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From Ethiopia to Indiana: Progress on Business Incubation Initiative

Posted on by Lexi Baker

Indiana University and Ethiopian university leaders in front of the Sample Gates
Representatives from IU, Bahir Dar and Debre Markos Universities meet at the Sample Gates

This summer, Indiana University welcomed the presidents of Bahir Dar (BDU) and Debre Markos (DMU) universities who shared progress and pride in the Partnership in Business Entrepreneurship and Leadership Transformation (PiBELT) initiative. This two-year project is funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It focuses on developing Ethiopia’s innovation ecosystem by implementing entrepreneurial curricula in their universities, training students and young entrepreneurs in business and innovation strategies, and strengthening collaborations between local and American enterprises. The two Ethiopian universities have partnered with IU and Ivy Tech to design, develop, and explore capacity-building experiences for university administration and program participants.

Teshome Alemneh and members of the delegation on Kirkwood Avenue.

“The collaboration continues to enhance IU’s global engagement and visibility while contributing to improving business entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as higher education leadership capacity development at Ethiopian universities. This not only enables partner institutions to be more responsive to local development challenges, but provides an opportunity for Indiana to engage with emerging creative thinkers from Africa,” said Associate Vice President for International Research and Development Teshome Alemneh.

This site visit to Indiana fulfills just one of many goals outlined in the project. In developing a network of support and innovation with U.S. businesses, select cohorts of Bahir Dar and Debre Markos collaborated with IU and Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship to gain insights into business start-ups in Indiana, and further developed cultural and professional relations between the universities through experience-sharing and discussions. These strategic conversations with academic and administrative units across IU aim to engage university leaders from Ethiopia in fostering long-term success, sustainability, and self-reliance for entrepreneurship activities.

The program has made great strides in building a culture that supports entrepreneurship at both universities in Ethiopia since its inception. PiBELT enabled the development of training modules that address Marketing and Sales, Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Business Plan Preparation, Business Law, Digital Marketing (E-commerce), and the Startup Entrepreneurship Toolkit. Through PiBELT, Bahir Dar strengthened their existing Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, and Debre Markos established a brand-new Center with technical assistance from IU and The Mill, a local nonprofit center for entrepreneurship in Bloomington.

The initiative has also emphasized the need for supporting young entrepreneurs increasing their capacities to develop their business and innovation ideas into viable startups. Through Pre-Acceleration and Accelerator Training, selected participants were able to explore and build business skills and develop their own start-up concepts. Initial innovation ideas between the universities covered a diverse range as participants pitched concepts including travel agencies, recycling systems, cafes and bakeries, and textile manufacturing.

While these initial successes are notable milestones, the grant is also focused on the future and is committed to continued expansion and development of the program beyond its initial implementation. To maintain growth, the universities utilized a train-the-trainer model. Thirty-six staff and faculty members between the two universities completed this aspect of the program and are now able to facilitate the pre-acceleration and accelerator training modules: Customer Development, Customer Work, Revenue/Marketing/Sales, and Pitch Deck/Review and Expectations. 

Rahul Shrivastav, provost and executive vice president of the IUB campus speaking with Dr. Firew Tegegne, president of Bahir Dar University
Rahul Shrivastav, provost and executive vice president of the IUB campus, speaking with Dr. Firew Tegegne, president of Bahir Dar University

In the second round, students and entrepreneurs were chosen from a pool of applicants to receive Pre-Acceleration training and further develop their business and innovation ideas. Of the 43 applicants selected for training, 36 submitted projects for competition. Participants presented at a Demo Day where 20 were chosen to progress to Accelerator training to develop the details and marketing strategies for their ideas. The finalists were narrowed down to 10 winners – five from each university – whose business/innovation concepts were granted the Seed Money Award to fund their development. Winning projects covered a wide range of industries and included wheelchair production, an E-learning platform, pellet form animal feed production, cleaning services, plastic recycling, seed sowing machine, one card system, local Tej (mead) production, wastage disposal and filtration., and an ice cream shop. Winners from Debre Markos and Bahir Dar were honored at the Seed Award Ceremony on July 11 and July 14, 2022, respectively.

The PiBELT project is a flagship project for Ethiopia. It created a revival of business entrepreneurship and technology innovation at DMU. We’re eager and working hard to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and its impacts.

