Faculty Brown Bag Seminar Series:
Faculty members who have participated in travel and seminars related to TU’s growing internationalization will present on their experiences and discuss the relationship to their current research and teaching activities. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about TU’s internationalization activities in action. The CGE Faculty Development initiative, with support from the Office of Research, has sent 45 faculty and administrators to 28 different countries in such programs, and will continue to do so this year. Internationalization is a quality standard in today’s higher education. TU will benefit from new ideas, collaborative research, curriculum internationalization, and increase in study abroad participation. Forum sessions are open to the university community. Bring your sandwich – beverages and light desserts are provided.
Seminars occur in the fall semester only.
Fall 2009 Brown Bag Schedule:
Friday, October 1, 12-1 pm
Dr. Mike Troilo, Wellspring Assistant Professor of International Business & Dr. Wen-Chyuan Chiang, Professor of Operations Management
Doing Business in China
WHERE: ACAC, Alcove
Dr. Troilo and Dr. Chiang will present about their Summer 2009 class “Doing Business in China.” The course addressed the social, political, and economic forces that shape both organizations and transactions. The specific objectives of the class were to learn about China’s history, culture, and political economy; to apply this knowledge to real-world business cases; to articulate various alternatives for approaching the problems in these cases; and to argue for the most feasible solution. Students held case discussions prior to departure, and then by visited with businesses, managers, and workers about the quandaries they face in China.
Tuesday, October 6, 12:15-1:15 pm
Dr. Ryan Saylor, Assistant Professor, Political Science & Dr. Lara Foley, Associate Professor, Sociology
Ghana: Challenges of a Developing Nation; Social Institutions and Culture
WHERE: ACAC, Alcove
During most of its post-colonial history, Africa has been faced with a variety of very serious challenges, not least of which have included economic decay, political instability, gender oppression, deteriorating environments, and a variety of other social ills. How has Ghana, considered to be one of the most successful countries in Africa today, been coping with these challenges over the past several years? How successful has Ghana been in facing the challenges of globalization, democratization, women's liberation, health care delivery, and environmental protection, to name just a few? What are some of the unique historical and cultural patterns, particularly with its uniquely Pan-African background and connections to the African Diaspora, that are contributing to the way in which Ghanaians are facing these challenges today? Dr. Saylor explored these and other questions as part of this summer seminar. Dr. Foley will present on the TU course “Social Institutions and Culture” which she taught in Summer 2009, following her participation in this same seminar.
Wednesday, October 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dr. Jeffrey Hockett, Associate Professor, Political Science
South Africa: Building a Multicultural, Multiracial Society
WHERE: ACAC Alcove
After decades of apartheid policies and state-sponsored oppression and exclusion, Nelson Mandela identified and pursued a vision of a democratic and pluralistic South African society. The change was obvious just by turning on a TV and listening to programming in the Xhosa language or watching black and white music video jockeys side-by-side in the studio. Reflecting and building a multicultural, multiracial society, especially one in which individual communities developed along imposed and radically different trajectories, requires more than superficial examples of inclusion and cooperation. Dr. Hockett explored the South African model and vision of a pluralistic society and reflected on the policies and assessments of its advancement as part of this seminar.
Wednesday, October 21, 12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dr. Glen Collier, Professor of Biological Sciences
Tropical Biology in La Selva Costa Rica
WHERE: Collins Hall Heritage Room
Costa Rica, a country committed to preserving natural parks and biological reserves, is an excellent location in which to pursue tropical biology studies. As part of a land-bridge between North and South America, the geographical and climate conditions allow flora and fauna of both continents to coexist, creating uniquely diverse ecosystems. Dr. Collier will present on his Fall 2008 course “Tropical Biology in La Selva, Costa Rica,” in which students participated in seminar discussions of the natural history and biology of neotropical rainforests. Students then participated in a field trip to La Selva Biological Station in northeastern Costa Rica over fall break, in which they completed individual field projects.
