On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, Dr. Natalia Smirnova, Director of the Center for International Studies and Associate Professor of Business and Economics at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, attended the NAFSA 2012 Annual Conference & Expo in Houston, TX. She presented a poster, "Building on Excellence: Internationalization at the College of Mount Saint Vincent."

Photo: Dr. Smirnova at the NAFSA 2012 Annual Conference & Expo in Houston, TX.

On Thursday, April 19th, 2012, the Center for International Studies presented a faculty cultural Seminar “Cuba and Film” by Dr. Rosita Villagomez, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. The seminar was dedicated to the 101st Founders Day Celebration. Saint Elizabeth Seton, the founder of the Sisters of Charity, said “I am a citizen of the world." Her legacy is kept alive by the Sisters of Charity who are actively involved in solving global problems of poverty, human rights, women’s rights, among others. The seminar on Cuba by Dr. Villagomez connected nicely with the theme of global awareness that was carried through the Founders Day on campus.

Dr. Villagomez outlined Cuba’s economic transformation after the breakup with the Soviet Union and evaporation of subsidies and aid from the old comrade. The period of the 1990s brought poverty and desperation to Cubans. As Cuba entered the twenty first century, the chasm between the ideals of the revolution and the island’s reality became greater. In the film industry, one can observe an attempt to find meaning in the every-day challenges and struggles: homosexuality, position of women, children’s issues, and artists’ role in the society.

Dr. Villagomez discussed four films: Fresa y Chocolate (1994), Viva Cuba (2005), Barrio Cuba (2005), and Habana Blues (2005). She described the issues in the films and engaged the members of the audience to discuss the highlighted issues. The presentation showed a detailed analysis of the film industry development in Cuba in the post-Soviet period, which illustrated attempts on the part of the Cuban Film Academy to portray the social and economic problems in a “true” light.

Photo: (From left to right): Dr. Villagomez with students, Christman Perera and Eric Lara.

On March 27, 2012, the Center for International Studies organized the Symposium on Campus Internationalization. The goal of the Symposium was to share successful institutional strategies for campus internationalization and learn from Loyola University Maryland, which received the NAFSA Paul Simon Award in 2010 and is currently ranked number one in the nation regarding the number of students studying abroad.

Key Note Speaker
Dr. André Pierre Colombat -- Dean and Director of the Office of International Programs, Loyola University Maryland (L.U.M.)

About Loyola University Maryland
In 2010, Loyola University Maryland received a Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. Through this award, NAFSA: Association of International Educators recognizes institutions for overall excellence in internationalization efforts as evidenced in practices, structures, philosophies, and policies.

Since then, Loyola University Maryland has been ranked number one in the nation among master’s institutions that have the most students who study abroad in one-semester programs.

Key Note Address
Dr. Colombat explained how Loyola University Maryland has been internationalizing its campus, what they learned in the process, what he believes is essential for their programs, and why he believes they received the Senator Paul Simon award. Dr. Colombat ended with some challenges they are still facing.

Panelists
Dr. Mary LoRe – Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Wagner College
Dr. LoRe discussed Wagner's:
1) Mandatory overseas trip in Executive and Accelerated MBA programs;
2) Revamping of undergraduate international concentration to include language requirement and overseas trip;
3) “Expanding Your Horizon” program.
Dr. George A. Mangiero – Associate Professor, Department of Finance and Director of Study Abroad, and Iona College.
Dr. Mangiero discussed challenges in recruitment of students and faculty for the study abroad programs; and administrative challenges in risk management and assessment.
Dr. Natalia Smirnova – Associate Professor, Department of Business and Economics and Director of the Center for International Studies, College of Mount Saint Vincent
Dr. Smirnova discussed the outcomes of the federal Title VI grant for the College of Mount Saint Vincent (CMSV), and focused on strategies, challenges and rewards of involvement of the faculty in the process of campus internationalization.

The event was attended by 24 people – administrators, faculty and staff members from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, as well as from Caldwell College, Wagner College, LIM College, Iona College. Additionally an alumna of the CMSV was present. The fruitful discussion followed the main presentations.
 

