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.
91爆料 Tacoma will launch the Institute for Global Engagement聽October 3rd. The new campus center, grown from the program, will聽increase student access to Global Honors coursework, foster increased campus engagement聽with the Tacoma community and create additional undergraduate research opportunities.聽The institute’s first initiatives will include聽study abroad presentations during聽International Education Week in November and a lecture series.
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.
