2016 International Profile

The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA

International Profile 2016 Presented by

The College of International Studies

SOONER ROOTS. GLOBAL REACH. Photo credit: Arianne Rick, “When in Roma,” Rome, Italy

Message from the Deans In January 2016, the College of International Studies (CIS) celebrated its fifth year on the OU campus – an ideal time to review the remarkable initiatives and partnerships developed across the University of Oklahoma. These partnerships have produced countless international opportunities for OU students and faculty as well as the Norman community. Today, colleges, offices and departments across campus regularly collaborate with CIS to create, implement and engage in a wide array of international activities. The internationalization of the university experience has been well institutionalized, and the International Profile highlights and celebrates the many international educational accomplishments of the OU community.

International activities and engagement this past academic year built upon a firm foundation at the College of International Studies.

Continuing its impressive momentum, during 2015-2016 the College created the Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies through a generous gift from the Farzaneh family, after whom the college’s beautiful building is now named. International and Area Studies faculty continued to be incredibly productive, publishing six books and numerous articles throughout the year, as well as representing the University of Oklahoma on a number of media platforms. This past year also included the launching of a new graduate program, the Masters of Global Affairs (MAGA), which is delivered online while also incorporating an education abroad experience.

The MAGA program has exceeded enrollment expectations and has broadened OU’s reach. Additionally, we completed the first year of operations at the new study centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Puebla, Mexico. In June, CIS and OU also celebrated the dedication of the Kathleen and Francis Rooney Family Residential Learning Center in Arezzo, Italy. With an ever-growing and dynamic list of study abroad opportunities, the highest number of OU students in the university’s history studied abroad. Along with that, more than 2,000 international students were welcomed to campus and the orientation process was completely overhauled and streamlined. To enhance international education at OU, CIS continued to engage with other colleges and offices across campus. Notably, in collaboration with representatives from multiple university and local entities, a multidisciplinary community partnership opportunity in Gulu, Uganda was created, and it promises to grow in exciting and socially responsible directions.

These are just a few of the international activities CIS has undertaken during the 2015-2016 academic year. We invite you to explore the 2016 International Profile to learn about these and the many other ways in which OU is engaging with the world.

This success is only possible with the dedication of the incredible staff within the College’s Offices of Education Abroad and International Student Services, the team in the CIS Dean’s Office, the remarkable faculty and staff in the Department of International and Area Studies and numerous partners across the OU campus. We are truly thankful for everything the CIS faculty and staff do to promote international education on a daily basis. We are also grateful for our campus partners who continue to collaborate with us in exciting and creative ways. We offer a special thank you to Miranda Wilson, CIS Communications Specialist, and Jacque Braun, CIS Marketing Specialist, for their work in writing and designing this publication.

We have grown a great deal since officially becoming a college in 2011, and our enthusiasm for all we do continues. We look forward to the next five years as we explore new ways to bring OU to the world and the world to OU. Sooner Roots, Global Reach!

Suzette R. Grillot, Ph.D.

Dean College of International Studies Vice Provost of International Programs William J. Crowe, Jr., Chair in Geopolitics

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Mitchell P. Smith, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs College of International Studies Max and Heidi Berry Chair and Professor of International and Area Studies

Rebecca J. Cruise, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean College of International Studies Assistant Professor of International and Area Studies

Table of Contents Department of International and Area Studies......................................................................................................................................4 Education Abroad..................................................................................................................................................................................7 International Student Services.............................................................................................................................................................11 Beyond the Classroom........................................................................................................................................................................15 Around Campus and Around the World...............................................................................................................................................27

Farzaneh Hall.

College of International Studies staff: Merla Davis, Patsy Broadway, Mary Beth Jackson, Becky Wilson, Megan Reeves, Jaci Gandenberger, Miranda Wilson, Lauren Lee-Lewis, Annaly Beck, Suzie Kern, Rebecca Cruise, Kaitie Holland, Jacque Braun, Jennifer Grover, Genevieve Schmitt, Donna Cline, Tracy Holloway, Jennifer Rowley, Marjan Seirafi-Pour, Mitchell Smith, Suzette Grillot and Diana Tiffany.

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The Angolan Student Association volunteers at The Big Event.

Honors at Oxford students and faculty on top of Magdalen College.

This publication, printed by the College of International Studies, is issued by the University of Oklahoma. 300 copies have been prepared and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma.

The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to: admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to: Bobby J. Mason, University Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator, (405) 325-3546, bjm@ou.edu, or visit www.ou.edu/eoo.

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Department of International and Area Studies With a number of compelling courses, engaging guests and additional opportunities to contemplate international issues of interest, International and Area Studies students continue to develop new perspectives on global culture, history, politics, society and languages.

The Department of International and Area Studies (IAS), the academic unit within CIS, once again organized a wide-ranging series of global affairs activities during the 2015-2016 academic year, with a total of 75 events for the fall and spring semesters and attendance of nearly 4,000 guests. Events included a fall cybersecurity lecture series and a spring faculty panel discussion of multidisciplinary perspectives on the migration crisis.

In April, the IAS annual symposium celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Thomas Weiss, a UN

Total Number of Students

expert and Presidential Professor of Political Science at The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center, served as keynote speaker. Other featured speakers included Mutuma Ruteere, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and Jennifer Foray, Associate Professor of History at Purdue University.

With new faculty members working in the areas of Iranian youth and culture, government and society of Pakistan, and Arabic linguistics, the department expanded its course offerings both geographically and thematically. IAS also continued to innovate in teaching, offering a President’s Dream Course on “Energy, Climate and Security,” a team-taught “Global Community” course, and a course on “Political Ecology in Brazil” that included a spring break site visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Total Number of Graduates

Department of International and Area Studies staff: Malin Collins, Rhonda Hill, Katie Watkins, Eric Heinze, Stephanie Sager and Mitchell Smith.

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Faculty Spotlight The Department of International and Area Studies welcomed three new faculty members in the fall of 2015: Dr Manata Hashemi, Dr. Aqil Shah and Dr. Amel Khalfaoui.

The Farzaneh Family Assistant Professor of Iranian Studies is Dr. Manata Hashemi. A sociologist by training, her research focuses on poverty, social stratification and mobility in contemporary Iran. Dr. Hashemi teaches courses on youth, gender and poverty in Iran and the broader Middle East. She received her Master of Arts in Middle East Studies from Harvard University and her PhD in Sociology from the University of California-Berkeley.

Her advice for students is “see as much of the world, and the different cultures and peoples that comprise it, as you can. In the end, you’ll find that we are all not so different; we all have similar dreams and aspirations.”

Dr. Shah is the Wick Cary Assistant Professor of South Asian Studies in the Department of International and Area Studies. He has a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University and a Master of Philosophy in International Development from Oxford University. In addition, he was a Hewlett Research Fellow at the Center for Development, Democracy and the Rule of Law at Stanford University and a post-doc fellow at the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. He has worked for the International Crisis Group and the United Nations Development Program in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dr. Shah is also the author of The Army and Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan published by Harvard University Press.

When asked about why he focuses on military politics, Shah responded, “Growing up in Pakistan under General Zia ul Haq’s military dictatorship in the 1980s motivated me to try and understand why militaries overthrow democratic governments, why they leave power and how new democracies can control the generals.”

Dr. Khalfaoui, Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics, is jointly appointed in the Department of International and Area Studies and the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. She earned a PhD in Linguistics and a minor in Cognitive Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her area of specialization is Linguistic Pragmatics. Dr. Khalfaoui’s favorite part about teaching is the feeling of accomplishment in seeing her students learn and acquire new skills. She wants to inspire her students by helping them develop the necessary skills to become global citizens. “I wanted to become a professor because school is one place where I can always teach, learn and get inspired,” Dr. Khalfaoui said.

These professors were excellent additions that have complimented and deepened our already impressive faculty within the Department of International Studies. All three enjoyed their first year at OU and our students were the beneficiaries of a number of interesting new class offerings.

Dr. Manata Hashemi Farzaneh Family Assistant Professor of Iranian Studies

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Dr. Aqil Shah Wick Cary Assistant Professor of South Asian Studies

Dr. Amel Khalfaoui Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics

Department of International and Area Studies 2015-2016 Courses

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Education Abroad The Office of Education Abroad (EA) had another busy year for 2015-2016.

