Cultivating an international dimension at Ohio State

A recent reorganization of the office now provides Ohio State with a wide variety of services, as well as a myriad of educational and research opportunities—all under one umbrella. International Affairs oversees the Study Abroad program, International Student and Scholar services, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and five Area Studies Centers. Additionally, International Affairs sponsors and administers grants for faculty and graduate student travel and conferences, develops international agreements with foreign institutions and initiates and coordinates international outreach activities and special events.

With Dieter Wanner serving as interim associate provost, International Affairs is committed to integrating international perspectives into the academic experience, and continuing the momentum that is guiding Ohio State toward becoming a university characterized by international excellence.

Somali Studies International Conference brought critical issues to light

Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, was the keynote speaker. She shared her insights into the critical issues facing Somalis in their war-torn region as well as in emerging Somali communities throughout the world. Ambassador Frazer has worked with the international community to support the deployment of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); encourage inclusive dialogue between Somali stakeholders; provide development and humanitarian assistance to the Somali people; and continue efforts to combat violence and eliminate the terrorist threat in Somalia.

“The conference was a wonderful opportunity for people from around the world to share ideas and perspectives on Somalia and the Horn of Africa,” said Dr. David Kraybill, Director of the Center for African Studies. “The presentations covered a wide range of topics from cultural, economic and historical perspectives.”

More than 50 break-out sessions took place over the four-day conference and included panel discussions on a wide variety of issues of concern to Somalis in the homeland and in communities abroad. Panelists leading the discussion sessions included educators, leaders in business and government and social and human service professionals from central Ohio and around the world who are involved in working with and helping the Somali community.

Specific topics included

• Somali Nationhood, Identity and Conflict Resolution
• Overcoming Conflict and Promoting Peace in Somalia
• Refugee Education, Cultural Barriers and Social Integration
• Somali Immigrants and Refugees in Ohio: Trends, Challenges and Services
• Transnational Remittance, Business and Commerce
• Media issues in Somali Studies
• Studies in Somali Language and Literature

Resident director recalls summer study abroad tour

Dr. James Phelan’s number was up. The former chair of Ohio State’s English Department had put his name on a list of faculty members interested in serving as a resident director for a study abroad program. “It was my turn, and it was very fortuitous,” Phelan said, referring to the fact that the program shifted locations in summer 2007 from Bath-Spa University to the University of Greenwich. A resident director, who can be a faculty member or graduate assistant, often accompanies a group of OSU students participating in a study abroad program and takes responsibility for helping to ensure the safety, welfare and education of the students while overseas.

In addition to his duties as resident director, Phelan, a Humanities Distinguished Professor in English, led an independent study course in which the 20 students in the program were required to write frequently in a journal to document their experiences in England.

Originally Phelan saw his role as two-fold: to serve as the liaison between students and the faculty of the University of Greenwich; and to serve as teacher for that independent study. What actually happened surprised him—“but in a good way,” he noted.

As resident director, he saw his role take an entirely new direction. “Students began perceiving me as an important link to OSU and to home,” he recalled. “They began thinking of my wife and me as Mom and Dad.” Phelan’s wife is Elizabeth Menaghan, a professor in OSU’s Department of Sociology, and she functioned, Phelan said, as “a second, unofficial, resident director.” Phelan remarked that he played many roles as a quasi-parent, ranging from the “benevolent Dad” to the Dad that “had to say ‘straighten up.’” A resident director “has to wear many hats,” Phelan confided. “That was my revelation.”

Phelan became closer with the students while working to help them come to terms with the grading system at Greenwich and how those grades would transfer to the system at OSU. He served as their advocate with Greenwich faculty and staff members on housing and other logistical issues. He traveled with the students to a performance of Othello at the Globe Theatre, to the British Museum and the National Gallery, and on literary/historic walks in and around London. Phelan and Menaghan also invited students to their flat for dinner and conversation once a week.

He looks at his time spent with the students in Greenwich as one in which he made 20 new friends and one which gave him the great pleasure of seeing London through their eyes.  A “very rewarding experience” is how Phelan describes his six-week stint as a resident director. He believes it will help him become a better teacher because it has deepened his understanding of undergraduates and how they think about the world.     