Dr. Tafere Melaku, president of Debre Markos University

Work by Bahir Dar and Debre Markos universities has set the Business/Innovation Incubation Centers on track to become centers of excellence within Ethiopia and the broader region. PiBELT’s pursuit of collaboration between the universities and businesses locally and with U.S. partners has created opportunities for students and young entrepreneurs to develop their skills, ideas, and networks, and enabled improvements in the teaching and training of competitive, job-ready graduates – and it’s not done yet.

As the initial timeline for the initiative comes to an end, the universities and their international partners have set goals to continue their efforts to stimulate innovation in Ethiopia. By further developing individualized training and mentoring, improving curricula at Bahir Dar and Debre Markos, and strengthening collaboration with local businesses and industries, the universities hope to provide young innovators the opportunity to grow and develop their ideas for years to come.

If universities can’t create the entrepreneurship ecosystem and nurture entrepreneurs, who else can?

Dr. Firew Tegegne, president of Bahir Dar University

IU’s Global Gateway Announces Two New Academic Directors

Posted on by Brittaney Hartzer

Indiana University’s Global Gateway Network welcomes two IU faculty members to the team this semester. Professors Purnima Bose and Faridah Pawan will serve as academic director of the India and ASEAN Gateways respectively. They join a committed team of faculty and staff experts in each of the five Gateway countries and in Indiana who connect and support IU’s interactions around the globe.

Our academic directors play a critical role in IU’s global engagement by providing expert knowledge and advice to university leadership, and by helping connect our faculty and students find research and learning opportunities in their respective gateway country or region. Both Purnima and Faridah are highly respected scholars, their research is truly international and interdisciplinary, and I am certain both will contribute enormously to deepening IU’s engagement in India and across the ASEAN region.

Ally Batten, executive director, Global Gateway Network

IU India Gateway, New Delhi

Purnima Bose headshot.

“I am delighted to work with IU colleagues and those in India on academic initiatives that will enhance our knowledge of the subcontinent and increase global cooperation. I welcome the opportunity to connect students, faculty, and alumni in Indiana and India through the IU India Gateway, which is located in New Delhi, a historic city of magnificent monuments and vibrant universities.”

Professor Bose’s research has focused on exploring questions of agency, subjectivity, and conflict within larger geopolitical frameworks. She is the author of Organizing Empire: Individualism, Collective Agency, and India and Intervention Narratives: Afghanistan, the United States, and the Global War on Terror Her essays on Indian nationalism, the Indian diaspora, and conflict have appeared in journals, including Genders, The Journal of South Asian History and Culture, The Global South, and Situations: Cultural Studies in the Asian Context.

Her administrative experience includes chairing the International Studies Department for five years and directing the Cultural Studies Program for eight years.

IU ASEAN Gateway, Bangkok

Faridah Pawan headshot

“This is an exciting time for the IU ASEAN Gateway in Bangkok. The office is actively engaged with alumni and higher education institutions in the 10 member countries. I look forward to working with IU and ASEAN colleagues in support of continuing efforts to build academic capacity and promote internationalization and student mobility between our respective institutions.”

Professor Pawan’s area of expertise is Teacher Professional Development & Program Design. She researches & designs in-person and online professional development programs for professionals, including for ESL/EFL teachers and teacher educators. She has developed projects in multiple locations, including in Indiana school districts (US), in Beijing & Kunming (China), in Tetovo (Republic of N. Macedonia), San Ramon (Costa Rica), New Delhi (India) and in Istanbul (Turkey).

Her publications include books entitled, Engaging Students in Online Language Learning , The Pedagogy & Practice of Online Teaching; Teacher Training and Professional Development of Chinese English language teachers; The Pedagogy and Practice of Western-Educated Chinese English Language Teachers; and Collaborative Partnerships Among ESL and Classroom Teachers. Her articles have appeared in research journals such as the International Journal of Designs for Learning, TESOL Quarterly, Teaching & Teacher Education, and Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research.

Multiple agencies have funded Professor Pawan’s research and development projects. They include the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of State, and Indiana Department of Education. Professor Pawan’s current research projects involve culturally & linguistically-inclusive (CLI) online teaching and professional development.

Building Community Resilience to Climate Shocks in the Indian Himalayan Region

Posted on by Minu Thomas

Participants and speakers gather in Dehradun, India

It’s a known fact that climate change is impacting the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and that imposes cascading effects on local food and water security. Addressing the human, environmental, and communal toll these changes create will take communities coming together across boundaries: exactly like what happened this September at the IU India Gateway. After 20 months of planning, a team of experts from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), including faculty from the Department of Earth Sciences and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, visited India to deliver panel discussions and workshops on the theme of Climate Shocks in the Indian Himalayan Region.