University of Oklahoma students seeking to study abroad continued to have a broad list of opportunities from which to select.

Along with the well-known programs at OU in Arezzo in Italy (OUA), students could choose from new offerings, including a multidisciplinary community partnership in Uganda, an Olympics experience in Rio de Janeiro, a security course in Russia and a tour of Europe’s points of interest through the Engaging Europe program, among many other opportunities. OU’s two newest study centers – OU in Puebla and OU in Rio de Janeiro – also opened and welcomed their first groups of students in 2015. Additionally, the OUA study center held a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for its new permanent home, the Kathleen and Francis Rooney Family

Residential Learning Center at the Santa Chiara Monastery. The opportunity to study at the new learning center was especially enticing to students and this year OUA once again surpassed previous numbers, welcoming over 400 students to participate in a wide array of courses. Journey to Italy, the President’s Leadership Class and the President’s Community Scholars programs all expanded to include more students than ever before.

EA kicked off the school year with a successful study abroad fair that let a record number of students know about opportunities for study abroad. Additionally, EA unveiled a new online pre-departure health and safety orientation. Students can now go online to gain important information about insurance, health and safety, communication, financial

transactions, student responsibilities and more. The orientation features a video by former study abroad students sharing safety tips as well as vital information prepared by other offices on campus. This online process complements the in-person pre-departure orientations students attend before leaving for their study abroad destination.

In addition, EA hosted two passport days where more than 80 students received free passports as part of the college’s continuing dedication to exploring creative ways to assist underrepresented populations that want to study abroad.

These and other initiatives have helped OU increase the number of minority and underrepresented students taking advantage of study abroad opportunities.

Education Abroad staff: Kaydee Dyer, Zeeshan Malik, Kristian Savic, Taylor Roberts, Shanna Vincent, Loy Macari, Laura Brunson, Wyatt Schmitz and Monica Goodwin.

Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education students at the Arezzo, Italy chapter of the Special Olympics.

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Summary of Education Abroad Participation

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Summary of Education Abroad Participation Destination by Region

Self-identification of Students Abroad *Students may choose multiple categories

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Summary of Education Abroad Participation Study Abroad Participation by College

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International Student Services The Office of International Student Services (ISS) went digital in 20152016. This major conversion, along with an internal reorganization, resulted in improved efficiency and enhanced the overall experience for more than 2,000 degree and non-degree seeking international students at OU. Along with the immigration services provided by ISS, the office is also involved with international recruitment efforts and some international programming.

A wonderful example of the office’s programming activities is the International Perspectives series. Each semester ISS highlights a country and invites international students to share information about their home, including discussions about culture, language, history, family structures, communication styles and education, among other topics of interest.

The International Perspectives workshops are open to students, faculty and staff from across campus. This past year, workshops featured China, Vietnam and South Sudan.

Recognizing that many international students come to OU with their families, ISS organized and sponsored an outdoor, family-friendly weekend event during fall 2015. The “fun fair” event included food, face-painting and a traveling animal petting-zoo that was great fun for our international students, their spouses and children – and the ISS staff enjoyed the festivities as well!

International Student Services staff: Titus Boswell, Tracy Shaw, Brianna Hair, Caroline Serçe, Rhonda Ehrhardt, Whitney França, Emilie Gordon, Robyn Rojas, Brenda Aflleje, David Orsburn, Katie Richardson and Brandi Hembree.

Spring 2016 International Students

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Spring 2016 International Students

Farah Al Saif, Batool Almog and Fatimah Al-Awwami at the International Bazaar.

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Spring 2016 International Students

International students statistics compiled by the International Student Services office from internal COGNOS reports retrieved on February 8, 2016.

Numbers include international students enrolled at Norman Campus excluding Advanced Programs and Liberal Studies, including F, J, and all other visa types, but excluding US citizens and Permanent Residents. Counts include all additional majors. Total student population statistics provided by the office of Institutional Research and Reporting. Counts include all additional majors, all OU, including Liberal Studies but excluding Advanced Programs.

International Bazaar.

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International Student Spotlight Darius Aruho is a Chemical Engineering major on course to graduate in Spring 2017. Originally from Uganda, he came to OU as a United World College Scholar. Upon graduation he has many plans, including the possibility of continuing in academia or attending medical or pharmacy school. He has also created his own non-profit organization, Sustainable Creations Uganda, Inc. Founded in 2013, it is dedicated to reviving the independence of rural Ugandan communication through education programs for children and sustainable feminine reproductive hygiene.

His desire to assist others is clearly evident. In 2015, Darius was awarded $10,000 through the Thatcher Hoffman Smith Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. This award was created in 2002 as a biennial prize to honor the creative process, recognize creative thought and acknowledge those who want to make a difference in the world. The award, also known as Creativity in Motion, is open to all OU students at the Norman, Health Sciences and Tulsa campuses, and applicants must have a project either in the planning stages or currently in progress.

With a personal passion for music, and an understanding of the role music can play in a young person’s life, Aruho used his award to purchase 20 musical instruments for teenagers back home in Uganda. Once the Pride of Oklahoma marching band heard what he had done, they donated 30 marching band uniforms and sheet

“The motivation was to give back in a unique and sustainable way, and music instruments are one way to make the children feel proud of what they make and accomplish.” music for “Boomer Sooner.” Today, the Sheema, Uganda, Pride Band practices their music and performs at local events in their area.

“The motivation was to give back in a unique and sustainable way, and music instruments are one way to make the children feel proud of what they make and accomplish,” Aruho said.

Darius Aruho receiving the Outstanding Sophomore Award from President Boren.

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Beyond the Classroom

Focus on Uganda

A partnership between the University of Oklahoma and St. Monica’s Tailoring School for Girls in Gulu, Uganda, expanded beyond OU’s Health Sciences Center and the College of Law in 2015-2016. This new program is a multidisciplinary, collaborative effort among the College of International Studies, the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Gallogly College of Engineering and the College of Architecture. The first efforts of this partnership included a multi-track learning experience focusing on water access, sanitation, income generating possibilities and education.

For three weeks in June, OU students and faculty collaborated with local partners in Uganda. Students from Science, Business, Education, City and Regional Planning, Architecture and a variety of Engineering programs conducted participatory community research and compiled a report that sought to summarize the availability and challenges related to water in many rural and urban areas of northern Uganda. During this project, students conducted more than one hundred interviews in focus groups, visited source water sites, observed water points and listened to a variety of social behaviors and patterns involving water, sanitation and hygiene. In addition, the students worked alongside local employees to develop a marketing plan for a restaurant and to determine water and sanitation needs for two St. Monica’s Tailoring School sites.

In a separate project, OU College of Law students once again traveled to Uganda as part of a course called “Comparative Common Law Jurisprudence.” For the program, students partnered with various local groups that are in the process of arbitrating post-conflict land disputes. As residents of northern Uganda returned to their homes after more than 20 years in refugee camps, land disputes arose. OU students collaborated with the local Legal Aid program and the International Justice Mission among others to explore legal precedence and produce findings on this important issue.

OU faculty and staff meet with colleagues at Gulu University in Gulu, Uganda.

Ultimately, these exciting programs in Uganda provide OU students the opportunity to partner with and learn from counterparts in Uganda. The university is committed to enhancing and continuing this opportunity for years to come with students and faculty traveling to Uganda throughout the academic year, as well as welcoming their partners to Norman for regular engagement.

Phi Beta Delta Phi Beta Delta is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education.

The society was established as a national organization in 1987 and has grown to become an international society with more than 192 university chapters. The OU Beta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta aims to promote the exchange of ideas and information among a network of faculty, staff and students involved in international education. Phi Beta Delta is a unique academic and professional society since it is both interdisciplinary and international. The University of Oklahoma members in this prestigious honor society have a strong desire to promote international and cross-cultural understanding and encourage international education.

During fall 2015, Phi Beta Delta hosted Douglas Taylor, founder and managing partner of Burton-Taylor, an international consulting firm based in Florida. Taylor discussed the value of being a global citizen and the importance of humility when networking with people and companies from other countries.

He has over 25 years of industry experience and has been quoted as a financial information industry expert by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The London Times, The Economist and Dow Jones’ Newswires. His expertise includes

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business, sales, and product and marketing strategy for North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Taylor has several years of experience conducting business in Brazil, which led to interesting discussions at the fall event about the current political and economic situation in the country.