Trigo appointed director of Center for Latin American Studies

Q’anjob’al on tap for winter quarter 2009

Trigo is a well known scholar in Latin American Studies. His interdisciplinary research specializes in cultural studies that broadly range in focus from literary production to film studies, from issues of identity and migration to the social impact of globalization. He is the author of numerous books, articles and papers and has been a faculty member at Ohio State for 20 years.

“Our work over the next two years will focus on developing and implementing high quality programming concerning Latin America that fosters the instructional, research and intellectual interests of our students and faculty,” Trigo said. “It will be important for us to continue to build upon the community’s growing interest in and understanding of Latin American issues.”

This year the center will continue collaboration with Dr. Laura Martin to develop an online course sequence in the Mayan language Q’anjob’al, to be offered winter and spring quarters of 2009. To introduce the campus community to this language, the center will welcome Guatemalan poet, novelist, scholar, and cultural activist Gaspar Pedro González Rodas to the Ohio State campus on Nov. 15 -16. Gonzalez will participate in a series of events to educate students and faculty about Q’anjob’al language and culture.

Additionally the center is sponsoring numerous lectures and film series throughout fall quarter to help build awareness and promote Latin American culture. Visit clas.osu.edu for a complete calendar of events.

Dr. Joseph Wu returned to his alma mater in September

Joseph Wu, Taiwan Representative to the United States and Ohio State Political Science Alum, recently returned to Ohio State and spoke to a group of close to 150 during a lecture held at the Wexner Center for the Arts titled, "Taiwan and the U.S.: Allies of Interest in Security, Prosperity, and Democracy."

During his day-long visit, Wu met with Interim President and Provost, Dr. Joseph Alutto as well as many distinguished professors. A special reception also was held in honor of Wu’s accomplishments since earning his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1989.

The event was sponsored by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Political Science, Office of International Affairs and the Institute for Chinese Studies.

Two area studies master’s programs attract graduate students

The Master of Arts programs in Slavic and East European Studies and East Asian Studies, interdisciplinary degrees offered by the Graduate School and administered by the area studies centers, have seen exponential growth in recent years. Both programs are designed with a heavy emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that prepare students for either academic or professional careers.

The Slavic and East European Studies two-year master’s program was developed 15 years ago and today prepares students for work in government service, for security institutions and non-government organizations. With an emphasis in language training, students can design their program that appeals to their professional goals. The program is facilitated by some 50 faculty members who teach nearly 300 different courses in East European languages and area studies. Currently, there are 15 students enrolled in the master’s program.

The Center for Slavic and East European Studies also recently established a master’s program with the School of Public Policy. Students accepted into this program will be well trained for non-government organization administration positions and financial positions in government. The three-year program should be available in the 2008-09 academic year.

In developing the Master’s of Arts in East Asian Studies, East Asian faculty across the campus worked together to design a program of study that would prepare students for Ph.D. programs or careers in government, cultural non-profit organizations or the private sector. Providing graduating students with an option to further their studies of East Asian language and culture was the impetus for launching a master’s degree program in 2005. In spring of 2007, the program’s first student graduated. Today, there are seven students enrolled in the master’s program.

Students work with a team of faculty advisors to design their own program, which includes course selection focused on one geographical area of East Asia (China, Japan or Korea), one specific discipline of concentration as well as an extensive array of language courses. There are more than 50 faculty members involved in the master’s program from 17 disciplines such as East Asian languages and literatures, business, economics and history.

Applications sought for international research and travel grants

The Office of International Affairs is seeking applications for its Fall 2007 Faculty Research Grants. Grants up to $5,000 may be awarded in two categories: Interdisciplinary Lectures, Seminars and Conferences; and International Research Travel. International Affairs awards grants to fund research activities that support international themes.

Grants will be awarded for research leading to publication that requires foreign travel; projects for publication based upon collaborative research with overseas partners; conferences on international themes; and participation in faculty-exchange programs between Ohio State and foreign educational or research institutions.

Ohio State faculty, interdisciplinary areas and academic units are eligible to apply. All proposals must include a letter of support from one of the Directors of the Area Studies Centers. The deadline for submission is November 16, 2007. For more information, a list of requirements and an application form, visit oia.osu.edu. Questions may be addressed to Richard Herrmann at herrmann.1@osu.edu.

