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Spider Baseball scores big with Cuban communities during trip abroad.
RICHMONDe international newsletter
Spring 2016 | Issue II, Volume 2
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A Note From the Dean
Dear Friends,
I write to you from the Carole Weinstein International Center, which at five years strong stands as testimony to the University of Richmond’s engagement with the world. This month the biannual faculty international seminar will take place in Cuba, followed by the arrival of UR’s President Ronald A. Crutcher and Provost Jacque Fetrow in Havana.
Most participants in the faculty seminar speak fluent Spanish, and all are eager to meet with colleagues as Cuba undergoes dramatic change. The faculty group will brief the President and Provost, who will then explore possible connections for the University of Richmond with a variety of institutions in Cuba.
Closer to home our colleagues in Landscape Services brought new life to the courtyard of the International Center by adding planters filled with flowers, and as happens we humans then spent a little more time enjoying the beautiful early spring outdoors in conversation with one another. The new Passport Café soirees (see the article below) proved popular; we are grateful to Dining Services for their spectacular response when we wondered if good food and international topics wouldn’t animate conversations on campus.
Indeed, my first year has been full of conversation, chiefly getting to know colleagues across the five schools and all those who make the University of Richmond hum. I enjoyed our students through a new Dean’s Advisory Committee and by offering the first class on campus for students returning from abroad. These encounters have been supplemented by conversations with Carole Weinstein and my predecessor Uliana Gabara, two strong women who have given so much to international education and who have been generous in sharing their perspectives with me. I look forward to another year of discovery and to new ways of integrating our academic mission with international purpose.
 Martha Merritt
Dean and Carole M. Weinstein Chair of International Education
Office of International Education
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Above: The International Center and Courtyard adorned for a Cuban fiesta and celebration of the Center's 5th anniversary.
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International Celebration
Five Successful Years and Many More to Come
Annually in April, the International Celebration celebrates and reflects upon the successful initiatives and programs that contribute to the internationalization of the Richmond campus. This April was no different, but the celebration not only looked back on recent exemplary acts, it looked forward, too.
While recognizing such highlights from the 2015-16 academic year as the UCI race, a semester-long series on the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, and the 5th anniversary of the International Center, the evening's speakers had their eyes keenly focused on the future. President Crutcher addressed his desire to collaborate more closely with VCU on global initiatives – possibly in Cuba – stating:
We are poised to create a dynamic
educational hub in our city.
His counterpart from VCU, President Michael Rao, echoed a similar sentiment in comments that focused on the power of higher education. Hosting the event, Dr. Martha Merritt also cast her vision forward: to the faculty seminar that will travel to Cuba this summer and the organic momentum from the campus community that is driving interest in the exploration of our neighbor to the south. Concluding the program, Carole Weinstein took the stage to propose a toast. Her remarks not only highlighted the efforts that made the construction of the International Center a reality five years ago, but also her desire to see the Center continue to support international education at Richmond for years to come. The festive atmosphere and forward-focused themes of the evening proved inspiring for the nearly 150 supporters of international education in attendance.
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Dr. Martha Merritt Announces the
2015-16 International Education Award Winners
Another celebrated tradition of the annual International Celebration is the announcement of the International Education Awards. Presented to faculty, staff, and alumni, these awards recognize those who foster international perspectives on campus and beyond. Congratulations are in order to this year's deserving recipients:
- Dr. Lidia Radi, Associate Professor of Italian and French
- Dr. Amit Eynan, Professor of Management
- David M. McCoy, Associate Vice President of Public Safety, Chief of Police
- Jannatul “Thamine” Nayeem, '17
- Luka Klimaviciute, ‘16
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ChinaFest
Film, Art, and Discussion Encourage Cultural Appreciation
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For 11 years now, ChinaFest has been part of the landscape of Richmond's festival scene. Its scope of programming and impact in the community have consistently been impressive, drawing (a growing base of) followers from the community and local universities to partake in opportunities that encourage a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
This year, as in years past, the festival was headlined by a renowned expert on China. Dr. Kenneth Lieberthal of the Brookings Institution, a renowned scholar of Chinese politics and business, opened the festival with an engaging lecture on Xi Jinping's China, later taking questions from the packed audience. Those who made the most of ChinaFest weekend were treated to the ever-popular family day at the VMFA, which drew 10,000 visitors this year, five classic and contemporary films at the University of Richmond, and a gallery talk and tea. If you happened to miss any of the events this year, there is always next year, which is already in the works!
PERSONAL SPOTLIGHT:
The Force Behind the Festival
If you're a regular around ChinaFest programming, you've likely seen or met its director, Rose Chen. Rose has a remarkable ability to bring people of different worlds together for meaningful collaboration, especially as it pertains to ChinaFest – one of her true passions! She recently shared with us her story of moving to the U.S. and her inspiration for cross-cultural engagement:
When I first came to the U.S. in 1971, it was a vastly different world. Taiwan had yet to enter the export-driven economy and the island was pretty isolated with no flights coming or going. My peers traveling to the U.S. had to either take the boat or get a chartered flight. We were given one-way ticket since...
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UR Learning Abroad
UR Students and Staff Present on Lessons Learned Abroad
Each fall, the Office of International Education presents the Learning Abroad Symposium, where select faculty, staff, and students are able to present on recent international experiences and the lessons they learned while abroad. After the symposium, we followed up with one presenter, Taylor Baciocco, '16. She sat down with us to talk more about adaptability, why she wanted to learn Italian, and some of the lessons she learned during her academic year and internship in Siena, Italy.
