Vol 4 | Issue 1
Welcome to the latest edition of our Global Initiatives Newsletter!
I recently had a Back to the Future moment when I came across a folder filled with the history of global programs at St. John’s University. The College Europa program, launched in the 1985–86 academic year, was based in Budapest, Hungary, with offerings such as Comparative Law and Judicial Practice and East-West Trade and Marketing. The program sought to offer “an international education within the budget of the typical American student.”
In light of our current global program offerings, I wondered who this “typical American” student was—and more importantly, who still was not able to participate because of the cost, work and family responsibilities, or perhaps a fear of living in a country that may not be perceived as welcoming to all?
I’m glad that much has changed and shifted with each generation of global programs since 1985 in an effort to provide access to a global education for all students. Some of these shifts have been slow and steady through innovative programming such as Global Passport and increased funding for students wishing to study abroad.
Others seem seismic as a result of the pandemic or the University’s direct focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Today, 38 years later, the Office of Global Programs continues to be energized and committed to growing a full range of global activities that are accessible and sustainable.
For this issue, we are excited to introduce you to the next generation of global learners and educators at St. John’s. Don’t miss the articles focused on our Gilman scholars, St. John’s faculty teaching virtual exchange courses, and a video about the international students on the Queens, NY, campus.
Coming full circle, as stated in College Europa’s mission, we believe that those students and faculty who participate in our global initiatives will be “forever altered by their experiences, with a new depth of knowledge” and take away a “deeper understanding of the forces...that have influenced history throughout the ages, and are now shaping the world of tomorrow.”
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and welcome your feedback and submissions for consideration in future issues.
Sincerely,
Christina Quartararo
Interim Assistant Provost, Office of Global Programs
In This Issue
International Spotlight on St. John’s Gilman Scholars: Home Again
International Education Week Celebrated
Trailblazing from Trinidad to New York
Linguistically and Culturally Appropriate Language Assessment: a GOLE Collaboration
Spotlight on Christopher Caccavo, Adjunct Professor
China Relaxes “Zero COVID” Policy, Making Study Abroad Less Challenging
In Case You Missed It...
St. John’s University’s Office of International Education announced that six students have been awarded a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad. | READ MORE
Basilio G. Monteiro, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication; Director, Graduate Program in International Communication; and Director, Institute for International Communication, discusses what it means to be a global citizen. | READ MORE
The Office of Multicultural Affairs and Project AIM hosted a Lunar New Year celebration with an array of Asian foods and cultural dance performances. | READ MORE