Dean Grillot, Dean Pullin and Faculty Advisor Dr. Ana Bolino host the Phi Beta Delta induction luncheon.

OU Cousins In 1996, President David L. Boren and First Lady Molly Shi Boren created the OU Cousins program to enhance understanding, friendship and unity among domestic and international students at the University of Oklahoma. Through this program, OU and international students are matched according to hobbies, majors and countries. Each international student is connected with one or two American students and invited to participate in monthly programs. In addition, students are encouraged to meet outside of official events to share their respective cultures with one another through normal daily life.

For the 2015-2016 academic year, more than 1,200 students participated in the program, representing over 52 countries.

Cousins attended an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game, bingo nights, cultural nights, the 21st annual OU Cousins BBQ and many other events throughout the year.

One of the main events in which OU Cousins participated this year was the Big Event. The OU Cousins program partnered with the OU Campus Activities Council to assist the Cedar Crest Farm with clean up from severe weather damage and general maintenance. With over 75 students who registered to volunteer, the OU Cousins group was one of the largest participating in the Big Event.

OU Cousins at The Big Event, Norman, Oklahoma. Spring 2016.

Davis United World College Scholars Program For the third consecutive year, the University of Oklahoma received the prestigious Davis Cup, awarded annually to the university with the largest enrollment of Davis United World College Scholar freshmen. OU is the first, and to date only, public university to claim the Davis Cup. The Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars Program began in 2000 as an extension of the United World College high school program. Founded in the 1960s, the original UWC was predicated on the theory that bringing young people together from around the world would minimize occurrences of conflict. Today there are 12 UWC high schools that serve students primarily from developing or conflict prone areas.

Nearly two decades ago, Shelby Davis and Philip Grier developed a scholarship opportunity for the UWC students to gain a college education in the United States. In late 2007, OU became one of the more than 90 Davis UWC Scholars Program partner institutions. Since that time, there has been dramatic growth in the program at OU. Four Davis UWC Scholars enrolled in the first class in Fall 2008; currently 165 Scholars are enrolled with an average class of around 40 students.

Davis UWC Scholars at OU represent more than 60 countries and they come from all 12 UWC high schools. OU is also now number one in the United States for the total enrollment of Davis UWC Scholars.

UWC Scholar Peyaval Hashipala teaches a cultural dance from her home country, Namibia.

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OU Arabic Flagship Program The OU Arabic Flagship Program enrolled 38 students in the program for academic year 2015-2016, with three capstone students spending a year abroad in Meknes, Morocco for advanced language training. These students are Michelle Carney, Jeremiah Cox and Ariya Siddiqui. Cox is the first ROTC Flagship cadet in the history of OU’s Flagship program. Carney and Cox also received the Boren Scholarship, an initiative of the National Security Education Program that provides unique funding opportunities for US undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to US interests and in areas underrepresented in study abroad.

Students still working on their degrees have the opportunity to participate in the intensive Arabic Summer Institute at the University of Texas; the overseas summer program in Meknes, Morocco; and other summer study abroad programs in Jordan and Oman. Continuing the legacy of a 100 percent success rate, last year’s OU Arabic Flagship capstone students graduated with superior proficiency in Arabic in a nationally accredited, rigorous language assessment.

The belly dancing club practicing in their costumes for the Arabic Talent Show, Fall 2015.

The Flagship program ended the academic school year with successful events, including guest speakers who offered lectures on Arabic and Islamic Heritage, content-based instruction of Arabic in the United States and the presidential loss of authority in Tunisia. The final event for the end-of-theyear celebration drew an outstanding attendance of 100 people and featured students singing songs in Arabic, belly dancing, reading poetry, performing video skits of classic Arab folklore and expressing their gratitude for the Arabic Flagship Program.

Flagship program recruitment efforts throughout 2015-2016 were especially successful. Nine new students joined the program in the fall and spring semesters. The OU Arabic Flagship Program participated in the “OU at Oklahoma City Community College” day, the Major/Minor Fair, The Experience at OU event and many others, increasing visibility and spreading the word about the opportunity to learn and achieve a high level of Arabic proficiency.

Poetry club student facilitators, Sophie Le and Lamis Ahmed discussing the poems of of Kelsey Hawk and Ellie Bednarek, Spring 2016.

T.A. Phillip Hamra Practitioner in Residence In October 2015, the College of International Studies welcomed Dr. Joseph Bahout as the second annual T.A. Phillip Hamra Practitioner-in-Residence. Dr. Bahout is a visiting scholar in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His research focuses on political developments in Lebanon and Syria, regional spillover from the Syrian crisis and identity politics across the region. He also serves as an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Center for Security Policy and is a member of the scientific board of the Institut Français du Proche-Orient.

Oklahoma. During their stay, the practitioners focus on multiple issues relevant to the Middle East, teach courses, visit classrooms, give public lectures and engage with the broader Lebanese community in Oklahoma.

During his time at OU, Dr. Bahout visited a number of classrooms, met with students and gave public lectures on, “Syria at a New Crossroad: Are There Options Left?” as well as “Lebanon’s Christian Communities: Where Do They Stand Today?”

Created in 2014, the T.A. Phillip Hamra Practioner-inResidence program brings scholars and experts to campus who are knowledgeable about the role and influence of Lebanese immigrants on the growth and development of

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Joseph Bahout, Joshua Landis and Manar Landis at one of Dr. Bahout’s public lectures.

International Student Speakers Bureau The International Student Speakers Bureau (ISSB) is a program that provides a glimpse into what life is like in other parts of the world. The international student members of ISSB volunteer their time throughout the academic year. Participants complete a training session before presenting at ISSB events and are required to maintain high academic standards.

ISSB receives requests from across the state for various presentations to promote global awareness and acceptance.

This is an excellent opportunity for OU’s international students to engage not only with students, faculty and staff on campus, but also share their experiences with the broader community in Oklahoma.

During 2015-2016, ISSB had a busy year featuring several events and discussions. International students spoke to the

OU Global Engagement Fellows class, providing insight about their experiences when they first moved to the United States for school, what their first impressions were of the United States and what stereotypes they encountered. In addition, ISSB participants also participated in the Bizzell library’s “Beyond OUr Borders” series, discussing beauty standards and expectations in their home countries as they related to outward appearance, personality, gender roles, independence and confidence. As part of the same series they also discussed the topics of diversity, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation in their home countries. Several students traveled to the Rivermont Retirement Center and Full Circle Adult Daycare in Norman to give presentations on culture. Students also wrote names in Arabic as part of International Awareness Week.

ISSB partnered with OU Libraries to present the Beyond OUr Borders Series. Here students lead a panel discussion about global concepts of beauty.

New International Student Orientation The Office of International Student Services and the CIS International Programming Coordinators combined efforts this year to host the New International Student Orientation Experience (NISO). NISO is held at the beginning of each semester and is a “welcome to OU” for new international students on campus. This year, NISO was comprised of four separate events: Mandatory Internet Orientation, which offered important immigration and other OU related information before students arrived in Norman; Airport Transportation, which greets students at Will Rogers World Airport and shuttles them to OU; ISS Arrival Appointment, an in-person check-in at the ISS office, which also includes a free call home to inform family members they have arrived on campus; and Crimson Connection, a day of fun activities and organized opportunities to network with other students.

The purpose of NISO is to help new international students make a smooth transition from their home country to the OU campus. CIS staff and a range of international and domestic students welcome new international students, answer their questions, help ease the culture shock they may experience and serve as a resource to help them adjust to their new home at OU.

“We wanted NISO to be a collaborative CIS experience to welcome students to campus,” said Whitney França, Assistant Director for International Student Services. “We were able to reach more students for academic year 2015-2016 than we did in the past.”

Sebghat Noori and Abby Beliveau welcome international students at Will Rogers International Airport.

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International Alumni The University of Oklahoma is proud of its alumni located around the world. No matter where a graduate lives, the Sooner spirit travels on with them. To make staying in touch and connecting easier, several international alumni associations exist. These alumni groups are also beneficial for recruiting future international students who wish to study at OU. In 2016 the OU International Alumni Association and Friends (OUIAAF) was chartered. The purpose of the association is to connect the world of OU alums. It will also serve to drive all OU alumni events and activities happening across the country.

