IU Global – Passport to the World

Alumni Profile: A German alum’s transatlantic legacy

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Lexi Baker

Bloomington, Indiana, 1963. The small, vibrant town, nestled among rolling hills and thick woodlands, bustled with the energy of thousands of students. This Midwestern town was a world away from the divided streets of post-war Berlin. For one German student, Wolfgang Dexheimer, this town would become home to a journey that shaped his career and life forever.

A portrait of a young Wolfgang Dexheimer, a man with brown hair wearing a white shirt and black tie.

Dexheimer arrived at Indiana University as an exchange student from Freie Universität Berlin in 1963. Based on his academic and personal qualifications, he was selected as one of twelve students to participate in the German university’s transatlantic exchange program. When he initially applied to study in the United States, he expected it to be at the University of Pennsylvania but was later informed that he would be going to IU instead. This change of plans didn’t stop him from following through with his goal of exploring educational opportunities abroad.

A photo of a bifold document. The left fold holds a small black and white portrait of a young Wolfgang Dexheimer. The right shows immigration documentation.

The transition to American campus culture was stark. Dexheimer found his travel to America, and daily life at IU, a sharp contrast to his experiences in a recovering and divided Berlin. “On the ship to the US, we got to know waitresses with white gloves for breakfast, these grand breakfasts with melon balls – such a luxury!” he recalls. “I didn’t know that as a Berlin postwar boy. The friendliness, the hospitality – they were astounding.”

Beyond the Classroom: How IU Study Abroad Programs Transform Summer Breaks

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Lexi Baker

Indiana University opens up a world of opportunities through its study abroad programs, offering students the chance to turn their summer break into an adventure that’s both fun and meaningful. These programs go beyond just seeing new places—they’re about diving into new cultures, pushing personal boundaries, and gaining skills that stick with you long after the trip is over. Whether it’s uncovering the layers of history in a foreign country, honing your craft in a field lab, or building lifelong friendships abroad, IU students come back transformed, with stories and insights that shape their future paths.

For Hang Doan, a Media Arts & Science major at IU Indianapolis, the decision to document historical cultural artifacts in Paros, Greece, as a part of a Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering program was driven by a love for shows like those of chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain. “I wanted to experience that feeling for myself,” they said, referring to the immersive cultural experiences these shows depict. In Greece, Doan discovered that “the way food is prepared and enjoyed tells you a lot about the community.” The trip not only deepened their appreciation for cultural storytelling but also reinforced the importance of ethical media production, a lesson Hang plans to carry into their future career in food documentaries.

Pita bread and various dips displayed on a white tablecloth

Hang Doan, seated on the left, interviews someone on camera on a patio

Exploring Galápagos Island: A Journey Towards Future Academic Collaborations

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Lía Albarrán

Written by Lía Juy Albarrán and Quetzalli Sánchez Clavel

In early February, Indiana University established a significant presence in the captivating Galapagos Islands. Represented by Adam Scribner, Director of STEM Education at the School of Education, Michael Hamburger, Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Molly Fisher, Director of the IU Mexico Gateway (part of IU Global) the team embarked on an exploratory journey aimed at fostering institutional collaboration.

Throughout their visit, they delved into the prospect of forging new ties and strengthening existing ones with various institutions, including the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in both Quito and the Galapagos, the Galapagos Science Center, the Charles Darwin Research Station, and the Scalesia Foundation through the Tomas de Berlanga School on Santa Cruz Island.

Karla Diaz, Service-Learning Institute Director at USQF; Adam Scribner, Director of STEM Education at the School of Education of IU; and Michael Hamburger, Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences of IU.

Global Harmonies: Jacobs Student Leads East-West Collaboration

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Lexi Baker

Music is often called a universal language for its unparalleled ability to bridge divides and foster connections. While classical music often brings to mind a roster of European names—Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Bach–the realm of modern orchestral music explores beyond Europe’s borders. In late 2023, Corey Chang, a visionary third-year doctoral student in composition at the Jacobs School of Music, hoped to expand the genre even further as a part of his IU experience. His proposal, the “East-West Collaboration” project, was an innovative initiative between Indiana University Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music and the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, blending the rich traditions of Eastern and Western music to unveil the boundless potential of contemporary cross-cultural musical exchanges.

