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Gregory Mose, ACM-IAU Professor of International Law and Politics, speaks at Europe in Discourse conference, hosted by the Hellenic American College in Athens, Greece, with presentation "International humanitarian law as values discourse: Europe's soft power opportunity in an age of mass violence."

For more info on the conference: Europe in Discourse


ACM-IAU is pleased to welcome Dr. Kira Espiritu in the position of Dean of Academic and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, which was created in large part due to ACM-IAU’s explosive enrollment growth, Kira will work out of the U.S. Office in San Diego, CA beginning September 16, 2024.

Kira had an impactful 24-year career at the University of San Diego (USD), most of which was spent as Director of the Office of International Studies Abroad. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Provost of International Affairs. Among Kira’s many assets, her strength as a leader is undeniable. Colleagues at USD and at many partner institutions would concur that Kira’s ability to grow and develop teams and programs is one of her many exemplary traits. Under her leadership, USD was ranked in the top three of doctorate-granting universities for undergraduate study abroad participation rate and twice held the top ranking, according to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange data released each year by the Institute for International Education (IIE) and USD was awarded the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization in 2015. In addition to her role at USD, Kira has been very active in the international education field presenting regularly at conferences and serving in a variety of roles at NAFSA as Academy Chair and Coach as well as a trainer for NAFSA's Trainer Corps and Management Development Program. She also is member of the Forum Council and is a member of various conference planning committees. She has also led numerous conference sessions at NAFSA, FORUM, and AIEA.

It's Kira’s broad skillset and respect in the industry that ACM-IAU is most excited about. “Kira has an extensive background in teaching, training, staff and program development, leadership, and risk management and crisis response,” said Kurt Schick, Vice President of U.S. Operations. “She is very respected among her peers in the international higher education industry, so to add her in this key role is not only a boon to our staff and study abroad operations, but also a milestone for us in our trajectory as an institution.’’

Along with her incredible track record of work in the International Center at USD, Kira has an impressive academic background, receiving her BA in Psychology at Creighton University, along with an MA in Counseling and a PhD in Leadership Studies, both from USD.

The Dean of Academic and Strategic Initiatives is an inaugural position which will allow ACM-IAU to strengthen its support of its study abroad partner institutions and their students, and to develop future institutional partnerships. In her role, Kira will oversee IAU's study abroad division, with special focus on program development and enrichment, health and safety oversight, and other strategic initiatives. Additionally, Kira will serve as Director for ACM’s MA program in International Education Administration.

"I am thrilled to be joining ACM-IAU in this role,’’ Kira shared on her first official day with ACM-IAU. “I am extremely impressed with the innovation and growth of the organization and am looking forward to working with such strong teams in both the U.S. and in Europe who are dedicated to providing students and faculty high impact international education experiences."

Among many other aspects related to this important position, Kira will work alongside Dean of Admissions, Dr. Jessica Calhoun, to oversee and support IAU’s expansive study abroad partnership network. Once available, updates regarding primary points of contact will be communicated directly to partner institutions.




Aboubakr Jamai, Dean of the IAU Madrid Center, quoted in New York Times article on disputed territory in Western Sahara.

New York Times article: France Aligns With Morocco on Western Sahara, Angering Algeria, July 30, 2024



ACM-IAU Professor Philip Breeden shares his insights on the U.S. Presidential Election via French radio station RTL as a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad, following Joe Biden's unprecedented exit from the race.

Listen to the segment via RTL.



ACM Professor and Coordinator of the Mediterranean Core Art Program William Ruller featured in solo exhibition at College of Southern Nevada gallery, April 2024 


Mohawk: a Solo Exhibition and artist talk discussed a body of work created in 2023. The series of works deals with ideas of entropy and the reproductions of modernism via the industrialization of upstate New York. The work sheds light on the aftermath of the lives that existed in Gloversville, New York. 



