"Learning comes when we stop judging events from our own personal bias or comfort zone and truly try to understand other viewpoints or approaches and what better way to do this then to immerse oneself in discussions with individual and in situations that are "foreign" to us. Bridgewater State University both recognizes and encourages the need to increase the global awareness of our students, faculty and staff, it's a major focus of the college's strategic planning. Our goal is to provide opportunities that will allow everyone in our extended community the opportunity to experience international and global awareness at some level. By inviting international scholars to the campus we bring a diverse perspective to our campus and to the community. The scholars add value to the educational experiences which then develop and strengthen skills in intercultural communications, expose us to different viewpoints, cultures, and processes, and make us more flexible and valuable students and professionals in the future." Vice President Minnock, External Affairs
Dr. Victor Borges is BSU's first ever diplomat in residence. His work with
education and foreign affairs in Cape Verde spans two decades. He will bring to
campus his experienced perspective on international relations. Please click here
Visiting Fulbright Scholar Dr. Naglaa Hassan, a professor at Fayoum University, Egypt, began her tenure at Bridgewater in January, during initial stages of the mass protests in Cairo. The revolt, aimed at countering government corruption and political instability, led to the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak from office in February. Please click here to read more.
While serving as visiting research scholar in the Department of Economics, Dr. Tadahisa Koga's home country of Japan was devastated in March by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake -- the largest in the country's recorded history -- and subsequent tsunami. As the crisis unfolded, Dr. Koga, a professor at Kansai University, found a support base on campus. Please click here to read more.
Prolific author Dr. Michael Peterman,
professor emeritus of English at Trent University in Ontario, served as Killam
Professor of Canadian Studies, teaching a course, lecturing and attending
academic events on and off campus. Please click
Ms. Yan Chen
Hailing from China, where she teaches English at Beijing Jiaotong University,
Yan Chen spent the semester conducting
research in English literature and Asian studies. While conducting her own
research, Ms. Chen enrolled in courses focusing primarily on American and East
Asian literature and history. Please click here
Vanna Sok from Pannasastra University in Cambodia, and Dejuan Li, from Beijing's Jiaotong University, spent part of this summer at Bridgewater where they received training in the use of library procedures and equipment. Please click here to read more.
Dr. Sang Han Lee, a visiting
scholar from South Korea, has spent the past seven months at Bridgewater
studying the U.S. justice system and sharing with the campus community details
of his work as a medical examiner. Please click here to
A new perspective on Chinese culture has come to the Bridgewater campus. Jianrong Wang, who teaches English and listening at Beijing Jiaotong University, will be engaging this year in a cultural exchange with the campus community while furthering her literary studies. Please click here to read more.
Mr. Nino Ricci an acclaimed Canadian novelist has been teaching throughout
the fall semester for the Canadian Studies Program. Mr. Ricci's first novel,
Lives of the Saints (1991), was not only a great commercial success, it
earned the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the 1990 Governor General's Award
for Fiction, and a Betty Trask Award. The book was the first in his best-selling
trilogy of autobiographical novels, that includes In a Glass House
(1995), and Where She Has Gone (1998). Please click here to
Dr.Al-Roud is a visiting scholar from Tafila Technical University (TTU) in Jordan. This academic year he is teaching several courses at BSC including Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL) as part of an exchange program between Bridgewater State College and Tafila Technical University. Please click here to read more.
Ms. Kausalya Srinvasin a visiting scholar from Chennai, India. She has over 20 years of experience in the dances of India, not only has Ms. Srinivasan danced all over India (from Rajasthan in the northwest to her home in Tamil Nadu in the southeast) but she has also traveled to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and with her Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence award, now the United States. Please click here to read more.
Dr. Satoshi Tomita is a visiting scholar from Kansai University. Throughout his stay at BSC Dr. Tomita will conduct research, provide guest lectures and participate in campus activities. He specializes in accounting, business strategy, and investments in Japan. Dr. Tomita's most recent presentation was held during International Week the topic was business in Japan. Please click here to read more.
Dr. Raufa Al-Sharki is a Fulbright Scholar from Sana'a, Yemen who was a visiting scholar at BSC in Spring 2009. She is a noted human rights activist and has devoted her life to this work, and specifically women's rights in Yemen and the Middle East. Please click here to read more.
Last Modified: September 22, 2011