The initiative consisted of three phases that took place over four months. Phase I was conducted virtually in August 2022 and included an introduction to speakers, workshop orientation, and a prelude to the theme to prepare for the in-person events in Phase II.

In September 2022, the IU India Gateway and TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) planned a week of activities across disciplines focused on the UN Sustainable Goals (SDGs), specifically goals 2 (Zero hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships to achieve the Goal). This project brought scientists, activists, scholars, and civil servants together and was funded by Indiana University’s Global Impact Research Grant (GIRG) and the IU Global Gateway Grants.

Dehradun, workshop participants in action

One of the highlights of the week was the two-day in-person workshop in the northern-Indian mountainous city of Dehradun on Building Community Resilience to Climate Shocks in the Himalayan Region. Fifty participants from twenty-one organizations comprising civil society, young researchers, and scientists attended. Experts from IUPUI, CEDAR, Himmotthan, and TERI SAS facilitated sessions in the areas of environment and community interactions, water resource variability in the IHR, drought agriculture, driver-pressure-state-impact-response, climate change, gender, social justice, polycentric governance, and public health leadership.

In Phase III, the final session will take place in December 2022 when the participants reconvene online to share their action plans for implementation in their home community and/or constituency to understand their implications for policy processes and development in the region.

Participants in the Careers in Sustainability Discussion, IU India Gateway, Delhi

IUPUI’s visiting faculty team also led an open panel discussion on Careers in Sustainability at the IU India Gateway and visited Him Jyoti School, Dehradun to talk to students who were from communities in the region, many of whom had experienced the direct effects of climate change. The week ended with a panel discussion at the University of Petroleum Studies (UPES), with an audience of more than 200 students and faculty from across disciplines.

Students of Him Jyoti School, Dehradun

The faculty along with Dr. Hilary Kahn, associate vice chancellor for International Affairs at IUPUI and associate vice president for International Affairs at Indiana University, explored opportunities for joint research and institutional collaborations with UPES.  

The UN SDGs are the cornerstone of IUPUI’s campus internationalization efforts. Our goal is to create interdisciplinary and solution-oriented opportunities for developing curriculum, partnerships, and research focused on the 2030 agenda for global change. We are so proud to be engaged in these critical and impactful global conversations!

Professor Hilary Kahn
Professor Hilary Kahn at University of Petroleum Studies, Dehradun

In her introductory remarks, Professor Kahn spoke about the importance of global collaboration in meeting the challenges of the ambitious SDG agenda and how global engagement and international partnerships are critical to addressing the most critical issues of our time. She also reminded the students about how important it is for them to expand their sense of responsibility beyond the local to the global.

Panel discussion at University of Petroleum Studies, Dehradun

Meaningful global engagement and multi-disciplinary partnerships like this can help reach a larger audience and have a wider global impact on the SDG framework. By working together across disciplines and geographic borders, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for reciprocal exchange, the world can become a better place to live in.

Indiana University offers our sincere gratitude to the following faculty and external speakers for their deep engagement with the project:

The Red, the Fat, the Learned, and ME!

Posted on by dburke01

This post was originally published on August 8, 2022 as a part of IU East Professor of Spanish Dianne Moneypenny’s sabbatical blog, S*uh*battical. Emphasis on the “uh?” She participated in a 2022 Faculty Exchange Program funded by the Office of the Vice President of International Affairs (IU Global). You can read her complete story as well as insights into the process of applying and organizing the exchange on her blog. Faculty at all IU campuses can apply for an academic year 2023-24 exchange program now!

I was so fortunate to receive the IU Faculty Exchange with the University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy. UniBo, established in 1088, is the oldest university in Europe and it is nestled in the region Emilia Romana. Bologna is known as both the land of slow food and fast cars and as the red, the fat, and the learned. Red is for their red wine, fat is from their famous cured meats, and the learned is for UniBo. While I was there, I personally experienced the red wine, the fat (though as a vegetarian it was just from the overall DELICIOUS food), and the learned as I conducted scholarly research on medieval women in Iberian/Mediterranean food culture. I could not have imagined a better place to research food studies.

Ornately decorated reading room of the Palatine Library in Parma, Italy

The major focus of my research exchange was a 15th century text housed in the Palatine Library in Parma, Italy. It was a short train ride from Bologna. It was an amazing opportunity and had this been the only part of my research findings, it would have sufficed. But I got to experience and learn so much more. To the left is an image of the incredible (yet un-airconditioned) reading room. After some confusion upon check in (I had emailed the library weeks ago informing them of my upcoming visit to be sure I had all paperwork in order to be able to access the text, but had never received a response), I was allowed in with my trusty assistant, my husband Gordon.