ACM School of Art Dean Yumna Masarwa presents at the Thanatic Ethics International Conference in Hong Kong, January 2024 


"How do contemporary artists and filmmakers engage with immigration and the migrant crisis?" This question occupied a large part of the Thanatic Ethics International Conference. Entitled, “Death ‘Matters’: The (Im)Material and the Sensory in Death in Migration” the conference was held on the campus of the Education University of Hong Kong, January 8-9, 2024. The conference opened with a sound installation by themNew York-based sound artist Freya Powell titled “Spaces of Exception” at Videotage, Cattle Depot Artist Village, To Kwa Wa. 

Professor Masarwa gave a talk, chaired a panel and conducted a post-screening discussion with the Ethiopian filmmaker Dogmawi Yimer on his film "ASMAT: Names in Memory of All Victims of the Sea."  



ACM School of Art Dean Yumna Masarwa co-organizes the fourth Thanatic Ethics workshop entitled "In Search of Accountability" in Montpellier, France in October 2023 


This workshop was co-sponsored by ACM. Given the interdisciplinary nature of Thanatic Ethics, Professor Masarwa also used her research on this theme when working with MAIR students in a workshop and research in collaboration with Professor Gregory Mose. Professor Mose and Professor Masarwa presented this research in Montpellier as well as Aix-en-Provence.



ACM-IAU Assistant Dean at the Center for French Studies Aurore Guitry's French translation of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin published in France by Fleuve Editions

This is the third novel by Gabrielle Zevin that Professor Guitry has translated. The book gained international enthusiasm even before its publication, and the audiovisual rights were bought by Paramount. Since its publication in the U.S., it has been named one of the best books of 2022 by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TIME, GoodReads, and Oprah Daily.

Available in many French bookshops or online (Demain, et Demain, et Demain, Gabriel Zevin, Fleuve Editions, sept. 2023, 524 pages)



Samantha Mureau, ACM-IAU Professor of Fashion and Sustainability selected as part of the EU Fashion Revolution's Circular Fashion Accelerator Program for her innovative grape leather alternative for the fashion industry


Professor Mureau's company, Planet of the Grapes aims to revolutionize the fashion industry through the creation of high performance grape leathers that are made from the grape waste of local organic vineyards in the South of France, including the vineyards around Aix-en-Provence. The company's unique grape leather was selected for the Parley for Oceans sponsored Innovation Table at London's pioneering Future Fabrics Trade Show. Samantha was also asked to participate in a roundtable discussion about New Generation Materials at TexWorld, Paris in summer 2023.



Gregory Mose, ACM-IAU Professor of International Law and Politics, publishes new book, 
Religion, Human Rights, and the Workplace (Routledge, 2023)

This book distills over six years of research and thinking on the complex and contentious subject of what to do when fundamental rights conflict with each other. The book is quite technical can serve as a starting point for more accessible articles on such situations.

Available on Amazon or directly from Routledge



ACM Provost presents on First-Generation college student pathways to Education Abroad

On February 22, also at AIEA, Heysel presented on first-generation college student pathways to access international education exchange. First-generation college students represent a growing segment of the U.S. higher education population and a group consistently underrepresented in study abroad programming. Along with Leah Mason (IIE), Amy Carey (U Michigan), and Kelly Newlon (Washington State U), Heysel provided practical information for study abroad administrators to implement at different phases of the first-generation study abroad experience.



ACM Provost Leads Roundtable on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the 2023 Association of International Education Administrator's Conference

Heysel chaired and co-presented with Imara Dawson (U. Michigan) “Developing a JEDI Framework: Initial Findings and Discussion of IDEA + Justice Taskforce survey” at AIEA’s annual conference in Washington, DC on 21 February 2023. Based on AIEA’s strategic plan calling for development of a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) framework highlighting shared responsibility in creating sustainable, peaceful, and inclusive societies committed to access, and accountability, the session invited members to unpack the survey’s open-ended prompts and shape contributions to the greater JEDI framework.