*Jacobs student and project leader Corey Chang*

The East-West Collaboration aimed to integrate Eastern and Western musical traditions through student collaboration by developing and expanding the repertoire of mixed Asian ensemble music. Chang selected composers from the composition graduate students at Jacobs and paired them with music students at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China, hoping to promote cultural exchange and explore the potential of combining Chinese and Western musical instruments through commissioned works and performances.

Chang was inspired to initiate this project two years prior, after observing his talented classmates and colleagues at countless rehearsals. “Watching performances at Jacobs, I had noticed a heavy focus on classic pieces,” Chang recalled. “I felt there was a need for initiatives with a more modern grounding.” The collaboration commissioned four IU composition students to write works for small chamber ensembles featuring both Chinese traditional instruments – the pipa, guzheng, erhu, dizi, guqin, and Chinese percussion – and Western orchestral instruments. Additionally, the project included online workshops led by Zhejiang Conservatory students, multiple rehearsals to ensure professional-level performances, and a final concert to showcase the new compositions, held on May 16, at Zhejiang. This collaboration offered a fresh opportunity to blend traditional instruments from the East and West, creating a space for students to explore new musical possibilities.

IU Global Gateway Network welcomes inaugural Ghana Gateway Academic Director

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Marielle Petranoff

With the launch of the IU Ghana Gateway in May of this year, the first of its kind for a public university in Africa, the IU Global Gateway Network welcomes Dr. Samuel Gyasi Obeng as the Gateway’s inaugural academic director.

“Dr. Obeng’s profound history with both Indiana University and Ghana positions him perfectly to connect IU’s world-class faculty with Ghanaian colleagues,” says Vice President for International Affairs Hannah Buxbaum. “I welcome Dr. Obeng as a great facilitator of collaboration for our newest Gateway.”

Obeng’s connection to Ghana and Indiana University run deep: he received his B.A. (Linguistics) with Honors from the University of Ghana and later returned as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Obeng completed his Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.) at the University of York (England) specializing in Language and Linguistics Science with emphasis on phonetics-phonology and pragmatics, and a postdoctoral research training in African Studies, African Linguistics and Phonetics at UCLA.

Two people smile at the camera. Between them a plaque on the wall reads "Indiana University Ghana Gateway" — *Cathie Carrigan, left, with Dr. Samuel Obeng, right, at the inauguration of the IU Ghana Gateway in 2024.*

Center for the Study of Global Change welcomes staff, university-wide initiatives

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Lexi Baker

The Center for the Study of Global Change (CGC) is excited to announce the appointment of Celina Jaffe as the new Associate Director. As one of the administrative centers for many Title VI grants and Indiana University’s hub of global engagement resources, the Center welcomes Jaffe as a key piece of their continuing mission to bring global education to students and educators across Indiana. Jaffe’s journey, from her roots in Bloomington to her extensive global adventures, reflects a deep commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration. With a passion for outreach and dedication to promoting global awareness, Jaffe is excited to join the CGC into a new era of engagement and exploration.

Jaffe’s background is rich with experiences that have shaped her global perspective. Originally from Bloomington, her initial exploration of the world began with an IU study abroad program to Aix-Marseille Université in France. This sparked a deeper passion for international engagement, leading her to various roles, including recently running the Teaching Assistant Program in France at the French Embassy in Washington, DC. After six years abroad as an artist and program coordinator, her goal was to return to Indiana and share her global insights.

“My dream has always been to bring internationalization back to Indiana,” she says.