I requested the text and the librarian brought it out from storage and handed it to me…in all the 15th century leathered glory. The Manual de mujeres was in my hands-literally see photo to the right! I requested gloves, which sent the whole library into a tizzy as they tried to locate a pair.

Glasses-wearing Moneypenny smiling while holding a leather-bound book up to the camera

The Manual de mujeres is a book written FOR women, but allegedly not BY a woman. It is a handbook on all kinds of home remedies and recipes from makeup, to stomach remedies, to soup. It is written in Castilian and is believed to have been brought to Italy as part of a bride’s dowry. As I gently peeled back the cover in my now gloved hands, I was overcome. I couldn’t believe I was actually touching this book that I had read about so often. As soon as I turned the page I saw something that no description of the book had revealed to me. A drawing of a woman in 15th century attire! I also found two instances where a woman edited this book! The text appears in Italian scribbled under the formalized manuscript in two places. What does this tell us? 1. Women were actively laying the groundwork for the Mediterranean diet. 2. Some of these literate women understood multiple languages. 3. The exchange across the Mediterranean was real and more pervasive than our current nation-based models lead us to believe. This supports my research of finding women’s voices from the medieval Mediterranean kitchen.

Being in Bologna also exposed me to unexpected research. Part of my research studies illuminations of women in cooking scenes. When I was in Bologna I learned about a manuscript titled Tacuinum Sanitatus. This manuscript was created in northern Italy, but written in Latin. As I am generally an Iberian scholar examining manuscripts from Iberia or in an Iberian language, this manuscript had escaped my notice. Yet, there are numerous images of women not just cooking but also in the field harvesting crops alongside men. This manuscript clearly demonstrates women’s agency in Mediterranean food culture.

Medieval color illustration of two women cooking over a cauldron suspended over an open flame

There were also several institutions that benefited my research. The Jewish Museum told the story of sephardic Jews who fled Spain for Italy. The image [below] shows their migrations. I also discovered a centuries long partnership between UniBo and Spain. There is an institute for students from Spain studying at UniBo that was established in the 12th century and still operates! The Medieval Museum of Bologna further illustrated the exchange between the Mediterranean region, and even between the Americas and Italy.

Map showing several paths of Jewish migration originating in Spain and expanding as far east as Turkey and Damascus, west to the Americas, north to Hamburg, and south to Tunisia

Beyond scholarly pursuits inside museums, I was able to experience food in many other ways. I took a cooking class and learned the methodology of traditional tagliatelle from a sfogolina (certified pasta maker). I tried Bálsamic vinegar from Modena and local farmers. In Modena one can find the best restaurant in the world, Osteria Francescana by Massimo Bottura. And, yes, somehow the stars aligned and I was able to get a reservation. This restaurant takes traditional Italian recipes and deconstructs or rethinks them…deliciously. The countless butchers, cheese shops, pasta labs, and general appreciation for centuries old traditions in food preparation makes Bologna and ideal place for any scholar researching food studies. I am so grateful to have had this experience.

For information on the application and planning process for this trip, please see my earlier blog.

Applications for Faculty Exchange Programs are currently open and accepting applicants from any IU faculty member, researcher, or librarian through December 1 for the 2023-24 academic year. Learn more about the process, eligibility requirements and how to apply on the IU Global website.

IU Welcomes International Students for 2022-23 School Year

Posted on by Lexi Baker

  • Mingling at the Ice Cream Social.
  • Traditional dance performances at Culture Fest.
  • Making new friends.
  • Carrying on the tradition of painting the bridge.
  • Having fun with new friends at the photo booth.
  • Welcoming students at the Indianapolis International Airport.

Last month, Indiana University welcomed more than 7,400 international students to its campuses across the state, the largest number since 2019. Before they even make their way to campus, staff from IUB’s Office of International Services and IUPUI’s Office of International Affairs are there to greet them at the Indianapolis International Airport during peak travel times. Students arrived by August 10th to give them plenty of time to settle in before the start of classes and participate in a wide range of activities to prepare them for success and help them get comfortable in their new homes in Indiana. IUPUI and IU Bloomington hosted international new student orientation, a week of dedicated in-person events on both core campuses designed specifically to support students from around the world.