Board members and liaisons of OUIAAF include Dr. Millie Audas, Rowdy Gilbert, Lin Goldston, Kenah Nyanat, Hannah Morris, Lillian Al Deneh, Tony Lee and Fernando Sarmiento.

The new OU International Alumni Association and Friends collaborates with the many other OU alumni clubs in the United States and abroad.

international students from the region. The Singapore Sooners host OU alumni social hours, receptions and dinners in areas from Manila to Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur.

More than any other location in Southeast Asia, Singapore has provided the most responsive alumni group. The Singapore Sooners group has grown in size from less than 15 members to well over 50 at recent events.

There are also many OU alumni living and working across Europe who are associated with country-specific OU Alumni Clubs. The OU Alumni Association and the College of International Studies invited these graduates to attend a dinner and open house in Arezzo, Italy, to celebrate the dedication of the Kathleen and Francis Rooney Family Residential Learning Center. This allowed alumni from Germany, France and Italy an opportunity to tour the Learning Center, visit with current OU students and reminisce about their time in Norman.

There are also a number of OU alums in Asia. Since fall 2012, OU’s Office of International Admissions and Recruitment has been traveling regularly to Southeast Asia to recruit prospective

Singapore Sooners.

Farzaneh Family Gift to the College of International Studies In March 2016, President Boren announced a $4 million gift to the College of International Studies. OU alumni Jalal Farzaneh and Mohammad Farzaneh, founders of the Oklahoma-based company Home Creations, provided this generous gift to rename the home of CIS as Farzaneh Hall and create the Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies.

The Center will provide opportunities for students to develop a better cultural understanding, appreciation and awareness of Iran and the Persian Gulf area. In addition, the gift established three endowed professorships, an endowed lectureship, a prize for Iranian literature, funds for scholarships and opportunities to procure Persian art and books. With such tremendous resources at CIS focused on Iran and the Persian Gulf, the college will become one of the premiere academic institutions for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies within the United States.

Moreover, the Farzaneh family provided additional funds to acquire a beautiful new sculpture of Omar Khayyám. Created by internationally renowned Iranian sculptor and Professor, Hossein Fakhimi, the work of art was inspired by the Persian mathematician, astronomer, philosopher and poet of the Islamic Golden Age. The sculpture is located outside of Farzaneh Hall on the west side of campus.

The Omar Khayyám statue located outside of Farzaneh Hall.

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The Journal of Global Affairs The Journal of Global Affairs is the official student research publication of the Department of International and Area Studies at the University of Oklahoma. OU students from different academic backgrounds are invited to submit their work on any international topic. The papers are reviewed and selected by a student-led editorial board. Students then have the opportunity to present their work at the annual student research symposium held during International Awareness Week each spring semester.

The 2015-2016 Journal of Global Affairs articles include: Robert Bellafiore, “Turkey’s Great Leap Forward: Ataturk’s Reforms and the Rise of Political Islam.”

Jack Bergum, “Ennahda and the Muslim Brotherhood Democratic Changes to Islamist Groups.”

Hanna Kimpel, “Britain and the European Union: Forty Years of Uncertainty.”

Sarah Miles, “Lowering Expectations: The Evolution of UN Peacekeeping and Recommendations for the Future.” - Editorial Board’s Choice Award Winner

Luke Bartz, “Russian-Syrian Relations: Past and Present.”

Collin Douglas, “Transnational Water Issues in Turkey, Syria and Iraq: Planning and Investing for the Future.”

Lindsey Weiss, “Conflicting Narratives of the 1948 War.” JoAnne Kosta, “The Intersection of Slums and Environmental Justice in Morocco.”

Patrick Madaj, “Going Out: The Globalization of the Chinese Nuclear Sector.”

Lucy Mahaffey, “Uganda’s Path to Energy Access – Is It Climate Friendly?”

Alexandra Jones, “Public Health and the British Empire: From Colonization to Decolonization.”

Kristen Moore, “Confucianism: The NewWave of Ancient China.”

The Virtues of Study Abroad “I chose to study abroad because I wanted to take control of my life again and push myself completely out of my comfort zone. I knew that I wouldn’t see the personal growth in my life that I hoped for without this opportunity, so I decided a mere five months beforehand that I was going to Italy for a semester.

And I never looked back!”

– Blessing Ikpa

The featured Virtues essays for 2015-2016 include: Blessing Ikpa, Confidence Sangay Tempa, Enthusiasm Ethan Holiday, Humility Catherine Brim, Open Mindedness Lauren Forester, Patience Derek Nguyen, Perseverance Zeeshan Malik, Perspective Alexis Walker, Understanding

The Virtues of Study Abroad is designed to showcase the personal impact of study abroad experiences, highlighting how an international education contributes to the personal growth and development of OU students.

Each year students are selected to write short essays about how their study abroad experiences have helped them to grow and develop intellectually, personally and civically. Students are also encouraged to submit photos of their overseas experiences that will reflect their global journey. Students are encouraged to write about the following subjects: confidence, empathy, courage, engagement, understanding, enthusiasm, perseverance, curiosity, civility, open-mindedness, tolerance, humility, respect, patience and perspective.

Blessing Ikpa in Italy.

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David L. Boren Award for Outstanding Global Engagement The David L. Boren Award for Outstanding Global Engagement was established in 2014 to recognize faculty who exhibit outstanding commitment to and support of the university’s international mission. One faculty member is honored each year to support international travel related to the faculty member’s teaching, research or service activities.

The 2015-2016 winner of the David L. Boren Award is Dr. Evelyn Aswad, Professor of Law at the OU College of Law. Dr. Aswad, formerly with the US Department of State, was nominated for her expertise in international law, especially in the Middle East, and dedication to her students. She has exceeded expectations in helping her students gain new perspectives on international issues and creating new global engagement opportunities for them. Dr. Aswad created a Human Rights Practicum, as well as a number of international courses that have positioned OU’s College of Law among the top schools offering an international focus.

Professor Aswad has created an innovative international curriculum at OU Law that combines international law and practice, current events and a focus on vulnerable communities abroad. She has brought numerous leading voices on international human rights issues to speak at OU and she has been a key actor in OU’s involvement in the US State Department’s Diplomacy Lab initiative.

Dr. Evelyn Aswad.

Clyde Snow Social Justice Award In 2012, the Women’s and Gender Studies Center for Social Justice created the Clyde Snow Award. Dr. Snow was a world-renowned forensic scientist who dedicated his career to human rights investigations, reclaiming humanity for countless numbers of victims of violence and war around the globe.

The 2016 winner of the Clyde Snow Award was Selma Hadžihalilović, a Bosnian human rights activist. At the age of 16 when the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina began, Hadžihalilović helped start a shelter, Medica Zenica, for women who were the victims of rape, ethnic cleansing and psychological warfare tactics during the war. The shelter was a unique undertaking at the time. Staff members and volunteers included Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks and offered treatment to any woman, regardless of her ethnicity. Over the last 20 years, Hadžihalilović has dedicated her work to the advancement of women’s rights, the promotion of female empowerment and helping victims of war and sexual violence. She has also facilitated the protection of post-conflict returnees and conscientious objectors. She focuses her efforts mainly in smaller, rural areas near her hometown of Zenica, Bosnia.

During the spring 2016 semester, Hadžihalilović visited OU to provide a lecture entitled “Women Building Peace in PostConflict Societies.” She was also interviewed for KGOU’s World Views radio show, which can still be found in podcast.

Hadzihalilovic is a brave and courageous woman who has generously helped victims of human rights abuses reclaim their humanity and dignity.

Selma Hadžihalilović.

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College of International Studies Community Leadership Award The CIS Community Leadership Award is given to a member of the campus or community who has displayed an extraordinary commitment to promoting the international mission of the college and university. The 2016 winner of the award was Steve Dolman.

Dolman, an OU alum, is the Senior Managing Director at Hines, one of the world’s largest corporate real estate companies.

Hines managed the development of the Devon Energy Corporation Headquarters in Oklahoma City.

During his time at OU as a business major, he studied Spanish and Mexican culture in Colima, Mexico. This inspired a longtime interest in Latin America and international business.

After graduating from OU, Dolman earned an MBA from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in International Management from Arizona State University. After finishing his studies, Dolman began working at Hines in their Chicago and Atlanta offices, before being transferred to work in the company’s office in São Paulo, Brazil, where he spent the next 10 years. He currently works at Hines headquarters located in Houston and oversees Latin American real estate investment programs.

