.

Wright, meanwhile, recently moderated a UNESCO panel discussion in Paris, spent the fall semester delivering workshops for NIU’s PKPI scholars and has taught an honors course in sport diplomacy.

He also led NIU’s ENVEST (Empowering New Voices through Education and Sport Training) Sri Lanka program: Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) through sports, an initiative that laid the foundation for the College of Education’s first Engage Global program in Sri Lanka.

In collaboration with several colleagues, including Jenn Jacobs and Steven Howell, Wright earlier headed up the Belizean Youth Sport Coalition. That project introduced Jacobs to opportunities in Belize, where she successfully launched Alternative Spring BAE in March.

Next semester’s return to Belize will create a national women’s sports summit, supported by a $10,000 award from the U.S. Department of State.