The new class includes students from 167 countries of origin across all six inhabited continents. For students arriving from all over the world, adjusting to life and study in the U.S. can bring challenges, which is why international student-specific orientations are so important. “They get to learn about IU’s campus, culture, and traditions,” explains Mai-Lin Poon, Associate Director of International Student Life at IU Bloomington. “They learn what it means to be a Hoosier, meet people and make friends, learn helpful hints on how to be successful during their college career – and so much more.” 

“They learn what it means to be a Hoosier, meet people and make friends, learn helpful hints on how to be successful during their college career – and so much more.” 

Bloomington international students kicked off their experience with a tailgate in Dunn Meadow, hosted by Residential Programs and Services (RPS), with food trucks and inflatable obstacle courses. Subsequent days featured an ice cream social, international trivia in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU), and an opportunity to continue one of IU’s traditions –painting the campus bridge on Eagleson Avenue. Bloomington’s First Year Experience (FYE) Welcome Week also featured zip lining and roller skating at Welcome Back Late Nite, and movie screenings in the IU outdoor pool. 

Students in Indianapolis were greeted with a welcome reception to celebrate their arrival, campus tours, a resource fair, and workshops that covered everything from safety to sponsorships. International Peer Mentors taught students how to use IUPUI’s JagLine buses and to navigate U.S. supermarkets with a trip to Kroger. The Office of International Affairs hosted a “Free Market” where new international students could shop for gently used items donated by residents of the International House (“I-House”) Residence Based Learning Community. The Chancellor welcomed all new students to campus at the 44th Annual Ice Cream Social, and IUPUI’s Weeks of Welcome series featured Light up the Night, Jaguar Roller Skate Party, Student Involvement Expo, and IUPUI Indy Eleven Night. “It was so heartwarming and welcoming,” said one IUPUI student after the week concluded.   

IU’s support, engagement, and guidance will continue as the semester continues: “Campus partners love welcoming our new international students by creating these amazing programs,” says Poon. “From RPS to the IMU to FYE and more, we love working with them and look forward to our continued partnerships throughout the year to support international students!” 

Global Classroom Welcomes a New Cohort of Fellows for Fall 2022

Posted on by Lexi Baker

Indiana University is proud to announce the Global Classroom Fellows for fall 2022. The five faculty members selected for the Fall 2022 semester are currently teaching courses across a wide range of disciplines, encouraging engagement with international partners, and connecting students across the world.

The Global Classroom initiative promotes global competency and international engagement from home. The program utilizes classes that are already being taught at IU and pairs faculty members with a parallel course taught at a foreign partner institution; The faculty members work together to design a project that students from both universities collaborate on virtually. The initiative aims to widen students’ breadth of knowledge regarding different cultures, norms, and points of view, and to foster global connections and understanding.

The Fellows worked closely with their international counterparts on collaborative lesson planning before the semester began, designing a project that required their students to work together then reflect on course outcomes when the semester concludes.

“The Global Classroom program provides enriching experiences for our own IU students, the students from the partner institutions, and for the Global Classroom fellows who teach those courses,” says Vesna Dimitrieska, director of the initiative. “In today’s interconnected world, being globally aware and internationally connected is no longer a matter of choice, but rather an imperative for all of us.”

Meet the Fellows

Clinical Associate Professor Kim Decker of the IU Bloomington School of Nursing is teaching Nursing Intensive: Managing Health and Illness Across Care Environments. Through the course this semester, students will explore Sir Michael Marmot’s Social Determinant of Health model and the impact of environmental factors on health. Students will have the opportunity to analyze healthcare programs of the United States and the United Kingdom and develop an understanding of social and economic disparities that affect vulnerable populations. Decker is partnered with Marianne Fairley-Murdoch of Scotland’s University of Stirling.

From the IU East School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor Wazir Mohamed is teaching Global Society. The course focuses on global inequality as it exists through Cocoa, primarily relevant in the processing and production of chocolate. Mohamed is partnered with Siendou Konate of the International University of Grand-Bassam in Cote d’Ivoire. Students from both universities will examine the disparity and ethics of production and consumption.

Associate Professor at the IU Bloomington School of Education Martha Nyikos chose her course, Methods of World Language Teaching, for the fellowship. She is partnered with Sibel Tatar-Boun from Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey to explore current practices using ACTFL World Readiness Standards for learning languages. Through immersion, curriculum construction, lesson planning and critique, students will explore and gain hands-on experience in the instruction of world languages.