Dolman serves on the advisory boards for OU’s Price College of Business and College of International Studies. In 2010, he created the Dolman Family Scholarship at the College of Business in honor of his father. In 2015, he dedicated the Farzaneh Hall (formerly Hester Hall) courtyard in honor of his mother. He has also been an invaluable consultant in the development of OU’s study centers in Puebla, Mexico, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

President David L. Boren and Steve Dolman in the Marjorie Buchman Dolman Courtyard at Farzaneh Hall.

Cultural Connections “Cultural Connections,” an exciting art series developed by the City of Norman, invited artists from Norman’s sister cities to showcase their works and to highlight their city and national culture. The kick-off event for the series, Arezzo in Norman, occurred at MAINSITE Contemporary Art located on Main Street in downtown Norman and featured three artists from Arezzo, Italy. The art showcased Italian culture and displayed the similarities and differences between Italian and American culture. The artists were selected by a panel of judges, which included Kirk Duclaux, Director of Italian Programs at OU in Arezzo and Lucio Bianchi, Student Services Coordinator for OU in Arezzo. The Italian artists invited to participate were Enrique Moya Gonzalez, Sara Lovari and Massimillano Luchettie. Their work was on display in Norman from October 9-November 20, 2015.

Italian artists Massimiliano Luchetti, Enrique Moya Gonzalez and Sara Lovari show their work at Mainsite. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman.

As part of the Cultural Connections series, three Norman artists were selected by the Norman Arts Council to represent the city and display their artwork in Arezzo in May 2016. The Norman artists who traveled to Italy were Douglas Shaw Elder, Tim Stark and Nicole Poole.

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Boren Abroad President David L. Boren has significantly advanced the growth of education abroad at the University of Oklahoma. From his support of OU’s international study centers in Arezzo, Italy; Puebla, Mexico; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to scholarships like the Presidential International Travel Fellowship and the Molly and David Boren Study Abroad Scholarship, President Boren and First Lady Molly Shi Boren have made it easier than ever for OU students to have an international experience.

To recognize and celebrate OU’s international mission, students who studied abroad during the summer of 2016 were encouraged to take President Boren with them. The Office of Education Abroad distributed hundreds of “Flat DBo’s” to students during pre-departure orientations. Students were asked to take pictures with Flat DBo while abroad and then post them on social media with the hashtag #BorenAbroad as a way to highlight President Boren’s international efforts at OU. Flat DBo had a busy summer. He was spotted in St. Petersburg, Rome, and London among many other locations.

He even traveled to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and met NBC’s Matt Lauer and Hoda Kotb, as well as world class athletes. The Office of Education Abroad hosted a social media contest in which the top three Boren Abroad photos with the most EA Facebook page likes received a $100 grand prize.

The winners were Tessa Gidish, Ashley Mandanas and Anthony Rayburn.

Galileo’s World, An Exhibition Without Walls

Cosmography in the Music of the Spheres Exhibit was located in Bizzell Memorial Library.

Opening in August 2015 as a celebration of the University of Oklahoma’s 125th anniversary, Galileo’s World was a yearlong endeavor that included 20 exhibits, events and programs spread across seven locations on OU’s three campuses in Norman, Tulsa and at the Health Sciences Center. The exhibits paired works from OU Libraries’ History of Science Collections, including all 12 first-edition works by Galileo, alongside contributions from departments across campus to illustrate the multidisciplinary nature of innovative research. The Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy, enhanced the exhibition with loaned replicas of the instruments Galileo used, such as a telescope and compass, as well as video tutorials on how the instruments were used.

An additional highlight of the exhibit was a full-day academic symposium in February 2016 in which the Director of the Museo Galileo and esteemed historian of science scholar Paolo Galluzzi chose the University of Oklahoma as the location to unveil a new worldwide digital library of Galileo’s works. Other speakers at the symposium included Brother Guy Consolmagno, Astronomer and Planetary Scientist for the Vatican Observatory; Tony Hey, CBE (Order of the British Empire), former Vice President of Microsoft Research and eScience Institute Data Science Fellow; and Professor Nick Wilding from Georgia State University.

Students in the Gallogly College of Engineering visited Pisa, Italy, during summer 2015 to match color swatches and measure the angle of the lean of the Tower of Pisa in order to re-create a 1/10th scale model of the Tower of Pisa in the foyer of the Bizzell Memorial Library. The structure also includes a fascinating ball drop mechanism replicating one of Galileo’s experiments.

Flat DBo with Matt Lauer and OU in Rio students Kemi Sogunro and Elizabeth Penn.

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A replica of the Galileo’s World exhibition will remain on display in the fifth floor exhibit hall of the Bizzell Memorial Library through 2017. More information about the exhibit can be found at galileo.ou.edu.

Eve of Nations For the past 46 years, the Eve of Nations International Showcase has highlighted the importance of diversity and cultural understanding. Oklahoma’s largest international event, it is the culmination of all the academic year’s cultural events: a spectacular show with ethnic foods, colorful attire, international music and performances.

Eve of Nations is hosted by the student-led OU International Advisory Committee (IAC). It is their largest event of the year. The members of IAC are involved in the preparation and planning all year, which includes fundraising, organizing venue and food arrangements, recruiting international student performers and participants and creating the programs for the event, along with a multitude of other things. In May 2016, nearly 750 people were in attendance for the festivities.

The evening consisted of students who represented countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East by wearing cultural attire in a fashion show, which is always a

crowd favorite. There were also numerous music and dance performances, including guest performers from OSU and UCO. All performers choreographed their own dances and chose cultural attire representative of their home countries. A panel of esteemed judges for the evening included Vice President for University Community, Jabar Shumate; Associate Director of the United World Scholars Program, Tony Lee and Assistant Director of the Arabic Flagship Program, Genevieve Schmitt.

The 2016 winning student organization was the Angolan Student Association.

Formed in spring 2016, the Angolan Student Association is excited to promote the music, dance, visual arts, literature, fashion and foods of their country in southwestern Africa.

With about 36 members during academic year 2015-2016, the organization is focused on continuing to grow through exchange experiences with other students and organizations across the OU campus.

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OU in Arezzo After many years of planning and hard work, the newly renovated Santa Chiara Monastery became the home of OU in Arezzo, opening to students in January 2016. In June, President and Mrs. Boren, the Dean of the College of International Studies, the Director of OU in Arezzo and several local governing officials and special guests dedicated the spectacular building as the Kathleen and Francis Rooney Family Residential Learning Center. Given the building’s history, formerly a private palace and later a Monastery, many citizens of Arezzo entered the structure for the very first time during the June dedication. The insightful speeches and guided tours highlighted the history of the 500-year-old structure.

During the ceremony, President Boren emphasized the many aspects of the space that will be a focal point for generations of OU students. In particular, President Boren explained that the Rooney Family Center, while designed to create an even stronger partnership with the city of Arezzo, will also provide students with a welcoming environment for learning and exploring Italian culture during their study abroad experience.

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Director of OU in Arezzo, Kirk Duclaux, said that the center “was made possible by a myriad of individuals and organizations who believed that studying abroad is important and that understanding the world around you is no longer a choice, but rather an obligation.”

Student Mary Kyncl of the President’s Community Scholars program spoke and said, “While it is scary to come to a new town in a new country, when you walk into this monastery and see the smiling faces of your fellow students and the staff of OUA, you feel as if you are on campus in Norman and, regardless of location, I can always feel at home.”

Along with the dedication of the OUA Learning Center and the office and classroom annex located nearby, many other exciting events and programs were held at OU in Arezzo this past year. As in previous years, students participated in community projects, including the Big Event. OUA also welcomed over 400 students, engaging in both old and new course offerings.

OU in Puebla The OU in Puebla (OUP) Study Center enjoyed a successful inaugural year hosting more than 40 students and faculty members. Students came from different academic fields including biology, pre-med, business and linguistics among others. OUP also hosted two Faculty in Residence (FIR) during 2015-2016 who taught the Spanish language and Cinema Studies. Students took two courses with the OU FIR and two courses with Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) professors. This learning model provides students the chance to study abroad in a familiar environment with the OU FIR, but also the opportunity to interact with local and other international students studying at UPAEP. The Study Center currently offers housing located in the iconic La Paz neighborhood, as well as two offices, one classroom that can hold up to 30 students as well as a student lounge located at UPAEP. The program has been expanding with new academic options, including a pre-medical program where students shadow local physicians to learn more about the Mexican health care system.

