Dear Bison Family and Friends,

2020 has brought us much to reflect upon. As we at the Bunche Center reflect, we are reminded of the beautiful, supportive, curious, brilliant, engaged, global community that we have created at Howard University and beyond, and we are grateful for you. This year uprooted us and forced us inside and online, but that has also allowed many of us to connect across time zones, borders (international and otherwise), and schedules…allowing us into spaces we never ventured before, and for that we are also grateful.

We move into 2021 embracing the silver linings of 2020 but hopeful that with the new year will come more health, more healing, more unity, more mobility and more Bison Abroad! We learned in November through the release of IIE's Open Doors report, that Howard University is currently the HBCU sending the most students abroad, a title held by Spelman for many years. While our students were not able to go abroad this academic year, we are encouraged that study abroad will resume in the fall and look forward to supporting our students in selecting the program that will suit them best. Meanwhile, we will continue to bring the world to Howard through our series #BuncheTalks: Shaping Our Future Through the SDGs and other unique events to engage and inspire. We hope you will join us.

We wish you and yours a safe, healthy, and happy, holiday season!

All the Best,

Tonija Hope

Director

Aissa Dearing, junior studying history and environmental science from Durham, N.C.;

Camille King, sophomore studying TV and film with a minor in English from Hamden, Conn.;

Katherine Gilyard, junior studying journalism with a minor in biology from Albany, Ga.;

Kenadi Maupin, junior studying political science with a minor in English from New Orleans, La.;

Makenli Raspberry, junior studying sports-medicine with a minor in chemistry from Houston, Texas;

Brielle Smith, sophomore studying public relations with a minor in business administration from Atlanta, Ga.;

Elon Stein, sophomore studying sociology with a minor in business administration from Mount Laurel, N.J.; and

Deanrea Sykes Jr., sophomore studying philosophy with a minor in African-American studies from Tulsa, Okla.

Stay tuned to hear more about the 2021 cohort of PRH fellows! View the full Howard University press release here.

HU alumna Ms. Jalina Porter was among an esteemed group of returned Peace Corps volunteers who received the Franklin H. Williams Award on December 15th. Ms. Porter is a 2008 graduate of the School of Business and served from 2009-2001 in Cambodia as a Peace Corps volunteer. Currently, Ms. Porter is the Communications Director for Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA). The Bunche Center congratulates her on this important honor. Howard University has been the top-sending HBCU of Peace Corps volunteers for the last 15 years which speaks to our commitment to service on a global level. 2021 will mark the 60th anniversary of the National Peace Corps Association, the organization that represents returned Peace Corps volunteers, and Howard University will serve as host. Read the full 2020 Franklin H. Williams Award press release here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this semester's virtual installments of #BuncheTalks: Shaping Our Future through the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2020-21 Bunche Center annual series highlights the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In September, our opening event featured Dr. Clarence Lusane (Department of Political Science), Dr. Helen Bond (School of Education), and Alainna Lynch (Research Manager, Sustainable Development Solution Network), who shared an overview of the SDGs as highlighted in their recent co-authored article, "Never More Urgent: A preliminary review of how the US is leaving behind Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities.

Moderated by United Nations Association Howard University Chapter President, Ms. Oona Nelson, we were joined by Dr. Mietek Boduszynski (Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations at Pomona College), Dr. J. Jarpa Dawuni (Department of Political Science, and Alexandra Montgomery (Director of Programs, Amnesty International Brazil), for a timely discussion on SDG #16, "Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions," to discuss the role and rhetoric of strong institutions, particularly during election seasons, both domestically and abroad.

Finally, our November edition of #BuncheTalks featured SDG #4, Quality Education. Our esteemed panel of scholars and experts in the field of education engaged in a robust conversation around the importance of culturally relevant education as necessary for achieving a just and equitable society. Panelists included: Dr. Kmt Shockley (School of Education and author of "The Mis-Education of Black Children,"), Dr. Anthony Jackson (Vice President, Education and Director of the Center for Global Education at the Asia Society), and Ms. Ayva Thomas (Assistant Director of Racial & Educational Justice for Northshore School District). Moderated by Ph.D. student in Higher Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Ms. Lyndsie Whitehead, our speakers highlighted inequities and injustices in education and how they work to eradicate them in their respective positions.

The annual series, spearheaded by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center, was created to supplement and complement Howard University students' learning on issues of global importance. The 2020-21 virtual #BuncheTalks events are recorded, and will be uploaded to the Bunche Center's YouTube page. Please join us in January for the second half of #BuncheTalks: Shaping Our Future through the SDGs.

Starting the first day of classes in January 2021, the Bison Abroad Office will be available for study abroad advising for the fall 2021 semester through our partner organizations. A list of our partners can be found HERE on the Bunche Center website, along with the slide for the Study Abroad Information Session!

Ms. Maraina Montgomery

Assistant Director for Study Abroad

The three-part series, Voices from the Diaspora, shed light on the experiences of HU international students, Semilore Olatunde (senior, Nigeria), Anire Atsangbede (senior, Nigeria), Black Latinx students, Cydney Davis (sophomore, Colorado) and Raquel Muniz (sophomore, Colorado) along with students from Prairie View A&M and Morgan State. In recognition of International Education Week, Ms. Montgomery moderated a panel discussion entitled "Building the Pipeline: Navigating the Field of International Education as Black Professionals." Five professionals, located across the US and in South Africa, discussed such questions as, "What have you achieved in your current role that has supported an increase in participation or access to study abroad for Black students?" and "What is an area within education abroad that you can recognize a need for growth in?" This series offered a powerful resource for students and created a sacred space for the HBCU community.

"The impact of the current global crisis, COVID-19, has directly affected work

of international educators. Yet it has also inspired many practitioners to reimagine effective methods for engaging and supporting the students they serve.

This piece showcases how we, three administrators from Howard University,

Morgan State University, and Prairie View A&M University, seized a moment

and the attention of our Historically Black College and University communities

to mindfully motivate our students to prepare for a “new normal” that centers

global connectedness and learning opportunities. " Click below to read the full article co-authored by Assistant Director for Study Abroad, Maraina Montgomery.