Volume III | April 13, 2021
The quarterly College of International Studies newsletter is your source for CIS updates and stories, events and news related to international education at OU. If there's something you'd like to see included in our next newsletter, email Maura McAndrew at mmcandrew@ou.edu.
Dean's Corner
In a video blog, Dean Scott Fritzen gives an overview of the Strategic Planning exercise getting underway in the College of International Studies, and notes how internal and external stakeholders can participate in the process. Learn more at the link below!
Upcoming Events
April 15, 3 p.m. (Zoom)
Ethnographies of Iran: Dignity, Power, and Transnational Politics, a conversation with Manata Hashemi, Farzaneh Family Assistant Professor of Iranian Studies, CIS; Negar Razavi, ACLS Emerging Voices Postdoctoral Fellow, Kaplan Institute for the Humanities, Northwestern University; and Shawhin Roudbari, assistant professor, Program in Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder. Moderated by Afshin Marashi, Farzaneh Family Chair of Iranian Studies, CIS. Sponsored by the Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies.

April 16, 3-4:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Race, Massacre and Historical Memory: The Case of Guatemala, a lecture with Luis Rodrigo Salvadó, analyst for the Public Prosecutor for Human Rights of Guatemala and professor of forensic science and criminal investigation, Universidad de Occidente de Guatemala. This event is part of the Tulsa Race Massacre centennial commemoration. Sponsored by the Center for the Americas.
April 16, 6 p.m., South Oval
International Festival: Together Again – Beyond Borders, featuring international food, games and cultural performances. Sponsored by the OU International Advisory Committee.

April 29, 3-4:30 p.m. (Zoom)
The Past, Present, and Future of US-China Relations, a conversation with Aaron L. Friedberg, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University. Sponsored by the Institute for US-China Issues.

April 30, 3-4:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Travels, Translations, and the Literary Imagination of Brazil in the Americas, a conversation with Krista Brune, assistant professor of Portuguese and Spanish,
Penn State University. Respondent: Paolo Moreira, OU Department of Modern Languages, Literature, and Linguistics. Sponsored by the Center for the Americas.
OU Giving Day
Today, April 13th, is OU Giving Day, the university's annual 24-hour fundraising event. We hope you'll consider a donation to the College of International Studies International Student Pandemic Fund.

As you may know, many of our international students have continued to endure significant stress and hardship attempting to return to their home countries, cover the cost of rent and food, and continue their studies since the pandemic began. Though these problems persist, your gift to our International Student Pandemic Fund provides our students with resources and opportunities as they endeavor to become globally fluent leaders of tomorrow. Learn more and donate at the link below!

Department Updates
International and Area Studies
The Department of International and Area Studies hosted its annual symposium on Feb. 26 and March 5 and 12. This year's virtual event was sponsored by the Center for Brazil Studies, and the theme was "Burning Issues: The Environment, Human Rights, and Democracy in Bolsonaro’s Brazil." Featured speakers included anthropologist and lawyer Eloy Terena, human rights activist and Rio City Councilor Monica Benício, and journalist Kennedy Alencar. Despite the move online this year, the events were a success, bringing together an average of over 100 participants per session.

Recent Faculty Publications:


International Student Services
International students are wrapping up a difficult academic year, but they have still found time to host events this spring that celebrate culture and community. On March 27, the Colombian Student Association hosted a successful celebration, Colombian Night, to commemorate their 20th anniversary. The event featured dinner and a show, and the group chose a drive-in format in the Lloyd Noble Center parking lot to ensure safety for all involved. This week is CIS's annual International Awareness Week, which runs April 12-16 and culminates in an outdoor international festival sponsored by the student-led International Advisory Committee. The festival, entitled, "Together Again – Beyond Borders," is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, April 16, on the South Oval, and will feature international food at 6 p.m. followed by multicultural performances at 7:30. The event is open to all and is sure to be a blast! For more on International Awareness Week, be sure to follow CIS on Facebook and Twitter @oucis.