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UR Learning Abroad: Taylor Bacioccio, '16
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Athletics in the World
Baseball Diplomacy in Cuba
The Obama Administration and Major League Baseball recently made headlines for their historic trip to Cuba that included, among other things, the Tampa Bay Rays competing against the Cuban national team. It was, indeed, a step in a new direction for relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
But, quietly enough, there was another baseball team on the scene in Cuba months earlier: our very own Richmond Spiders. Their trip included baseball games against Cuban teams, workshops with youth teams, and cultural exchange. Style Weekly recently published one player's travel journal that detailed the experience from beginning to end.
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ON DISPLAY NOW!
Photo Exhibit: Playing Ball in Cuba
No good trip abroad is complete without travel photos. The Cuba baseball trip was no exception. From games against semi-pro Cuban teams and baseball clinics with children to cultural (and equipment) exchange, there was plenty to document. The Office of International Education has curated a set of photos from the team's trip, paired with excerpts from the Style Weekly article. Stop by the International Gallery to see this stunning set of photos.
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Focus on Fulbright
President Crutcher Meets with Prospective Fulbright Applicants
The student Fulbright Scholarship is a prestigious award with a primary focus on selecting students who have experience abroad and who will represent their country well. This is an uncanny description of so many of our students, so the Office of International Education kicked off this year's Fulbright cycle with a student info-session. And, what better way to learn about the experience than from fellow Spiders who are Fulbright alumni?
President Crutcher, a Fulbright alumnus himself, attended the session and recounted his 1972 Fulbright experience in West Germany to study cello. Like many Fulbrights, his experience yielded job opportunities that set his career in motion. He shared several stories and lessons from the experience, including:
One of the important lessons I learned was how to be alone, without being lonely.
Dr. Crutcher was followed by two Richmond alumnae who were awarded Fulbright scholarships. Erin Israel, '99 discussed how her Fulbright award – focused in business – allowed her to complete an MBA in Mexico City while working full-time at McGraw Hill Interamericana. Jennifer Loughnane, '07 had a remarkably different experience, teaching English in Indonesia. Through her teaching and civic engagement, the former leadership major now teaches at a high school in the Richmond area.
These insightful stories were coupled with a practical perspective given by Dr. Martha Merritt. With many years of Fulbright advising experience, Dr. Merritt addressed the nuts and bolts of putting together a competitive application for the Fulbright scholarship. The event concluded with refreshments, an informal meet-and-greet, and a contagious buzz to see more Spiders thriving abroad.
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JUST ANNOUNCED:
UR senior awarded Fulbright scholarship to teach English in Morocco
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University of Richmond senior Klarabelle Celine Ang of Pasadena, Calif., has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award to teach English in Morocco.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places recent college graduates and young professionals as English teaching assistants in primary schools, secondary schools or universities overseas – improving...
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Welcome/Welcome Back, Spiders!
Spiders with International Experience Receive Warm Welcome (On Cold Day)
Let's face it: being new to Richmond or returning from an extended time away in another culture can be challenging. Each semester hundreds of students deal with this transition – either exchange or international students new to campus or our four-year students returning from a semester or more abroad. While it's always been the tradition of the Office of International Education to welcome and promote integration among these populations, early in the spring semester we recruited colleagues from several campus units to join us.
On a brutally cold January afternoon (it's hard to remember back that far, we know!), we set out to offer a warm welcome and support to this group of students in transition at our first-ever Welcome/Welcome Back Spiders Fair. The International Commons was staffed with representatives from Study Abroad, International Student Services, Career Services, CAPS, Student Health, and such student-run initiatives as Ambassador Club, the International Student Advisory Board, and the Writing Center. In one fell swoop, these new and returning students were able to connect and get plugged into resources from all around campus. And while we couldn't fix the cold weather, the afternoon was sweetened with warm, made-to-order crepes by one of Richmond's most popular food trucks.
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Spiders Abroad Photo/Video Contest
Dazzling Scenes from Around the Globe
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It's a much anticipated event every year for both competitors and spectators. The Spiders Abroad Photo/Video Contest attracts numerous entries by students, faculty, and staff who have studied in or traveled to countries far and wide. It's a chance to see the cultures our community has witnessed and experienced. And, this year's entries didn't disappoint. We now present, for your enjoyment, the winning entries of the 2015-16 contest!
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Projects for Peace
Richmond Senior Awarded $10K for Refugee Project
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What would you do with $10,000? For Luka Klimaviciute, recipient of a Projects for Peace grant from the Davis United World College Scholars Program, this question was more than hypothetical — it was a real chance to make a difference in the lives of refugees in her home country of Lithuania.
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Passport Café Soirées
Sharing International Musings and Delicacies
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The International Center Courtyard always seems to attract students who are grabbing a quick bite from the Passport Café or those who are looking for an idyllic setting to study. This spring the courtyard attracted larger crowds than usual, though. With unseasonably warm weather, new flower planters, and international decor, how could anyone go wrong?
The bigger draw for students, however, was a new event series – sponsored by the Office of International Education and its neighbor with all the yummy delights – called the Passport Café Soirées. Designed to connect students who have international experience to those (faculty, staff, and other students) who share an interest in all topics international, the three-week series featured complimentary fare from Passport paired perfectly with a range of such clever discussion starters as:
So Far Off the Beaten Path
You'd Have to Ask a Local for Directions
While free sushi, sorbet, and cream puffs were a major draw, we like to think that the conversation provided the greatest nourishment of all.
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RICHMONDe
<<First Name>>, do you have an international story?
RICHMONDe highlights the programs, initiatives, and efforts undertaken by students, faculty, and staff to internationalize the University of Richmond. Do you have a story, quote, or exemplary activity to share with our community? If so, let us know. Your story could be published next.
Links of Interest:
Contact
Office of International Education (OIE)
28 Westhampton Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
E-mail | On the Web
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