Around And About A out
Spotlight on: StudentS Bryant students participate in a myriad of learning experiences that reach far beyond campus.
Christopher Brida ’12
CHRISTOPHER BRIDA ’12 NAMED NEWMAN CIVIC fEllOW For his leadership and commitment to making a difference, Christopher brida ’12
(Southampton, MA) was one of 135 college students from across the united States to be selected as a newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. the award, named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank newman, honors “the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders,” said Campus Compact president Maureen F. Curley. Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. in nominating Brida for the award, president ronald K. Machtley noted Brida’s devotion to community service: “he is interested not only in educating
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himself in the issues of the day but also in understanding what it takes to make a difference.” A business administration major interested in social entrepreneurship and education in the developing world, Brida leads campus chapters of Amnesty international and oxfam. he also manages the tanzania education Resource network ( teRn ), a nonprofit organization that collects new or slightly used collegelevel textbooks and ships them to tanzanian universities. teRn also recently purchased and opened a building in tanzania to serve as an afterschool facility for students. last year, Brida was named one of five national liberty Mutual Responsible Scholars, awarded to students who have started sustainable service projects that benefit the college campus and larger community.
100-PlUS STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN 4MIlE ORIENTATION to ease the transition to university life for international and multicultural students, the intercultural Center ( iCC) at Bryant offers 4 Mile , a weeklong program that provides connections to the resources and support networks that are the foundation for a successful fouryear college journey. participants met with academic advisors, attended sessions about adjusting to the college classroom, and journeyed off-campus to explore city life in Boston and providence. they were also introduced to a mentor, a fellow student and counselor who stays connected throughout that critical first year. Mentors provide advice about the four areas of focus, or “pillars,” of 4 Mile support: cultural, academic, personal, and social. the Class of 2015 comprises nearly 25 percent multicultural and international students, 140 of whom participated in 4 Mile . they hailed from 11 states and 28 countries, and include 11 students from india, eight from China, five from Vietnam, and
three from Myanmar, among students from many faraway locations. ongoing staff support for international and multicultural students is also available throughout their first year on campus. “the iCC is a home away from home for students and a place where they can grow as individuals during their time here,” says iCC director Shontay delalue King. “it is designed to make students feel welcomed, supported, and advocated for.” fIRST BRYANT STUDENT RECEIVES RI-SURf Alejandro Vando ’13 (San Juan, puerto Rico) spent 10 weeks this summer immersed in a biochemist’s world of dnA, proteins, and bacteria. he was one of 25 winners of a Rhode island Summer undergraduate Research Fellowship (SuRF ), and worked alongside Christopher reid, Ph.d., an assistant professor in Bryant’s department of Science and technology, conducting proteomics research. Specifically, Vando was involved in gene amplification, a laboratory method for creating multiple copies of small segments
Bryant’s 4 MILE orientation is a helpful and fun program that acclimates international and multicultural students to life at Bryant.
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