Photo: (From left to right): Dr. Colombat (key note speaker), Dr. Meyer (Dean, CMSV, moderator), Dr. Smirnova, Dr. Mangiero, Dr. LoRe.

On March 6, 2012, the Center for International Studies hosted Study Abroad Fair “Let’s Study Abroad!” About 20 students browsed various program tables that were set up in the Pastorini Dining Room. 

The following study abroad programs were represented:
1. UK, London – semester and summer 2012. Ms. Lesley Haig, Director of Academic Affairs of St. Mary’s University College Twickenham, London, was in attendance and answered questions about the London program.  Contact:  Dr. Meyer
2. Russia, St. Petersburg – semester and summer 2012 – contact Dr. Smirnova
3. Italy, Rome – winter 2013 – contact Dr. Aliano
4. Italy, Florence – semester, summer 2012 and winter 2013 – contact Dr. Meyer
5. Canada, Quebec – summer 2012 – contact Dr. Picher
6. Spain – winter – 2013 – contact Dr. Wong
7. Brazil – winter – 2013 – contact Dr. Ramirez

Photo: Ms. Lesley Haig, Director of Academic Affairs of St. Mary’s University College Twickenham, London, at the Study Abroad Fair.

On March 1, 2012, the Center for International Studies hosted a renowned Dostoevsky scholar from Columbia University, Dr. Deborah Martinsen.  She presented a talk “Dostoevsky and the Moral Emotions.”  
 
Considered one of the world’s greatest psychologists, Dostoevsky as a young man told his brother Mikhail that he wanted to study the mysteries of the human heart.  His work not only explores individuals’ complex psychologies but also their social and metaphysical context.  In considering a broad range of complex emotions explored by Dostoevsky, this talk focused on the dynamism of emotions and the emotional dynamism of his work.  It also showed how Dostoevsky as author appeals to our moral imaginations in order to affect and train our moral emotions.

Deborah A. Martinsen is Associate Dean of Alumni Education at Columbia University.  Since 2007, she has been President of the International Dostoevsky Society. The editor of Literary Journals in Imperial Russia and author of Surprised by Shame: Dostoevsky’s Liars and Narrative Exposure, she is currently co-editing a volume on Dostoevsky in Context for Cambridge University Press and writing a book on Ivan Karamazov’s devil.  A Columbia Ph.D. in Russian Literature and former Associate Dean of Columbia’s famed Core Curriculum, she teaches courses in the Slavic Department as well as the Department of English and Comparative Literature.  She has also taught at Princeton, New York University, Rutgers, and Fordham.

About 100 people attended the event: Faculty, students, staff and senior citizens from the neighboring Hyatt Classic Residency.  The evaluation forms collected after the talk revealed that everyone really enjoyed Dr. Martinsen’s ideas, her animated answers to the questions and the passion she exhibited for a classic Russian author.

On Thursday, February 23, 2012, Professor Jonathan Rosenberg, Department of Business and Economics, delivered a talk “Olympic Games: Global Impact.” The lecture contained a brief history of the games with an emphasis on how the Olympics impacts the world in areas of sports, business, politics and society. The audience learned that while originally intended to teach peace and love through sports, often the Olympics reflects societies’ greatest hopes and greatest fears. 

From the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" to the civil rights rally cry in 1968 Mexico City to the atrocious terrorist actions in 1972 Munich, the Olympics can sometimes inspire many to come together. It also unfortunately has been used as a podium for those trying to take advantage for their own personal agendas, for example the U.S. and Russian boycotts of 1980 and 1984.  The speaker also discussed the financial opportunities of a host country and how the bid process works to attain the games.

On Thursday, November 17, 2011, Center for International Studies presented a talk by Dr. Scapp, Professor of Humanities and Teacher Education, “Glocalization: Community Beyond Borders.”  The talk was attended by more than 100 people (students, faculty and staff). 