ACM President Jubran presents on Inclusive Internationalization at the 2023 Association of International Education Administrator's Conference

Few would contend that shared experiences with local partners, homestays, and working alongside people abroad are most cited highlights of internationalization. Such connections, however, are rooted in our institutions' and offices' missions, formed by their history, and driven by globally-minded, inclusively skilled leaders. In a session joined by a historian, a senior international officer, and a chief diversity officer, President Jubran shared case studies and led robust discussions on how bilateral strategies support social justice at home and abroad. The panel was organized by Provost Heysel.


IAU Stands with Morocco

Our community is saddened by the recent devastating earthquake in Morocco and the loss of so many lives. We have checked with our colleagues there and they are safe. While we will be leading classes in Morocco in January, we do not know of any of our students traveling in Morocco at this time. We continue to monitor the situation. Our thoughts go out to our colleagues and friends in Morocco.  

For those wishing to donate to a worthy related cause, there are two organizations with whom we are very familiar:

  • ASSAFOU - An NGO that helped IAU organize student visits to the Agounssane Village in the Atlas Mountains. Assafou designed and partially funded a multi-year support strategy (Preschooling, Women entrepreneurship, and Sustainable energy use) in a dozen villages in the Marrakech region. Their banking information for donations is as follows:


    Name : Association Assafou Pour Le Développement

    Bank: AttijariWafa
    Domiciliation: Marrakech Gueliz, 213, BD Mohamed V, Tel: 044437060
    BIC-Code Swift: BCMAMAMC
    IBAN: MA64 OO7 450 0004881000000645 68 

  • Banque Alimentaire is a non-profit/NGO food bank that accepts donated food and redistributes it to needy populations through a network of associations. They are led by Karim Tazi who is also the founder of the Cultural Center l'Uzine. IAU has organized regular visits to l'UZINE, especially with The Ohio State custom program students and faculty. The Food Bank is likely the most active NGO in the Aid delivery to the hardest hit part of the country. 


We understand how tragedies like this can impact our students, our friends, our families, and ourselves.  The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) and The Institute for American Universities (IAU) encourage students to take advantage of any of the resources below as soon as needed.

Aix-en-Provence Resources: IAU Wellness Center:  iauwellness@iau.edu - Wellness resources via the student portal IAU Aix-en-Provence Emergency Number: 00 800 1957 1958

Barcelona Resources: Student Affairs Contact: barcelona@iau.edu  IAU Barcelona Emergency Number: +34 696 78 84 25

Madrid Resources: On-Site Director Contact: marisol.garcia@iau.edu  IAU Madrid Emergency Number: +34 68 191 06 99

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ACM Updated to Affiliate Member of AMICAL Consortium

Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Dr. Yumna Masarwa, Dean of the American College of the Mediterranean School of Art announced the week that the ACM membership of the AMICAL Consortium has been updated from a Network Member to an Affiliate Member thanks to ACM's accreditation process.

AMICAL is an international consortium of 30 American-modeled institutions in 20 different countries. It is a cooperative organization for advancing learning, teaching and research through the collaborative development of library, technology and curricular resources at member institutions.

Visit the links to learn more about AMICAL and ACM's Membership.



 Five ACM-IAU Members Recognized for Their Outstanding Fall Achievements
January 12, 2023

ACM-IAU is proud to recognize the following academics for their outstanding accomplishments in fall 2022. 


 

ACM Board Member Alain-Philippe Durand Wins Lifetime Achievement Award  

Dr. Alain-Philippe Durand was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award for “helping hip hop grow in Tucson and the world” and for creating the first minor in hip-hop studies.  Durand is the Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities at University of Arizona, Professor of French and Applied Intercultural Arts Research, and a member of The American College of the Mediterranean’s Board of Directors for over five years. Author and editor of 3 books on Hip Hop and Techno music, Durand’s research and publications span from the importance of the Humanities to professional development, the Novel in Europe, US, and Latin America and French/Francophone Studies. 