OUP staff organized field trips and excursions to different destinations such as Mexico City, Cancun and surrounding indigenous and migrant communities in the state of Puebla.

Activities such as a Thanksgiving celebration, movie afternoons and other local programs were organized to give students a wider cultural perspective of Mexico.

OU in Rio de Janeiro The OU in Rio de Janeiro, another new OU Study Center, also enjoyed a wonderful first year. The 2015-2016 was an exciting time for OUR students as they watched the city prepare for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Students observed firsthand the transitions in urban transportation and landscape. To help students better understand these developments, coursework focused on topics such as urban anthropology where they examined the incredible richness of city life and worked to understand challenges the city faces.

During the spring 2016 semester, IAS professor Noah Theriault led a class that explored issues in urbanism and the environment. After initial meetings in Norman, students traveled to Rio over spring break to meet with students studying at OUR for the semester. Together they spent the week visiting NGOs working to alleviate environmental problems and address social justice issues in the city. In May 2016, engineering students led by Dr. Robert Huck visited state of the art research facilities in Rio such as the GE Lab and Federal University Tech Park, as well as a panel of Brazilian and USA government officials who discussed patents and how the process functions in both countries.

In June 2016, OUP partnered with the Office of Representation of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in Mexico City to host a dinner in Monterrey, Mexico for Oklahoma oil and gas representatives to learn more about industry opportunities in the area and how to connect students interested in the field.

OUP received its first grant, in a joint effort with the US Embassy in Mexico City. The $18,500 (USD) grant enabled 14 students, one professor and one staff member from OU’s Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering to travel to Mexico for two weeks where they interacted with local students.

Noah Theriault’s “Politics and Ecology” in the Marvelous City class.

No trip to Rio is complete without taking advantage of its spectacular scenery and culture. Students at OUR hiked through mountains and waterfalls. Some students became experts in samba and Ju Jitsu and others learned how to make Brazilian dishes such as farofa, tapioca and queijo coalho.

Excursions included swimming with dolphins in Pipa, visiting wildlife preserves and exploring a hydroelectric plant in Iguacu Falls.

Spring 2016 students visiting an archaeological site in the State of Quintana.

Students enjoying the view of Dois Irmãos mountain, one of the highest peaks in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

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Around Campus and Around the World College of Architecture During Spring 2016, 13 Architecture students traveled to Rome, Italy, with Associate Professor Anthony Cricchio for a semesterlong study abroad program. The students were encouraged to adopt the culture, engage with local Italians and immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of the city. Students also had the opportunity to assist with Syrian refugees who had recently arrived in Rome and were being housed at a local immigration center.

Architecture students meet with women in Uganda.

In addition to study abroad trips to Germany, France, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates, the College of Architecture entered new territory in Africa with a service learning program in Northern Uganda. Architecture students partnered with Engineering, Business and International Studies students to conduct community-based participatory research in villages and town centers. The OU students met with groups of women to learn about local water systems and worked with local communities to build conceptual models for local water resources. This project will further engage communities, NGOs and local governments so that they may enhance water service for local residents.

On the Norman campus, the College of Architecture enrolls a number international students. The College offers these students a great education and opportunities for cultural immersion during their studies. “The architecture and planning of the OU campus is just so awesome that it makes me feel proud that I am attending one of the best planned universities around the world,” said Manojkumar Venkatesan, a graduate student from Tamilnadu, India. “Studying in a foreign country is an education by itself,” Venkatesan said. “As an international student from a developing country, the most important skill we look forward to learning in the US is presentation and leadership skills. This program is set up in a way to enhance these skills, and it also helped me to understand more about Architecture as a profession.”

College of Arts and Sciences During summer 2016, the College of Arts and Sciences administered 12 faculty-led study abroad programs with 124 participants and 20 faculty leaders. The programs took place in Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean, and visited countries such as France, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Russia, Scotland and Spain. The Germany and Spain programs involved intensive language instruction, while the other programs offered courses in English taught by OU faculty members.

The College of Arts and Sciences also offered a new program in summer 2016 entitled “Dimensions of Black Identity in the Caribbean.” Two years of planning preceded this pilot program and is envisioned as a program that can move from country to country within the Caribbean in the future. The courses offered in 2016 focused on Afro-Caribbean women’s literature and black masculinity in Jamaica. OU Professors Catherine John and Greg Graham, native-born Jamaicans, led the program.

Finally, thanks to the generosity of Catherine R. and the late Jon Withrow, the college’s Leadership Scholars now have the opportunity each year to travel abroad for leadership training and service. The inaugural program took place this summer in France, with students based in Clermont-Ferrand, Norman’s sister city. This program’s objective was to encourage the leadership development of students while engaging a community from as many perspectives as possible. Students interacted with local business leaders and the heads of local government, learned the history and culture of the city and

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Students studying “Dimensions of Black Identity in the Caribbean” in Port Royal, Jamaica. studied the geographic features of the area. The experience also included team building activities and opportunities for students to reflect on their own gifts and talents as they engaged with various aspects of the community. The hope is for student leaders to adopt this comprehensive perspective and be able to translate these experiences to their service in the college as they become the core of the Leadership Scholars program. They are now tasked with engaging their own campus community in the same way: through a holistic and comprehensive approach that includes all aspects of the college.

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences In June 2016, a group of graduate students, research scientists and faculty members with the School of Meteorology visited the University of Reading in England for the University of Oklahoma-University of Reading SCENARIO Doctoral Training Program (DTP) Research Conference. The development of a relationship between the OU School of Meteorology and the University of Reading meteorology department started in the 1970s and has flourished into the 21st century. Both universities have meteorology at the forefront of their research funding. At Reading, the exchange program is considered to be both critical to their undergraduate Meteorology program and a prototype for successful cooperation. Through the North American Electric Reliability Corporation funded SCENARIO NERC DTP, OU is a partner with Reading’s core PhD program across environmental science. OU students, scientists and faculty spent two days at the conference and three more in talks with Reading Meteorology professors, researchers and graduate students to develop upcoming projects and strengthen current collaborations.

In addition, Laurel Smith, Assistant Professor of Geography, taught “Indigenous Peoples of Contemporary Peru” as part of the Journey to Latin America. A total of 19 OU undergraduate students participated. The Journey Program began in the metropolis of Lima, Peru, where students stayed with local families in the well known neighborhood of Miraflores. They then completed a service project in the city of Canto Grande.

From there, students traveled to the Sacred Valley region of the Andes Mountains where they visited Machu Picchu and other Incan sites. The Journey concluded in the Amazonian region of Madre de Dios, allowing students to learn about reforestation initiatives, examine the impacts of illegal gold mining and explore the rainforest while interacting with an indigenous community.

College of Law This year, the Oklahoma International Law Society (OILS) hosted its inaugural Law Week. OILS hosted various events to promote awareness of international law issues. The week featured an international lunch buffet where OILS members brought dishes from various countries around the world; a visit to OU Law alumnus Jon Velie’s Norman office, which specializes in immigration; and a Skype chat with OU Law alumnus David Stewart, a partner at a law firm in Moscow, Russia, who spoke about his international transactional practice. The week closed with Raphael Oidtmann, a research fellow and lecturer in public international and human rights law at the universities of Mainz and Mannheim, Germany, who spoke about developments in the International Criminal Court and the potential for prosecution of ISIS for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Students participating in Oklahoma International Law Society’s Law Week.

During 2015-2016, the College of Law continued to oversee the University of Oklahoma’s role in the Diplomacy Lab project. Launched by US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2013, the Diplomacy Lab enables the State Department to “course-source” research and innovation related to foreign policy by harnessing the efforts of students and faculty at universities across the country. OU serves as the Diplomacy Lab Secretariat, which organizes Diplomacy Lab matters in partnership with the State Department.

Students who participate in the Diplomacy Lab explore realworld challenges identified by the department and work under the guidance of faculty members. Students also discuss these issues with State Department officials several times throughout the semester. The Diplomacy Lab allows students to contribute directly to the policy making process, while helping the State Department tap into an underutilized reservoir of intellectual capital.

Journey to Latin America students in Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru.