Assistant Professor Chidiebele Obichi of IU Northwest’s School of Nursing is teaching Concepts in Mental Health Across the Lifespan. The course addresses mental health through promotion, prevention of mental illness, treatment, and rehabilitation. In conjunction with students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University under Noreen Agbapuonwu in Nigeria, IU students will build on foundational nursing education and explore therapeutic communication techniques and safety issues related to people experiencing mental health disorders.

Stuart Schrader, Clinical Associate Professor at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, is leading the Global Oral Health Student Research Program Elective: Intercultural Bridges. The course examines cross-cultural differences and implications in oral health care, promoting greater awareness and appreciation for health care and technology abroad. In conjunction with an international partner, Schrader’s students will develop understanding of cross-cultural communication and analysis through a team-based research project.

Current faculty teaching courses in Spring 2023 are encouraged to apply for the Spring 2023 Global Classroom Fellowship program. Applications are open now and will be accepted through October 15.

Interdisciplinary conference at the IU Europe Gateway explores the history of women, religion, and emotions in modern Germany

Posted on by Annabell Türk

A group of 23 people are posing in front of a colorful mural outside
Workshop participants posing for a group picture at the IU Europe Gateway

An IU-organized “Workshop on the History of Women, Religion, and Emotions in Modern Germany” brought together 27 scholars from ten different countries at the IU Europe Gateway this summer to explore the diverse aspects of women’s religious experiences in 19th and 20th century Germany.

The idea for the conference was born out of a seminar on women and religion offered by the German Studies Association in 2018 that both conference organizers Lisa Fetheringill Zwicker, professor of history at IU South Bend’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Martina Cucchiara, associate professor of history at Bluffton University, had attended. The two history scholars subsequently kept in touch and continued to meet on Zoom to collaborate and share their work.

“In this conference, we aimed to explore the intersections of women’s religion, women’s emotions, and history,” explained Zwicker. “Martina and I wanted to bring these issues to the forefront as too often the religious dimensions of women’s lives have been ignored.” They were also hoping to create new conversations around these questions by bringing together different religion scholars, including those studying Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant religious experiences.

Lisa Zwicker and Martina Cucchiara are standing behind a lectern while Lisa is speaking
Co-organizers Lisa Zwicker and Martina Cucchiara

With a strong emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach, their call for papers attracted more than ninety scholars from over a dozen countries across the world who submitted proposals. The final selection of scholars spans a variety of disciplines, from history to gender studies, religious, social, and cultural studies. The conference included scholars at different levels of experience from graduate students to emeritus scholars.

The international conference, held at the IU Europe Gateway in Berlin, was made possible with support from the IU Presidential Arts and Humanities program, the IU South Bend History Department, the IU South Bend College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, IU South Bend Academic Affairs, the IU Global Gateway Network, and the University of California San Diego Jewish Studies program.

Lisa Zwicker first pitched the idea of the conference to IU Europe Gateway Director Andrea Adam Moore in 2019, who offered the Gateway space as a venue for the event and provided administrative and planning support. “We are thrilled to host a conference put together by faculty from IU South Bend for the first time,” said Adam Moore. “The breadth of participants and disciplines represented shows that there is excellent faculty across all of IU’s campuses doing outstanding research.”

A three people panel is sitting in a conference room speaking to the audience, who is seen from behind looking at them in the front
A panel discussing the research findings

Rather than dedicating conference time to paper presentations, the three-day workshop focused on promoting dialogue and discussion between participants. The scholars reviewed their findings and explored common themes in small panels with expert commentators who were invited to guide the conversations.

They were also able to connect virtually through Canvas ahead of their meeting in Berlin, which further contributed to creating a level of trust and familiarity that fostered productive conversations and a collegial atmosphere among the group. Organizing the event through a digital learning management platform allowed the organizers to share updates with participants, collect files, compile a shared bibliography, and sort out logistical issues. With the help of IU South Bend’s Web Services Team, particularly thanks to Dorlita Blakely’s outstanding work, a dedicated conference website was created to share that information with the public.

Beyond the workshop, the Canvas course still serves as a tool for ongoing collaboration and the coordination on an edited volume that is set to be published with Camden House in 2023 or 2024.

To make their research more accessible beyond the publication, the scholars also participated in a film project, recording major findings from their submitted essays in short video clips dubbed “history bites.” Adrian Pacheco, a rising senior in Fine Arts Graphic Design at IU South Bend, filmed these short two to three-minute video remarks during the conference.