As the CGC prepares for the year ahead, it has a wide array of events lined up for IU and communities across the state of Indiana. The Institute for Curriculum and Campus Internationalization (ICCI), held from May 19-22, was a notable highlight. This annual event is a platform for educators and University staff to enhance their curricula and campuses with global perspectives, with this year’s program welcoming instructors from 20 different of institutions across the US, including attendees from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador.

three people sit in front of a dry erase board

Scenes from this year’s ICCI

Celebrating the graduating class of international student mentors at IU

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Lexi Baker

As the last graduate crossed the stage for this season’s ceremonies, Indiana University took a moment to recognize not only the academic achievements of its graduating students but also the profound impact of individuals who have dedicated themselves to the university community. Among these standouts are the International Student Ambassadors (ISAs) and mentors, representing 20 different countries and diverse academic backgrounds.

These ambassadors and mentors offer firsthand insights into life at IU for potential and current international students, addressing inquiries and sharing their experiences navigating academics and campus culture. Their diverse perspectives enrich the university’s global community, providing crucial support for international students transitioning to life at IU.

*Indiana Student Ambassadors walk through Bloomington’s campus*

Through their dedication, ISAs embody IU’s commitment to inclusivity and support for all students, regardless of background. As we celebrate the achievements of graduating students, let’s also recognize the invaluable contributions of these ambassadors in shaping a welcoming and inclusive campus community at Indiana University.

Why IU?

Meman Diaby, a black man in a button-down shirt

For Meman Diaby, arriving at Indiana University from Côte D’Ivoire was more than just a journey to study Health Economics; it was a leap of faith into the unknown. Like many international students, Meman faced the daunting task of navigating a new country, culture, and educational system. Motivated to expand his horizons and with family nearby, he took on the challenge of learning a new language and excelling academically at the Indianapolis campus.

“Starting from scratch was not easy,” he says, “but a lot has been positive! I’ve learned a great deal about communication and my ability to connect with others.” It was a challenge that would later inspire him to assist others facing similar hurdles.

Similarly, Pavan Idnani’s decision to enroll at IU Bloomington for Informatics was a testament to the resilience and adaptability of international students. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Pavan found himself at a crossroads amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. Disheartened by the limitations of his remote studies in Australia, he sought a university environment that not only offered academic excellence but also provided a supportive community to weather the storm. In IU, he found just that – a welcoming embrace from a campus that recognized the value of diverse perspectives and embraced the strength found in unity.

Meanwhile, Sanjana Wagh’s journey from Mumbai to Bloomington epitomized the pursuit of excellence and seizing opportunities. With her sights set on IU’s renowned business program at Kelley School of Business, Sanjana’s proactive approach to education saw her navigating college applications early on, ensuring she secured her place in a university that promised both academic rigor and a vibrant campus life. Her transition from the bustling streets of Mumbai to the verdant campus of IU was marked by determination, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to her educational goals.

Sanjana, in a grey Kelley School of Business sweater poses with her arms crossed in front of a poster of her titled "People of Kelley"

And then there’s Tom Nguyen, whose decision to attend IU in Indianapolis was as much about proximity as it was about opportunity. With family hailing from Vietnam, Tom found in IU a university that not only offered top-notch academic programs but also provided a supportive network and mentorship opportunities that resonated with him. As an Indiana resident, IU offered Tom the chance to pursue his academic aspirations in Finance while staying connected to his roots, allowing him to become not only a student but also a guiding light for his fellow international peers navigating the complexities of studying abroad.

Transatlantic Modernism: Mies van der Rohe in Bloomington and Berlin

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Katrin Völkner

Right across from IU’s Ferguson International Center, an equally striking building houses the hub of the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design. Opened at the end of 2021 on the Bloomington campus, the structure was built from a rediscovered design by the world-famous modernist architect Mies van der Rohe.

Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design Mies van der Rohe building on the IU Bloomington campus at night — Mies van der Rohe Building on the IU Bloomington campus

Even those unfamiliar with Mies van der Rohe’s name will have encountered one of his designs. Born in 1886 in Germany, Mies is regarded as one of the 20^th century’s most influential architects as well as designers.