Education Abroad
We are pleased to share that on March 12, Senior VP and Provost Jill Irvine announced that selected study abroad programs would resume in summer 2021. Approved destinations include Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, with the requirement that all students, faculty and staff who are traveling complete full COVID-19 vaccination protocols. Study abroad to Mexico was later approved as well. While there is always the potential for country-specific contingencies which could lead to the cancellation of programs, we are excited that we have reached this milestone. The Education Abroad team and staff at our International Study Centers, OU in Arezzo and OU in Puebla, have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to ensure that our programs abroad could resume as soon as possible, and it is a testament to their efforts that we have a bright future ahead in summer and fall 2021.

Study Center Snapshot: Summer at the Centers
Staff at OU in Arezzo and OU in Puebla, our study centers in Italy and Mexico, are thrilled to welcome students back for summer 2021 programs (barring potential changes related to the pandemic). In May, the first groups of students will arrive in Arezzo, Italy for Spring Session President's Leadership Class and President's Community Scholars programs. PLC and PCS will also run alumni programs, for students on their second Italy trip, during Summer Session.

In June, they will be joined by journalism students on the Gaylord in Arezzo program, led by Gaylord College professors Debbie Yount and Adam Croom. And finally, in July, students from all majors will explore Italy with Journey to Italy, one of CIS's signature study abroad programs. The program is led by Associate Professor of Art History Robert Bailey and OUA Director Kirk Duclaux.

OU students will return to Mexico this summer as well, with OU in Puebla's three planned programs: Verano Poblano (May-June), led by Spanish department professors Julie Ward and Grady Wray, Summer Pre-Med in Puebla (May-June) and The Cuisine, Arts & Culture of Mexico (June-July).

After the forced hiatus due to COVID, we're excited to once again facilitate these opportunities for students to immerse in a new culture, gain a new perspective and make memories to last a lifetime. Interested in studying abroad this year? OUA and OUP are still accepting applications for fall 2021 – learn more at the links below.
CIS People
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Alumni Spotlight: Kamala Frazier

After graduation, Kamala Frazier '18, an international studies major with minors in psychology and Japanese, sought a career move that would allow her to return to Japan, the country she fell in love with on study abroad. The Edmond native decided to apply for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program and was hired. She has worked for the past two years as an assistant English teacher in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, an experience that has allowed her to explore Japan while developing her teaching and language skills. Frazier agreed to share her story with the CIS blog in hopes of encouraging other students to take such a leap. "I absolutely love my placement city," she says. "I think I am very lucky to be placed in such a wonderful and warm community."

Faculty Spotlight: Emma Colven
Assistant Professor of Global Environment Emma Colven is part of a team of researchers who recently received a Seminar Series Award from the Urban Studies Foundation for their proposal, "Decentering Urban Climate Finance: Relational Comparison in Theory and Practice." The USF Seminar Series Awards aim to support the generation of internationally excellent research in all areas of urban studies. Awards are given to proposals capable of generating scholarly debate and dialogue that is compelling, significant and contributes to publications and other outputs of world-class standard.

Student Spotlight: Olivia Robson
Congratulations to International & Area Studies undergraduate Olivia Robson, who was just awarded a $500 micro-grant from the OU Carceral Studies Consortium for her project titled “Environmental Justice and Incarceration.” The grant will support her work on this review-type research article with professors Emma Colven of IAS and Anthony Levenda of Geography & Environmental Sustainability.
Student Spotlight: Ali Rassi
Congratulations to international student Ali Rassi, a master’s student in Industrial and Systems Engineering! Ali was recently named the overall winner of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools’ regional Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition for his video presentation on 3D printed implants – a technique that may ultimately help those with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or other joint health issues. As the winner of the MAGS regional event, Rassi is eligible to take part in the Council of Graduate Schools’ virtual 2021 3MT Showcase and People’s Choice Competition later this year.
Recent CIS Stories
OU's Newman Prize for Chinese Literature Celebrated
at Renmin University, Beijing
An in-person awards ceremony for the 2021 Newman Prize for Chinese Literature, a biennial award sponsored by the Institute for US-China Issues, was held on the afternoon of March 10, 2021, at Renmin University in Beijing, China. This year’s winner is internationally renowned novelist Yan Lianke, a faculty member of Renmin University’s College of Language and Literature. CIS Dean Scott Fritzen and Professor Jonathan Stalling, director of the Newman Prize and co-director of the Institute for US-China Issues, spoke at the event via video. CIS held its own virtual award ceremony for the Newman Prize on March 19.

