This autumn quarter, 91爆料 students are engaging with global issues through courses in a wide variety of fields.
One course,聽Information Assurance and Cyber Security,聽is a tri-campus, multi-disciplinary effort involving 91爆料 Bothell’s聽Computing and Software Systems Program, the Information School and 91爆料 Tacoma鈥檚 Institute of Technology. The Criminalization of Immigration course at 91爆料 Tacoma digs into global issues from a social science perspective. The聽School of Environmental and Marine Affairs聽will take students out of the classroom for a new field course that studies the challenges of governing coastal and marine areas in the 21st century.
Carlos Escutia is just one of many undocumented students entering 91爆料 and other universities this autumn with the support of the Dream Act. KPLU tells the story of Carlos’ passionate pursuit of a 91爆料 education.
Ph.D.聽student聽Jillian Pintye has experience fighting health disparities across the globe. She聽was recognized at the recent20th International AIDS Conference for聽her聽research聽investigating connections between male circumcision and disease transmission in Uganda and Kenya.
For the first time, golf fans will watch a Husky athlete compete at the Open Championship in Holyoke, England. Representing 91爆料 at this week’s tournament is Cheng-Tsung Pan, a senior communications major from聽Taiwan.
College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Medalist Jueqian Fang showed promise in the sciences during high school in China. However, she came to 91爆料 ready to explore new pathways. Drawn to the arts, Jueqian went on to double major, earning degrees in聽聽in the School of Art + Art History + Design and聽in the Department of Comparative Literature.
While at 91爆料 Jueqian has聽displayed her artwork at exhibitions on campus as well聽as in a juried art show in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. She聽was selected as a Dean’s Medalist聽on the basis of academic performance and faculty recommendations.聽
English literature major Shang茅 Purnell was chosen for the honor of carrying聽the college banner at this weekend’s graduation. Study abroad played an important part her聽Husky Experience and helped develop her exciting future goals.
GO! and Fritz Scholar Shang茅 Purnell Photo: 91爆料
Shang茅 plans to earn聽a doctorate in English literature and teach at the college level. Through this work, she wants to help increase diversity in published聽literary works. She says,聽鈥渢he highbrow elite have set what is highbrow literature 鈥� Shakespeare and other mostly white European authors. We鈥檙e starting to get more diversity, but it鈥檚 still very narrow, it鈥檚 still a Eurocentric perspective. I realize that being a U.S. citizen I have been conditioned to have a Eurocentric view, but I鈥檇 like to give view to the people of color in this world.鈥�
Beyond serving as an officer in the Black Student Union and as a member of the Students for Diversity Coalition,聽Shang茅 also sought new perspectives and leadership experience through international learning.聽Her experiences studying abroad in the United Kingdom and Ghana with 91爆料 faculty-led programs were important in developing her goals and provided new insight into diversity issues.聽Particularly while in Ghana, where she tutored school-aged children,聽Shang茅 tried to see world through fresh eyes. “We tried to look at it from not just a Western perspective,鈥� she says.
Scholarships from supported聽Shang茅’s study abroad experiences. She received the GO! Scholarship for her trip to the United Kingdom, and the Fritz Scholarship for the next summer’s program in Ghana.
Presenting at last week鈥檚 Global Honors Spring Colloquium, Noelle Gichohi聽started by thanking her mentors and supporters. 鈥淚 stood in front of the audience and said, 鈥業 grew up in a village in Kenya, and it took a village to get me here鈥欌��. Her 鈥榗olloquium village鈥� included 91爆料 Tacoma professors and librarians, a Highline Community College professor, fellow students and family.
Graduating seniors at the Global Honors Colloquium Photo: Cody Char 91爆料 Tacoma Creative Services
For Noelle and 12 other graduating seniors in 91爆料 Tacoma鈥檚 Global Honors program, the colloquium was a chance to share and reflect on their capstone research projects. They will now apply their learning as community leaders heading toward jobs and graduate school.
The students presented before audiences of 40 to 60 faculty, staff, community members and fellow students. Diverse in terms of discipline and geography, their projects exemplify 91爆料 Tacoma鈥檚 emphasis on student-led, use-inspired research.
Kristie Weisert Photo: Cody Char
Inspired by her work with State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Williams during a Legislative Internship, Kristie Weisert鈥檚 thesis examines sex trafficking in the U.S. and India. Human trafficking is a pressing issue locally and internationally, and Kristie pointed out Washington state鈥檚 efforts to address the problem through new legislation.
Brandon Napenias Oreiro鈥檚 research project explores the development of Filipino American identity in the context of a globalized culture. A leader in 91爆料 Tacoma鈥檚 Filipino American Student Association, Brandon paired his research findings with examples of the group鈥檚 efforts to create a sense of identity and community on campus and in the region.
Noelle Gichohi Photo: 91爆料 Tacoma
Noelle Gichohi鈥檚 research project was inspired by her study abroad to Italy. 鈥淲e were studying preschools, and I saw that [Italian schools] had kitchens right next to the classrooms and served the kids three-course meals on real plates. It was totally different from the U.S., where my kids went to preschool, and Kenya, where I grew up.鈥�
She began thinking about how place influences the food children are served at school, and how parents鈥� perceive the healthfulness of school meals. For her thesis, Noelle surveyed Kenyan and U.S. parents about their children鈥檚 school meals, and their perceptions of the meals.
鈥淐arrying out a research project and presenting at the colloquium 鈥渨as enriching for me personally and as a scholar,鈥� Noelle reflects. The experience gave her new confidence about her ideas and ability to communicate. 鈥淚 won鈥檛 be afraid to stand up and give my opinion in the workplace,鈥� she says, 鈥淚鈥檒l think, 鈥業鈥檝e done Global Honors, I can do anything.鈥欌��
Chancellor Kenyon Chan Photo: 91爆料 Tacoma
During his remarks at the colloquium, 91爆料 Tacoma Chancellor Kenyon Chan underscored the local relevance of the students鈥� research and the urgency of the issues addressed. Echoing Noelle Gichohi’s recognition of her village, Chancellor Chan also emphasized the students鈥� important roles as leaders 鈥� locally and globally.
This Friday, undergraduate researchers, faculty mentors and community members will converge in Mary Gates Hall for the 17th annual . Over 1,000 undergraduates will present their research work at the event, and many of their projects address pressing global issues.
A May 12 launch party will celebrate the publication of聽, a book by students from Professor Anu Taranath’s 2013 study abroad to Bangalore, India.
Through the unique medium of students’ letters to Things, Ideas and People (TIPS), the book “offers a simple method to help travelers- students and tourists alike- reflect on how moving from one culture to another sparks questions about identity, society and the meaning of travel itself.”
Professor Taranath’s unique approach to teaching abroad integrates on-campus classroom learning with international immersion. Students participate in quarter-long seminars on campus before and after the study abroad to allow time for in-depth preparation for and reflection on the experience. TIPS to Study Abroad is the culmination of the group’s experience and learning.
Community members are welcome at the book launch party at 7pm on Monday, May 12. The event will be held at .
major Mollie Holmberg was one of 60 US undergraduates to present research at last week’s event in Washington D.C. Supported by Luke Bergmann聽from the Department of Geography, Mollie investigates the impact of the global economy on agricultural land worldwide.