 

ACM-IAU Dean of the School of Art Dr. Yumna Masarwa Publishes Study on European Muslims

ACM Professor and Dean of the Art School publishes ethnographic study on Marseille’s significant Muslim Algerian community.  

“The Transnational Afterlives of European Muslims," Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East 42, no. 1 (2022): 221–236, by Dr. Yumna Masarwa and co-authored with Osman Balkan from Swarthmore College, has been published by Duke University Press. Their study investigates end-of-life decision negotiation for Muslim communities in Marseille, France (Masarwa), and Berlin, Germany (Balkan). Through ethnographic research the authors analyze the symbolic importance of posthumous journeys among Turkish and Algerian diasporas. 


 

ACM Professor of Philosophy Erik Freeman Publishes Translation and Receives Swedish Arts Council Grant for Translation

Socrates on the Beach, a journal for longer essays and fictionm has published Freeman’s English translation Lars Ahlin’s short story Kommer hem och är snäll or “Comes Home And Is Nice.”  This is only the second time one of Swedish author’s works has been translated in English. Considered among one of his most well-known, this pre-war realist short story foreshadows Ahlin’s 1995 acclaim winning the Swedish Academic Nordic Prize (‘little Nobel’) and comparisons to Dostoyevsky and Mann  

Prof. Freeman was won his first grant in nascent career as a literary translator. The grant will allow him to complete a sample translation of Daniel Gustafsson's second novel "Fine de Claire," about a geologist named Helena who gets in her car one morning and leaves everything behind, as she sets off for the French Atlantic coast on an existential journey through the empty motorways and faded motels of Europe. Professor Freeman’s work will also be featured in the Translator’s Choice section of the Swedish Arts Council’s website. 


 

ACM Professor Philip Breeden Opens International Conference on Varian Fry 

On September 27, Professor Philip Breeden opened an international conference entitled Resistance Through Art and Culture During World War II, organized by the Varian Fry Society of France, with a reflection on how the legacy of Varian Fry informed his work as a cultural diplomat.? Speaking in French, Prof. Breeden reviewed the actions of this little-known American who, over 13 months in Marseille, helped over 2,000 people escape the Nazi death camps, including prominent intellectuals and artists such as Hannah Arendt, Marc Chagall, André Breton, and many others who shaped the post-war cultural landscape in the United States.? Prof. Breeden spoke of how Varian Fry inspired his work promoting cultural and education exchanges and said Fry's efforts underlined the importance of resisting authoritarian threats to the humanities. ACM students attended the conference, learning first hand about Fry's heroism, which led to him being the first American named Righteous Among Nations by Yad Vashem, and the subject of the first exposition at the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Memorial when it opened in 1993. 


 

Art Faculty Member Matthew Gernt Exhibits his Photographic Installation in Marseille

Professor Gernt’s photographic installation, "Specters of the Image," was shown from September 4 to October 16 in the group show, "Murmurations volet 2," at The Friche Belle de Mai in Marseille. The exposition, organized by FRAEME, an association that promotes contemporary art in Marseille, has given carte blanche to several artist-run spaces in Marseille. Prof. Gernt, a member of Fuite Atelier, is participating in this group exhibition to promote local artist-run spaces and artistic production in the Bouches-du-Rhône.


 

IAU-ACM Honored by Kansas State University
December 2022

During International Education Week, IAU received the Kansas State University 2022 International Education Innovative Program of the Year Award and Recognition.  In 2012, the International Innovative Education Program of the Year Award was initiated at Kansas State University and discerned by their Office of International Programs leadership team to recognize one external organization that goes above and beyond promoting international initiatives and/or serving our university. This award recognizes a successful collaborative partnership at the highest level by an outside institute or organization with a university unit or department.   Kansas State recognized the Institute of American Universities (IAU) at the American College of Mediterranean (ACM) for the establishment of the Allison Benson Memorial Scholarship in honor and memory of K-State student, Allison Benson, for the benefit of current and future K-State students.  Additionally, we recognize IAU for the institutional discounts and the Pell Grant Match and Go Beyond financial assistance programs for our education abroad students.