Three Bauhaus chairs in light brown and black on display — Mies’s famous Bauhaus chairs © Adam Thies

In the early 1930s, he was the last director of the Bauhaus, a pioneering modernist school of art, architecture and design. Mies emigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago where he headed the architecture school of the Illinois Institute of Technology. During his three decades as an architect in the United States, he designed numerous notable buildings that influenced architecture styles of the 50s and 60s.

That one of those characteristic designs had been for a fraternity on IU’s Bloomington campus came as a surprise for many. “To find out that in 1950 the Alpha Theta chapter of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity at IU had commissioned Mies van der Rohe to design a new house, and that IU now might have the opportunity to realize these plans, was amazing,” says Adam Thies, associate vice president for capital planning and design at IU.

Thies started researching the history of the forgotten design in 2015 after IU alumnus and principal donor Sidney Eskenazi had informed then IU President Michael A. McRobbie of the existence of drawings for the fraternity of which Mr. Eskenazi had been a member during his time at IU. After spending several years researching the dramatic history of the lost Mies plans at the Chicago Art Institute and other archives, Adam Thies was joined in his effort by Eskenazi faculty member Jon Racek – and a joint visit to the Mies Archive at the Museum of Modern Art in New York helped complete the story. Concurrent to their historical research, IU announced in 2019 that it would realize the 10,000-square-foot, two-story-building, paying for construction with the generous support of Sidney and Lois Eskenazi.

From individuals to institutions, the blossoming educational impact of the IU-NTU Partnership

Posted on April 17, 2024 by Victoria (Kai-Wei) Cheng

In 2021, the Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) Program was established to broaden the reach of Mandarin language education resources from Taiwan through partnerships between individual Taiwanese and U.S. higher education institutions. A part of the U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative, the program—which we fondly shortened to the “Huayu BEST Program,”—connected Indiana University (IU) and National Taiwan University (NTU) in mid-2021 with the support of both Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In addition to providing a language study abroad scholarship for IU students, and hosting NTU visiting Mandarin language educators on IU Bloomington’s campus, IU and NTU facilitate other language and culture-based collaborative programs through this partnership. Specifically, this is strengthened by financial support from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, making a myriad of cross-institutional collaborations a reality.

Three people stand gesturing to a sign. — *The IU-NTU Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) Program partnership is housed within the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.*

As the primary coordinator of these collaborative programs, I provide specialized support and act as the primary liaison for this partnership on IU Bloomington’s campus. Being able to bridge between the academic communities of IU and NTU is both a personally and professionally rewarding responsibility. As an NTU international affairs staff and IU alumna, I have a strong connection to both institutions. After three years of collaborations, I can attest to the educational significance this partnership has brought to our students, faculty, and staff.

By the end of this summer, IU will have sent 19 Huayu BEST study abroad scholarship recipients to NTU, giving these students unparalleled access to language education. The students have all chosen to train their Mandarin Chinese at one of NTU’s premier Mandarin language programs: the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) and the Chinese Language Division (CLD) of Language Center. Many of the students who returned from the study abroad experience shared their appreciation for their time at NTU and in Taiwan, and continued to support the program by sharing this opportunity with their classmates and friends.

“The program was incredible; I had an amazing time… I have been studying Chinese for a long time, and I wanted to apply it somewhere else, and Taiwan was the perfect place for me to go.” Carson Billingsley, FA22

My experience in the Huayu BEST Program was amazing. My language classes were challenging and engaging, and I had a great time outside of classes to experience and sightsee various parts of Taiwan.
Keep Reading

IU India Gateway celebrates outstanding alumnae this Women’s History Month

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Minu Thomas

As a special series for this year’s Women’s History Month, IU’s India Gateway spotlighted nine remarkable women of Indian origin who studied at Indiana University. Follow the IU India Gateway on LinkedIn to read the full feature.

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
– Rabindranath Tagore, Indian poet and writer

IU Women of the World Campaign for Women’s History Month 2024 featured IU alumnae who are crossing the seas, navigating new paths with their sails flying high, inspiring many others as they work towards different milestones in life and careers. Whether featured or not, women contribute to the economy, home, and society through their perseverance, in all spheres of life and we applaud each achievement and milestone.

Click here to read the full story