IDSG

Formation of the Group

-----Original Message-----

 

From: Alfino, Mark

 

Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 8:48 AM

 

To: FACSL

 

Subject: Invitation to join an "International Development Study Group"

 

Gonzaga has a number of new summer study abroad programs this year, including three in Africa which involve small groups of faculty and students engaging in a variety of academic pursuits, including the study of issues related to international development.  We will be engaged in water sanitation and public health issues in Benin, and service and community development projects are under discussion at the two locations in Zambia.  Together, these three programs will serve small but diverse groups of students from Engineering, the Comprehensive Leadership Program, the Psychology Program, the Nursing Program, and the TESL program, among others.   

As part of our support for international program development, the International Program Advisory Committee (IPAC) is forming a Spring semester study group comprised of faculty, staff, and students interested in exploring the topic of international development.  We hope to have a diverse range of perspectives represented in the group, including interdisciplinary discussion from fields such as economics, ethnic studies, history, language and literature, and politics.  During the Spring semester we will probably focus on African culture and development dynamics, not only because of our new programs but also because of new scholarship in this area. In addition to seeking a better understanding of the problems of development, we will look at model programs which have international service, volunteerism, or development assistance as goals.  An ongoing study group may be able to advise current and future international development program activity, in Africa and other parts of the world. 

If you are interested in finding out more about IPAC’s International Development Study Group, please reply to Mark Alfino at alfino@gonzaga.edu.  The group will probably meet 3-4 times during the semester.   We welcome nominations of interested students. 

This invitation is extended on behalf of the subcommittee of IPAC working on this project which includes the following faculty and staff:  James Beebe, Sima Thorpe, Bob Bartlett, Mary Jeannot, Raymond Reyes, and Mark Alfino.  The study group is open to interested faculty, staff, and students.  The International Program Advisory Committee supports international programs across campus and advises the AVP’s office on international programs at Gonzaga.

Mark Alfino

 

Dr. Mark Alfino

Professor,

 

Department of Philosophy

International Program Development,

 

Academic Vice-President's Office

 

First Meeting Agenda

 

This is still taking shape through consultation with the group (1/14/07 Alfino)