A woman is sitting in a lounge chair in front of a wall that reads "Indiana University". She is being filmed by a man, who is seen from behind, and is smiling into his camera
IU student Adrian Pacheco filming a workshop participant

For more information on the publication or any queries regarding the conference, please contact Professor Lisa Zwicker at zwicker@iusb.edu.

Overseas Study celebrates 50 years and honors Kathleen Sideli

Posted on by Caleb Gardner

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of IU’s Office of Overseas Study. The university celebrated this milestone at a reception that also honored Associate Vice President Kathleen Sideli for her distinguished career and 40 years of dedicated service to the university as well as her contributions and leadership more broadly in the field of international education.

While Indiana University’s rich history of study abroad dates back to 1879, the administration of such programs was under the purview of individual faculty and departments, primarily within the College of Arts and Sciences. In the fall of 1972, with Walter T. K. Nugent as its director, the Office of Overseas Study was established as a university-wide office to facilitate study abroad for students of any major, IU school, or campus. In total, about 70,000 IU students have studied abroad in dozens of countries on almost every continent. Most recently, before the pandemic, IU Bloomington was ranked fifth in the nation for the absolute number of students studying abroad and third for those completing semester-long programs. Most notably, thirty percent of IUB seniors graduating in 2020-21 had at least one credit-bearing study abroad experience while at IU.

A tribute to the major milestones of IU’s study abroad programs dating back to 1879.

Kathleen Sideli was honored at the reception with IU’s Distinguished International Service Award ahead of her retirement on July 1, 2022. Sideli began her career at Indiana University in 1979 as the office’s first study abroad advisor, later serving as associate director, then director, until she was named associate vice president in 2007. Sideli addressed the crowd to offer her thanks to those in attendance who supported her throughout her career. “My heart is filled with gratitude, so my inclination is to want to thank you individually for helping me have the best career imaginable.  Each of you has walked with me in your own way on this journey. Study abroad is a team effort,” she said.

A number of friends and colleagues were on hand to celebrate her long and distinguished career, including a former director of Overseas Study as well as administrators, faculty leaders, and staff, some whose involvement with the office goes back to its earliest days. University Chancellor and President Emeritus Michael McRobbie cited the key role Sideli had in making the Office of Overseas Study into what it is today: “Indiana University’s Office of Overseas Study is indisputably one of the most successful externally focused programs, not just at Indiana University, but at any public research university in the United States.” He further stated that, “IU is rightly considered to be one of America’s most international and internationally engaged universities. Many can take a share of the credit for this. But the share that is rightly Kathy’s is immense.” 

Overseas Study Director Susan Carty, who has worked alongside Sideli for more than 20 years, acknowledged her contributions to the field of international education as well as her daily leadership in the office, noting her commitment to staff maintaining a healthy work life balance. Hannah Buxbaum, current vice president for International Affairs, also touched on Sideli’s role in the international education community at large and the leadership positions she has held, including being a founding member and the inaugural president of the Forum for Education Abroad, which is the body responsible for developing standard practices for the field. “Kathy’s depth of knowledge is exceptional and her dedication unmatched,” Buxbaum said. “She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of study abroad, and her work here at IU has transformed the educational experience for countless students.”

As a tribute to her career, contributions may be made to the Kathleen A. Sideli Scholarship for Overseas Study, which she created a few years ago to support study abroad.

Mandela Washington Fellowship returns to Indiana University in summer 2022

Posted on by Brittaney Hartzer

The 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows pose for a group picture at IU Bloomington’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

Indiana University is proud to announce its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. On June 8, Indiana University welcomed 24 of Africa’s bright, emerging civic engagement leaders and is hosting a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, the U.S. Department of State has supported nearly 5,100 Mandela Washington Fellows from across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their leadership skills and foster connections and collaboration with U.S. professionals. The cohort of Fellows hosted by Indiana University will be part of a group of 700 Mandela Washington Fellows hosted at 27 educational institutions across the United States.