CIS Dean Scott Fritzen Joins Statement in Support of Asian and Asian-American Community
In response to the recent upsurge in anti-Asian violence and discrimination nationwide, President Harroz issued a statement earlier this month, co-signed by CIS Dean Scott Fritzen, condemning the violence and offering support to our Asian and Asian-American community at OU. The statement reads, in part, "Xenophobia and racism have no place at OU. We are committed to being a community of care and true belonging for all people. We call upon all members of the OU community to continue to reject hatred and violence and strive instead for empathy, understanding, and compassion for all people." We in CIS stand in solidarity with our Asian and Asian-American community members during this difficult time.
Oklahoma, UK Students Awarded 2021 Newman Prize for English Jueju
Three Oklahoman students and one British student have won the 2021 Newman Prize for English Jueju, a biennial poetry contest sponsored by the Institute for US-China Issues. The winners were honored in a virtual ceremony on March 19, in tandem with the celebration of the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature. The 2021 winners are OU student Jacob Dayon, an Asian studies major from Westfield, New Jersey; Mustang High School student Dylan Chaoomchaisiri; Norman middle school student Tobin Bosse; and Sofia Saronne of Saint Paul’s Girls School, London, UK. Each winner received a $500 check and certificate.

Iranian Studies Best Undergraduate Paper Award Open for Submissions
The Iranian Studies Program is now accepting submissions for its annual $250 prize for the best undergraduate research paper on a topic in the area of Iranian Studies. Papers must be no longer than 20 pages and may focus on any topic or time period relating to the history, culture, politics and society of Iran and the Persian-speaking world. The deadline to submit is May 1, 2021. Questions can be emailed to Alexander Jabbari at jabbari@ou.edu.

OU in Arezzo and OU in Puebla Celebrate International Women's Day
To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, our International Study Centers OU in Arezzo and OU in Puebla collaborated on a blog post that delved into the history of the struggle for women's rights in both Italy and Mexico. Belatedly commemorate the day, known as Festa della Donna in Italian and Día Internacional de la Mujer in Spanish, by reading more at the link below!
OU International Students Struggle with Time Zone Differences amid Remote Learning
We wanted to share this article from the Oklahoma Daily, which highlights the challenges remote learning has posed for international students who have had to remain abroad during the pandemic. The article also highlights the efforts of our International Student Services staff as well as OU's United World College Scholars office to support these students. (Image via OU Daily online.)

Chinese Literature Translation Archive Acquires Award-Winning Translator's Archive
University Libraries’ Chinese Literature Translation Archive has acquired Scottish translator Brian Holton's translation archive. Last week, Holton’s translation of Anniversary Snow by Yang Lian won the prestigious and inaugural Sarah Maguire Prize for Poetry in Translation from the Poetry Translation Centre. The Chinese Literature Translation Archive was established in 2017 by its curator, CIS/IAS Professor Jonathan Stalling, to provide Chinese-English translation studies scholars with the historical material needed to better understand the history of Western interpretation and reception of Chinese Literature and poetry. The collection includes translators from the U.S., Germany, England and now Scotland.
CIS in the News
Professor Joshua Landis was interviewed for features in Voice of America, The New Arab and Ahval (second article), appeared on news segments for BBC Persian, ABC Radio National, and The Newsmakers (TRT), and participated in a panel discussion for the School of International Service at American University, "The Biden Administration and the Future of Syria."

Assistant Professor Waleed Mahdi was interviewed by The New Arab for the article, "Majority of Democrats say US should pressure Israel, not Palestine."
Professor Afshin Marashi was interviewed by BBC Persian for a piece about the 100-year anniversary (1921) of the coup d'etat that brought Reza Shah Pahlavi to power in Iran.

Associate Professor Samer Shehata was interviewed by TRT World for the article, "Will the GCC be open to Qatar mediating US-Iran talks?" He was also interviewed for Egypt's official Al Ahram newspaper about US-China relations. 
The CIS Newsletter is a publication of the David L. Boren College of International Studies at the University of Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. ou.edu/eoo
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