Shaping of the Modern Middle East Symposium

Mershon Center holds grant competition

• The use of force and diplomacy.
• The ideas, identities and decisional processes that affect security.
• The institutions that manage violent conflict.

• Edward Crenshaw and J. Craig Jenkins (Sociology), “If It Bleeds, It Leads: Assessing Media Effects on Transnational Terrorism.”
• Peter Shane (Moritz College of Law), “Cyberdemocracy: Law and Democratic Development”
• Ahmad Sikainga (History), “Sudanese Perspective on the Darfur Conflict”

• Srdjan Vucetic (Political Science), “The ‘Anglosphere’: A Genealogy o fan Identity in International Relations”
• Denice Fett (History), “Invasion as a First and Last Resort: Europe in the 16th Century”
• Marguerite Hernandez (Sociology), “Problem Definitions: Understanding the NGO Response to Sex Trafficking”

Reaching out to Ohio’s teachers

International Student Profile

Name: Naman Shah
Home country: Mumbai, India
Year in school: Second Year Graduate Student
Undergraduate: Electrical and Computer Engineering/African and American Studies
Graduate: Business Logistics Engineering

Length of time in U.S.: Three years in December; first time in the U.S.

What are your career plans after college?
Ideally it is to get the job of my dreams with a company with a solid foundation and strong growth, but a Ph.D looks fascinating right now as well.  

Why did you choose Ohio State?
When I was doing my research, Ohio State proved to be a great fit for my overall personality. It has a strong engineering program and its sheer size intrigued me. The way I saw it, the larger the university the more opportunities I had to excel in extra-curricular activities. I needed a dynamic university that would balance the intensity of engineering with non-academic events and activities. I did not want to be over-stressed with the multitude of academic work and needed channels to release the stress.

What most surprised you about your experience in the United States?
I was actually surprised at the diversity present. There were a few cultural nuances and ‘common knowledge’ I had to get used to. For example I was a bit taken aback when strangers would pass by and ask me “How’s it going?” and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I had always thought of Columbus being a small town and when I got here I realized that it’s a large city with a population of nearly 2 million. As a whole I was surprised with the overall diversity present in the United States and did not realize that there was such a high volume of immigrants here.

What has been the hardest thing to adapt to since you’ve come to Columbus?
The hardest part being an international student was commuting outside the university. If you want to go to the Easton Shopping Mall or go to a nice restaurant it is not very accessible. English being my first language was not that big of a problem as was my accent. People sometimes found it hard to understand what I was saying. But after a while you get used to it and make the change subconsciously. I would pronounce route as root and people would have a tough time understanding.

What do you like best about Columbus?
Ohio State University is the best thing I like about Columbus. With everything I have seen it seems that Ohio State is a very integral part of the city and makes the city what it is.

What have you done to keep yourself busy?
Initially, I was working with (Office of International Affairs) as an Orientation Leader and concurrently with First Year Experience, and their activities kept me pretty busy. Now, graduate school courses, job search, teaching assistant duties keep me occupied most of the week.

What is the most fun/exciting thing you’ve done since you arrived at Ohio State?
The most exciting thing I have done at Ohio State is go sky diving. The opportunities to do something exciting and extreme at Ohio State are many. Playing tennis at the RPAC is something I enjoy too and plan on taking up golf in the near future.

How has the Office of International Affairs helped you adapt to campus life?
I came straight from the airport with bags in my hands directly to the Office of International Affairs. I did not know anyone at Ohio State and did not have a place to stay. They called the Indian Student Association at Ohio State and a member from the organization came by and helped me find temporary accommodations until I could figure out if I wanted to stay on or off campus. They have always been very helpful in clearing my doubts and concerns. The events that they have throughout the year are always fun and a great opportunity to meet people from your own country plus a chance to meet people from different countries and learn their different cultures. The International Food Festival that they have in February is something I look forward to every year.

International Education Week

The week of November 12-16 marks the eighth annual celebration of International Education Week. A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week is an opportunity to promote a broader understanding of world cultures. Ohio State joins thousands of other institutions worldwide participating in events that bring an international perspective to college campuses.

The Office of International Affairs has compiled a list of activities occurring on campus that will help build awareness of diverse, cultural perspectives to students, faculty and staff. Visit oia.osu.edu.

If you wish to subscribe to Global Perspectives and receive this e-newsletter every quarter, please contact us at oia@osu.edu.