After their Leadership Institutes, Fellows will participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where they will take part in networking and panel discussions with each other and with U.S. leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Following the Summit, up to 100 competitively-selected Fellows will participate in four weeks of professional development with U.S. non-governmental organizations, private companies, and government agencies.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, Leadership Institutes will offer programs that will challenge, motivate, and empower young leaders from Africa to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

The 2022 Leadership in Civic Engagement Institute at IU, implemented by the IU Office of International Development, will mark the office’s sixth year of hosting a cohort of Mandela Washington Fellows. IU is excited to welcome this group of 24 accomplished young professionals from 18 countries across sub-Saharan Africa to Indiana this summer for in-person programming on our campuses. Over six weeks, the Institute will provide the Fellows with unique opportunities for learning and developing skills and technical capacity in areas such as community development, volunteerism, grassroots activism, leadership, social entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and fundraising for non-profits.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2022 cohort of Africa’s brightest young leaders to Indiana,” said Dr. Teshome Alemneh, IU associate vice president for international development, who is directing the IU’s Institute. “The presence of these accomplished young leaders will generate meaningful connections and cross-cultural learning with community and business leaders, as well as educators and students in Indiana.” 

IU is committed to a high-quality experience for all Fellows, integrating and incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into all aspects of programming and logistics. The Institute will strengthen and further goals of enhancing good governance, promoting peace and security across Africa, and cementing stronger ties between the people of Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States.

Engaging young African Fellows with IU faculty and surrounding communities creates mutually beneficial opportunities for learning and exchange as Fellows share their personal and professional experiences, meet with Americans and peer collaborators, offer diverse cultural perspectives, and work toward building strong networks for sharing ideas and best practices. Extensive networking opportunities help Fellows plant seeds for future cooperation and knowledge-sharing, while one-on-one coaching and mentoring around individual “focus projects” will further empower them to make an impact on important issues in their home countries and communities. Activities such as dinners with local families create opportunities for cross-cultural learning and creating people-to-people relationships.

The Fellows will also connect with a deep well of expert partners and resources on and off campus.  For example, a full-day training at the Lilly School of Philanthropy provides Fellows with practical tools for building the right team and developing a “case for support” to attract stakeholders to their causes.  Interactive discussions at The Mill help Fellows learn to incubate and develop their innovative ideas for creating social change, while a session at the Kelley School of Business engages them with concepts of design thinking and the intersections of business and civil society. During a site visit with Cook, Fellows will learn about the company’s work in global health, discuss the principles of corporate social responsibility, and visit the Cook-Goodwill project site in Indianapolis to learn how they are giving back by partnering on local community development initiatives.

Other university collaborators include the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Maurer School of Law, The Media School, Bradford Woods, and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Additional community partners include Ivy Tech Community College, the City of Bloomington, The International Center, and non-profit organizations like the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, American Printing House for the Blind, Middleway House, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, and other community agencies and local leaders.

For additional information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Institute at Indiana University, please Teshome Alemneh at talemneh@iu.edu or visit the website of the Office of International Development.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org and join the conversation at #YALI2022.

IU Names New Associate Vice President for Overseas Study

Posted on by Brittaney Hartzer

Indiana University has named Jennifer Engel, Ph.D. as its new associate vice president for the Office of Overseas Study, effective July 1. She will provide leadership and a university-wide vision to enhance international awareness and understanding, enrich curricula on every campus, and expand educational opportunities abroad for students from diverse backgrounds.

Engel is taking the helm of an office that has become a nationally recognized leader in overseas study under the forty-year leadership of Kathleen Sideli, who will retire in June. Building on a history of faculty-initiated study abroad programs dating back to the 19th century, it now supervises more than 380 administered, co-sponsored, and unit-based programs across all IU campuses. IU Bloomington is ranked sixth in the nation for total number of students studying abroad and second for semester-long programs, according to the most recent Institute for International Education Open Doors Report.

“I am thrilled to be joining Indiana University in this role and welcome the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to continue to expand education abroad at IU,” said Engel. “I am excited about the opportunities that this position represents and look forward to making significant contributions to the Office and the University.”

Engel currently acts as the vice president for academic affairs and experiential learning at CIS Abroad, providing leadership in the areas of student learning and assessment; curriculum, program, and partnership development; and innovation in international education. She previously served as the Executive Director of International Programs at Loyola University Chicago and the Executive Director of Global Learning at the University of South Carolina.

Engel is passionate about global engagement and has a long history of organizational and institutional service, as well as an impressive list of fellowships and awards.  An Endeavour Fellow, Jennifer has also been involved with NAFSA, The Forum on Education Abroad, and the Association of International Education Administrators, holding leadership positions, mentoring new professionals, and presenting nationally and internationally. Engel earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of South Carolina and previously held administrative and teaching roles at Marygrove College.

“Jennifer is a tremendously accomplished, knowledgeable, and experienced leader in study abroad. I am excited to welcome her to Indiana University and know that she will carry forward the university’s tradition of excellence in international education,” said Hannah Buxbaum, vice president for international affairs.