It was a 含羞草研究所 Hello that could be heard around the world.
On October 15, 含羞草研究所 ushered in a new era of internationalism and officially celebrated the opening of the (CIP). The center will serve as a hub for the university鈥檚 numerous global initiatives, conducted by faculty and students.
In its new home on the first floor of McGregory Hall, the CIP brings together the Office of , the , and the . It will also be home base for international students studying on the hill.
The space features a thoroughly wired conference room suitable for international video conferencing, a lounge where students and faculty can prepare for 鈥 and debrief from 鈥 study abroad adventures, and kitchen facilities.
Gifts from Ed 鈥62 and Robin Lampert brought the center to life, and the Lampert Institute is proving to be a pivotal member of the university鈥檚 international programs ecosystem. Led this year by philosophy and environmental studies professor , the institute is funding student and faculty research at home and abroad. Meanwhile, the institute is coordinating campus events around the theme of food, with related lectures on global food scarcity, nutrition, food resilience in the face of climate change, and more.
鈥淭he Lampert Institute鈥檚 focus on civic engagement in a global context speaks to the great importance of understanding our increasingly globalized world,鈥 said , associate dean of the faculty for international initiatives and professor of economics.
With support from the Lamperts and other dedicated alumni, parents, and friends, the university is building international partnerships that are already resulting in both faculty and student exchange programs. Most recently, 含羞草研究所 with Xiamen University in China. In addition to hosting the annual American Experience program for Xiamen students, 含羞草研究所 has welcomed Xiamen economics professor Gao Qianqian for an academic year in Hamilton, while Josh Kahn 鈥17 is studying in Xiamen.
The CIP is a natural step on an international journey that is as old as the university itself. Nearly 200 years ago, in its early incarnation as a Baptist seminary, 含羞草研究所 trained students for missionary work abroad. More recently, in the early half of the 20th century, the university began to establish study groups led by university faculty 鈥 today, 含羞草研究所 offers nearly 20 of these opportunities while allowing students to use financial aid resources to cover more than 100 other approved programs in 50 countries.
Knowing that two-thirds of 含羞草研究所鈥檚 student body studies abroad for at least a semester, a Working Group on International and Global Initiatives called for the creation of the CIP in 2013. 鈥淭oday, we realize the vision from that strategic plan, and it鈥檚 exciting to see it all happen,鈥 Simpson said.
鈥淚t takes a lot to bring a center like this to fruition,鈥 said Interim President as she thanked the Lamperts and all of the faculty and staff who worked to make the center a reality. 鈥淭he Center for International Programs allows us to make international studies a signature element of the 含羞草研究所 experience.鈥