This spring, OU Law alumna Veronica Jacob represented the University of Oklahoma, along with members of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, at the State Department’s first annual Diplomacy Lab Fair and Wonk Tank competition. Wonk Tank is a State Department program in which students pitch foreign policy proposals to State Department officials (much like the show ‘Shark Tank’).

In the Spring of 2014, Jacob participated in OU Law Professor Evelyn Aswad’s Diplomacy Lab class involving legal reform in Arab Spring countries and served as the Coordinator for the Secretariat.

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Gallogly College of Engineering Study abroad programs for the College of Engineering continue to expand in numbers and opportunities and are viewed as an essential experience in developing future engineers and their ability to interact with peers around the world. College of Engineering Professor Dr. John Dyer has been teaching OU study abroad programs for four years. In 2016, he was one of the first OU professors to teach as a guest lecturer at Blaise Pascal University in OU’s sister city, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Dr. Dyer and his students embarked on a six-week study abroad experience that featured two classes: “Engineering Professional Development” and “Disruptive Technologies and Ideation.” As part of the class they also visited Normandy Beach, explored the Musee des Arts et Metiers, and toured the international tire manufacturer, Michelin, which is based in Clermont-Ferrand.

Additionally, Dr. Robert Huck, Director of Applied Research and Unmanned Systems, led a group of engineering students to OU in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The May 2016 course focused on teaching entrepreneurial skills, how to understand and address the ethics of engineering and the importance of intellectual property. The class included visits to local and multinational organizations in the Rio area including General Electric, Schlumberger, The Brazilian National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Brazilian National Intellectual Property Institute.

Tonci Maleta in India.

Finally, Tonci Maleta, a Davis United World College Scholar from Croatia and a recent OU aerospace engineering graduate, completed a summer 2016 internship in Rome with ENEL, an Italian multinational green energy company. The research project focused on the consolidation design and operation of micro grids for off-grid rural applications and aimed at bringing energy to different parts of the world, Maleta was the first OU student to be selected for this opportunity.

Gaylord College of Journalism In the past year, the Gaylord College implemented two US Department of State grants with partners on campus and involving four South Asian countries. The Professional Fellows Exchange Program grant brought 20 small business owners to Norman from Bangladesh, Burma and India involved in entrepreneurship and ecosystems for a five-week professional placement program, with reciprocal exchanges to the three countries. The other program for journalists in Urdu involved 20 journalists from Pakistan coming to OU for three weeks to engage in professional training and industry visits.

Gaylord College students visit BBC North in Manchester, home of Children’s Programming.

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For the summer of 2016, the Gaylord College welcomed a group of students from Bangladesh who participated in professional training on cinematography with Creative Media Production Professor Kyle Bergersen. In addition, Dr. Katerina Tsetsura traveled with three OU students to Erfurt, Germany, for the annual Summer Program in Communication (SPICE). This marks the eighth year Oklahoma students have participated in this program. Furthermore, Dr. Tsetsura hosted two significant international media scholars in Norman.

Professor Alina Dolea, a Fulbright Scholar from Romania and Professor Enric Ordeix, from the Blanquerna School, Universitat Ramon Llull, Spain, visited OU classes and engaged with faculty to enhance international knowledge about mass communication.

Jim Avery, Professor of Advertising, visited Pakistan in May 2016 as part of the University of Oklahoma’s affiliation with the University of Gujrat sponsored by the US Department of State.

Faculty from the University of Gujrat were also able to visit the Gaylord College to learn about similarities, differences and opportunities in their respective fields. Among other contacts, these visiting faculty members met with Journalism Professor and Associate Dean David Craig to discuss media and ethics in an international media context. Dr. Craig, along with representatives from the College of International Studies, also participated in a university partnership signing ceremony with a delegation from Blanquerna School at Ramon Llull University in Barcelona. The two parties signed a study abroad agreement that will allow the exchange of students and teachers in the areas of Communication and International Relations, as well as expand joint activities in research and graduate training.

Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College The Honors College takes pride in its long-standing study abroad program “Honors at Oxford” in Oxford, England.

Students complete some coursework in Norman before traveling to England to live and learn at Brasenose College, Oxford.

In 2016, students had the opportunity to enroll in a diverse set of courses at Oxford, including “Environments of Fiction,” “Banned Books,” “The Great War and the 20th Century” and “From the Bard to Banksy: Writing about Culture and the Arts.”

The Oxford courses involved field trips to nearby locations such as Bath, the British Museum in London and Charles Darwin’s home in Downe. Students were able to travel independently on the weekends so they could broaden their international

experience. Popular destinations have been Paris, Edinburgh and Dublin – although students have often enjoyed exploring Oxford more deeply during their free time.

In addition to the faculty who taught in the Honors at Oxford program, two Honors College faculty recently received Fulbright grants to support their research abroad. Dr. Daniel Mains spent the 2014-2015 academic year in Ethiopia as a Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Amanda Minks taught and conducted research in Nicaragua with a Fulbright Scholar grant for seven months in 2016. She taught a class on Music and Culture at the Universidad Centroamericana in Managua and conducted archival research on mid-20th century discourses of Nicaraguan folklore and indigenous culture.

Honors at Oxford students and faculty at Brasenose College.

Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education’s Global Education programs sent three faculty members and 23 students to Arezzo, Italy, during the summer of 2016. Students studied teaching with technology and working with students with exceptionalities, and they also participated in local community events.

In addition to studying and traveling throughout Italy and Europe, OU students visited and observed second- through fifth-grade classes in the Arezzo schools. For example, students worked at the Aliotti School, a local private school, using iPad apps to help children learn the English language.

Also, students volunteered at the local Arezzo chapter of The Special Olympics, which was an opportunity made possible through the hard work of the OU in Arezzo staff.

Dr. Theresa Cullen, Associate Professor and Apple Distinguished Educator in the Rainbolt College, connected teachers at OU with teachers and technology integration specialists in Italy. As a result, the College of Education hosted a workshop featuring Ugo Fallace and Alberto Pian, Italian teachers and technology advocates, to engage OU education majors and inform them about how technology is used in education in Italy. Through the workshop, local teachers were also invited to learn about technologies taught by our teacher

education students including Ozobots, Tiggly, and Green Screen technologies with DoInk Green Screen. In exchange for the time of the guest speakers, Dr. Cullen presented to teachers in Rome, Bologna and Milan about the technology work at the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education and set the groundwork for future teacher exchanges and collaboration between educators in Oklahoma and Italy.

College of Education students in Venice.

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Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy offered two study abroad Petroleum Engineering courses for summer 2016. “Improved Recovery Techniques,” led by Dr. Deepak Devegowda, took place in Mexico in May 2016 at OU’s Study Center in Puebla. The course was held at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla campus. A group of local Mexican students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the National Polytechnic Institute as well as some industry professionals participated in the class. It was an intensive course that provided an overview of enhanced oil recovery processes such as gas re-cycling, steam injection processes, chemical flooding and other thermal recovery mechanisms and enhanced gas recovery for coal beds and organic gas shale reservoirs.

The group enjoyed cultural visits to the Teotihuacan archeological site, the Templo Mayor site in downtown Mexico City, the Anthropology Museum, the Zocalo and the National Palace. Afterwards the group flew to the southern region of Chiapas to visit national parks, indigenous communities, colonial towns such as San Cristobal de las Casa, and concluded with a visit to the archeological site of Palenque to learn about Mayan history and culture. In total, the group visited four UNESCO World Heritage sites giving them a broad overview of Mexican culture.

For the first time a faculty-led petroleum engineering course was held in Europe with Dr. Catalin Teodoriu traveling with OU students to Romania in June 2016. During their stay, the students studied at the Oil and Gas University of Ploiesti,

Dr. Devegowda’s class in Puebla, Mexico. which is near the Romanian capital of Bucharest. The group interacted with local students and residents throughout their program. During the three-week stay, the group attended the annual meeting of the Romanian National Committee of World Energy Council in Costinesti, located on the shores of the Black Sea where the students explored the city of Constanta.

One excursion involved a visit to the Oil Museum in the city of Ploiesti where Dr. Teodoriu lectured about important concepts in drilling equipment maintenance with a focus on proactive and preventative measures. Thanks to the Mewbourne School and College, all 18 students who participated received travel scholarships.

Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts The College of Fine Arts continued to expand its study abroad offerings during 2015-2016. Participants included Malia Zinn, a junior music and geology major, who studied at the University of Aberdeen during fall 2015; and music major Jamie Dougherty, a junior who was accepted to study music at the University of Glasgow for fall 2016.

