MAGNOLIA—International Student Services at Southern Arkansas University is giving students a chance to learn about different cultures at their annual International Education Week program from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, in Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center.
Governor Mike Beebe proclaimed Nov. 16-20 as International Education Week (IEW) across Arkansas on Oct. 13. The week was established in 2000 and is a joint initiative by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education to promote global awareness and understanding as well as international affairs. It celebrates more than 100 countries worldwide and aims to prepare students to live and work in a global environment.
Thursday’s program will highlight international diversity on the SAU campus with performances, demonstrations and foods from cultures across the world. Exhibits open at 10 a.m.
This year’s IEW program will focus on Hispanic culture. Claudia Lyons, director of International Student Services, will present on Mayan culture at noon.
Keynote speaker for the event, Dr. Elba Birmingham-Pokorny, professor of Spanish, will present “Latin America Revisited—Common Myths and Misconceptions About the Region” at 1 p.m. There will be a round-table discussion following the presentation.
Gerald Plumlee, assistant professor of management, will present on the College of Business’ study abroad program in Mexico at 2 p.m. Dr. Dan Dykema, assistant professor of music/piano, will also perform a piano tribute to Spanish composers at 2:15 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Lyons at 235-4082.