Dr. Scapp introduced the concept of glocalization as global companies adopting their product to local tastes or local demands, as well as local companies reaching global marketplace with the help of technology.  He gave examples of such strategies employed by McDonald’s and Starbucks or a local Italian candy company, as well as French wine makers.  Dr. Scapp’s presentation style was very engaging.  He solicited students’ opinions; he inflamed their curiosity and made them think about their goals in life.  Overall, students commented that they learned a lot, that they enjoyed the lecture very much, and that they would like to have an Integrated Course on Glocalization to be offered at the College.  Evaluation: Excellent. 

On October 27, 2011, at 4 p.m. the Center for International Studies hosted the Study Abroad Fair “Let’s Go Abroad”.  The fair was set up as a conference with Dean Meyer making opening remarks to outline the benefits of studying abroad, the application process and the overview of various types of study abroad opportunities available to Mount students. 

His introduction followed by short presentations from the guests: Mr. Morgan, Director, International Partnership for Service Learning (IPSL), and Dr. Mangiero, Director, Study Abroad Programs, Iona College.  Our guests gave a summary of programs offered through their institutions.  After that two-minute presentations of the Mount faculty-led programs followed. 

The following programs were showcased: Italy (January), China (January), London (Semester and Summer), Russia (Semester and Summer), and Quebec (Summer).  Concluding remarks were offered by Dr. Smirnova, Director of the Center for International Studies, who encouraged students to seek financial assistance to study abroad through various governmental and non-governmental organizations.  Students were then free to roam the Smith Hall to find out specific information about the program which was of interest to them.  The fair concluded at 6 p.m.  Total attendance was 44 students.

College of Mount Saint Vincent Center for International Studies "Let's Go Abroad" Fair

On October 14, 2011, as part of the Distinguished Guest Lectures series of the Center for International Studies, Ambassador Zada, Consul General of Egypt, delivered a talk entitled “Egypt: The Revolution and Its Implications”. 

The opportunity to hear the Egypt’s official speaking about the Arab Spring and subsequent developments in the region was extraordinary.  First Ambassador Zada commented on the Revolution and its consequences.  Then he opened the floor for discussion and many questions were raised.  Ambassador’s answers were candid, detailed, and educational.  He elaborated on Egypt’s political power structure and economic developments, religious history and reality, and enlightened the audience on the recent confrontations in the country.  

The talk was attended by more than 150 people-students, faculty, staff and senior administrators.

(from left) VP for Institutional Advancement and College Relations Madeleine Melkonian; College of Mount Saint Vincent President Dr. Charles L. Flynn, Jr.; Ambassador Youssef Zada (Consul General of Egypt) and his wife Fatma Sabry; Executive Vice-President/Treasurer and CFO Abed Elkeshk; Director of the Center for International Studies and Associate Professor of Business and Economics Natalia Smirnova

Attendance: 75 + people. Students, faculty, community people (from Hyatt Senior Residence 2 people + at least 1 from the neighborhood).

On November 30, 2010, Center for International Studies sponsored a Distinguished Guest Lecture “Migrants for Export: How the Philippine State Brokers Labor to the World” by Dr. Robyn Rodriguez from Rutgers University. Dr. Rodriguez is an author and a professor of Sociology. Her areas of expertise include migration, development and ethnic studies.

In her new book “Migrants for Export” that was published this year, Dr. Rodriguez explores the role of the Philippine state in the global labor market, and institutional framework of migration process around the globe. The lecture covered her field research in the Philippines during 2000-2009. She presented interesting findings that stimulated a lively discussion among participants. Q&A part lasted for more than 30 minutes and touched upon many aspects of migration, immigration, role of the state and the development of the global labor market.

Overall, average rating of the event: Excellent.

The seminar was well–attended by more than 125 people. Majority was CMSV students, faculty, with community guests from the Hyatt Classic Residence and several people from the Riverdale neighborhood.

Content of the talk generated a lively discussion about the status of women in Russia as compared to that in the US. Dr. Smirnova presented an original field research on the Russian Far East economic development and labor market imperfections. Questions from the audience were insightful and thought-provocative. Students commented on a high value of new information about Russia and about women’s status in Russia for them.

Overall, the average rating of the seminar by the audience was “Excellent”.

Photo: Dr. Natalia Smirnova presents her seminar "Russian Far East: Women and Work."