During the summer, Opera Viva! offered young singers, stage directors and accompanists the opportunity to experience the musical and cultural riches of Italian opera through study and performance in Verona, Italy. Faculty members included coaches from La Fenice, Venice, the Houston Grand Opera and professors from the Royal Academy, London, the Julliard School, the Eastman School of Music and Cincinnati Conservatory, while OU Professor William Ferrara taught acting, directing and stage scenes for the performances. Also in the School of Music, Professor Kim Josephson taught at the Musiktheater Bavaria in Germany during the summer of 2016.

Meanwhile, the College of Fine Arts continued offering programs at OU in Arezzo, Italy, offering Professor Shawn Churchman’s May 2016 class, “The History of American Musical Theatre,” for the second year. The School of Art and Art History also sponsored its July summer studio art program in Arezzo, and OU Professors Eric Anderson and Sohail Shehada also taught a six-credit program on exploring Italian design and the cityscape.

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Torrey Parker admiring the city of Arezzo.

Michael F. Price College of Business of culture on business practices, with a specific focus on accounting. Additionally, they visited London, Brussels and Paris, and had the chance to see cultural sites such as the Tower of London, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Price College of Business Students in Spain.

Approximately 40 percent of Price College of Business students graduating in May 2016 benefitted from a study abroad experience. For 2015-2016, the college featured programs in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Costa Rica, Uganda and Italy among others. Moreover, 100 percent of Price College students who applied for study abroad scholarships received financial assistance.

An International Accounting Study Abroad Program was offered for the first time in Italy during May 2016. Ten students participated in the program with Professor Erv Black, the W.K. Newton Chair of Accounting and Director of Steed School of Accounting. Students met with numerous companies and organizations, including KPMG, Phillips Petroleum, Grant Thornton, Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and more. They discussed current international accounting and business issues and learned about the impact

During Fall 2015, the college welcomed Dr. Margaret Shaffer as the Michael F. Price Chair in International Business. Dr. Shaffer’s scholarship focuses on global employee mobility and cross-cultural experiences. Before joining the Price College of Business, she was the Richard C. Notebaert Distinguished Chair of International Business and Global Studies at the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to relocating to the United States, she lived and worked in Hong Kong for 11 years as a professor of management at Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, serving as Co-Director of their Doctor of Business Administration Program. She teaches executive courses in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Her publications have appeared in many leading academic journals, including the Journal of International Business Studies and she has received numerous awards, including the first “Best International Paper” award from the Academy of Management.

In addition, Professor William (Bill) Megginson, the George Lynn Cross Research Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Financial Studies, co-founded the inaugural Islamic Banking and Finance Research Conference, held at the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March 2016. The conference attracted the best academic research on Islamic banking and finance. Over 20 western scholars from institutions such as Harvard University, the Wharton School of Business, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank participated as speakers or discussants along with professors from OU.

College of Continuing Education

For summer 2016, the College of Continuing Education featured two pilot study abroad programs, specifically observing the evolution of jazz history in Spain and Greece in comparison to the jazz movement in the United States. These courses were led by Professor Larry Hammett of the College of Fine Arts and School of Music and Professor Jennifer Jarvis Denny with the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. In addition, students studied American music and its origins by direct comparisons with other unfamiliar genres of improvised music that was born from similar cultural and political melting pots.

In addition, every spring CESL hosts 25 Japanese students from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and Osaka, Japan, among many other outstanding programs offered by the college.

Eleven students participated and were eager to see how “American music” fared when compared to the music of Spain and Greece. This process educated students that every society has complexities and simplicities that make music wonderful and accessible.

Also, the Center for Independent and Distance Learning, China Outreach and the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) hosted the 2016 Beijing Normal University (BNU) Summer Program. Twenty-one college students from BNU spent four weeks in Norman learning about American language, writing, literature and culture. The students participated in various cultural activities including social media and blogging.

Chloe Walker, William Malouf, Chloe Peek, Angela Boyle and Caroline Pratt in Seville, Spain.

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College of Liberal Studies Faculty Spotlight: Roksana Alavi. Roksana Alavi has been an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies within the College of Liberal Studies since 2012. In this position she also serves as affiliate faculty with the Women’s and Gender Studies program, and is involved with both the Center for Social Justice and the Iranian Studies program. Dr. Alavi’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from OU and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Kansas, plus a graduate certification in Women’s Studies from the University of Kansas. She focuses her research on race and gender issues, identity formation and human rights with an emphasis on human trafficking. Prior to teaching at OU, she was an assistant professor of Philosophy at South Texas College.

Dr. Alavi is a first generation immigrant to the United States.

She grew up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution (1979) and the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1989). During the latter, her family left their home in southern Iran and moved to Tehran, the capital of Iran, where missile attacks launched by Iraq formed a vivid memory.

In 1988, at the age of 15, Dr. Alavi and her family immigrated to the United States. She attended Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City and earned a scholarship to attend OU, where she discovered her love for the field of philosophy. Her experiences growing up during conflict shaped her desire to be an advocate for social justice, gender issues and human trafficking. As a woman, she wanted to bring more awareness

Roksana Alavi. to women’s issues happening globally and be a voice for victims of human trafficking.

“Coming back to my alma mater has been a great experience,” said Dr. Alavi. “I feel fortunate to be part of teaching nontraditional students [in the College of Liberal Studies], including our servicemen and women who wouldn’t be able to get an education otherwise. When I hear all that my students juggle in order to achieve their goal of attaining their degrees, I am humbled.”

College of International Studies throughout a country, enjoying a taste of the local culture and learning about the politics, history and societies of the destination. CIS also traveled to Italy with 75 students from the Presidents Leadership Class where participants studied Leadership, Art and Activism focusing on issues of illicit trafficking and immigration. Forty students from the President’s Community Scholars program also returned to Italy where they worked with the local community on a beautiful mural project and participated in the opening of the Kathleen and Francis Rooney Family Residential Learning Center.

PCS students paint a mural at the hospital in Arezzo, Italy.

Painting a mural at a local hospital in Italy, hearing from a Bangladeshi refugee to Europe, walking the Great Wall of China and enjoying the excitement of the 2016 Olympic games were just a few of the experiences that specialty study abroad programs offered to students in 2015-2016 through the College of International Studies (CIS). As in past years, popular Journey programs included trips to China, Italy, Tanzania and Peru. These Journey classes provide an opportunity for students to take general education courses while they tour

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The College of International Studies offered new programs this past academic year including two spring break study abroad classes to Rio and China. The US-China Institute offered a class in China in collaboration with OU Army ROTC. During summer 2016, CIS Associate Dean and IAS Chair Mitchell Smith, and his colleague Dr. Jessica Pearson-Patel, traveled with students to several European cities as part of the Engaging Europe program. During their time abroad they traced the development of European institutions through Germany, Belgium and France. This included visits to sites of WWII reconciliation, such as Nuremburg, and meetings with officials at the European Union and other organizations. The summer ended with a group of undergraduate and graduate students who traveled to Rio de Janeiro to study security and culture during the Olympic games. They not only enjoyed the excitement surrounding the games, but learned a great deal about the economic and social implications of being a host country for large sporting events.

The College of International Studies thanks all members of its Board of Visitors for their continued assistance, generosity and counsel in support of the internationalization of the University.

The Honorable M. Susan Savage Chair Mr. Max Berry Mr. Stephen Chazen Ms. Nadia Comăneci Mr. Bart Conner Ms. Rebecca Cooper Ms. Jan Marie Crawford Ms. Lee Cullum Mr. Steve Dolman Ms. Tricia Everest Mr. Jalal Farzaneh Mr. Mohammad Farzaneh Mr. D. Cole Frates Dr. Sam Hamra Mr. Rashid Iqbal Ambassador James Jones Mrs. Lou Kerr Mr. Harold Newman Mr. R. Marc Nuttle Ms. Susan Peterson Mr. W. DeVier Pierson Mr. H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt Professor Rodger Randle Ms. Erielle Reshef Mr. John Richels Ms. Kathleen Rooney Mr. Robert Ross Ms. Mary Angus Sherman The Honorable Kathy Taylor Mr. Reggie Whitten

Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education students learn how to make pasta in Italy.

International Prom 2015.

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