November 15, 2006
As the result of a whirlwind tour through three Caribbean
nations by a contingent of St. John’s University administrators and
faculty, “multiple University programs of exchange” could be
offered to students and faculty as early as next summer.
According to James Pellow, Ed.D., Executive VP and COO, who is
traveling in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Panama this
week, efforts are now underway to build out the next phase of the
University’s Discover the World program: Discover the World – Latin
America.
Discover the
World - Europe, a program in which students can spend a
semester in three European cities while earning 15 college credits
and experiencing select service opportunities, was launched by St.
John’s last month. More than 100 students have enrolled in
the program to date and will study in Paris, Rome and Salamanca,
Spain in spring, 2007.
Dr. Pellow’s latest trip is intended to create a network for
multiple programs of exchange (e.g., Study Abroad, faculty
exchange, language development) not only for St. John’s students
but also for students from partnering cities and/or countries. With
a contingent from St. John’s, he has been meeting with potential
partners to learn the particular needs of their cities and will
then develop the details for bringing St. John’s expertise to help
fill those needs. His goal is to enroll hundreds of students in
Discover the World programs.
Two members of the group—Shondel Nero, Ph.D., of St. John’s
School of Education, and Alina Camacho-Gingerich, Ph.D., chair of
St. John’s Committee on Latin American and Caribbean Studies
(CLACS)—were invited because of their expertise in working with
Latin-Americans. Professor Nero, has been involved in providing
training for faculty and students involved in primary education to
help them better understand their Spanish-speaking students as they
acclimate to American culture. Professor Camacho-Gingerich, has
chaired interdisciplinary international symposia, lectures, and
workshops on Latino issues.
On November 15, the St. John’s delegation met officials in the
city of Santiago, Dominican Republic to hear about the educational
needs of Dominican students. Mayor Jose Enrique Sued Sem,
expressed interest in training for teachers, law enforcement,
language and Public Relations/Communications. Jose Miguel
Hernandez, Dean of the School of Social Services as well as the Law
and Business School at Pontificia Universidad Católica
Madre and Maestra, the Dominican Republic’s largest university,
addressed the possibility of sending 100 students to St. John’s
University’s Manhattan campus next summer to earn certificates in
international business. He also was interested in establishing an
MBA program resembling that offered at St. John’s Rome campus at
his school. “Establishing a St. John’s presence solidifies our
commitment to global education and partnership with nations
interested in making the world a better place.”
The recent launch of St. John's Discover the
World program preceded, by one month, the release
this week of a report by the Institute of International Education
which revealed that many college students “are not getting the
valuable international experience they need to succeed.” Discover
the World—Europe addressed this fact in a meaningful way when St.
John’s made special financial aid funds available for those unable
to afford the experience. “We made the decision to offer special
aid in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, who in his time crafted
innovative services for those who were disadvantaged. We want every
St. John’s student to have the advantage of an international
education, a tool for achieving success in our world today,” said
Dr. Pellow.