Read the full press release from K-State at Institute for American Universities receives International Innovative Education... (k-state.edu)




GarettHeysel
Dr. Garett Heysel Selected as IAU-ACM's Inaugural Provost
August 2022

August 29, 2022 - IAU-ACM proudly welcomes Dr. Garett Heysel as the inaugural Provost. He will be based at the Aix-en-Provence, France campus and oversee the study abroad and degree program academic operations at all IAU-ACM locations including Aix, Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, and in Morocco. Dr. Heysel was selected as the result of a comprehensive worldwide search.

Dr. Heysel brings many years of experience as a professor of French Studies, former department chair, and College Dean at small and large institutions, including The Ohio State University. It was during his time there that he and IAU-ACM first collaborated as he co-created a highly sought-after custom study abroad program which offered up to 25 students the opportunity to study diverse perspectives on colonization in areas where IAU-ACM hosts programs including Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and four cities in Morocco. It was made affordable through strong partnerships and draws almost all of its participants from students of color, LGBTQIA+, first generation, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The program is scheduled to run again in 2023. 

Responsible for fostering intellectual growth, student learning, and scholarly and creative activities, Dr. Heysel brings to IAU-ACM a distinguished record of teaching, scholarly publications, and multiple presentations in the global arena. Working closely with the Deans and Directors, he will provide leadership to the growing academic programs and the current accreditation process. In addition, through visits to U.S. institutions and engagement in several international education conferences, he will play a large part in IAU-ACM’s partnership development and enhancement strategies.

Upon announcing Dr. Heysel as the inaugural Provost, IAU-ACM President Carl Jubran noted that "Above and beyond his academic and administrative qualifications to fulfill the role of Provost, I must say that he is a kind person who learns as much as he teaches and brings a unique energy and style that will be much appreciated by his colleagues."

Dr. Heyel's tenure as IAU-ACM Provost begins on September 2, 2022. 



IAU-ACM Welcomes New Chief Financial Officer 
August 1, 2022

It is with great excitement that IAU-ACM announces a new hire: Jeff Stover as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will be located in the U.S. office in San Diego, CA. 

Jeff is transitioning to IAU-ACM from the University of Texas at Austin where he was the CFO and Director of Administration of the Office of Global Affairs. He is a licensed CPA and holds a BBA and an MBA in Accounting and brings with him over twenty years of experience working at IBM, Ricoh, Dell, and UT Austin. 


IAU-ACM Welcomes Two Resident Fellows for Summer 2022
May 2022

ACM & IAU are pleased to welcome its two summer 2022 Resident Fellows to Aix-en-Provence:

Mark Yakich, Loyola University, New Orleans:  Prof. Yakich is a poet and professor of English with over two decades of teaching experience.  He has overseas experience, most recently as a Fulbright Teaching Fellow at the School of Letters at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2011- 2012.  He is working on a second edition of his poetry guide, and will focus his time in Aix on "expanding poetry’s role outside of academe and bringing our most personal and social practices back into the classroom."  

Jennifer McNutt, Wheaton College: Jennifer McNutt is the Franklin S. Dyrness Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton.  She is working on a book about several aspects of French Protestant Bibles. 


 

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and IAU/ACM Board of Trustees Member, Kurt Volker,
Recent Interviews Regarding the War in Ukraine

Date: May 24, 2022

Ambassador Kurt Volker is a leading expert in U.S. foreign and national security policy with some 30 years of experience in a variety of government, academic, and private sector capacities. He served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, and as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009. Ambassador Volker is currently Managing Director, International, and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board at BGR Group, which provides government relations, public relations, and business advisory services to a wide array of clients. He is also President and Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors, LLC, and has previously served as a Director of CG Funds Trust and the Wall Street Fund.

From 2012-2019, Ambassador Volker was the founding Executive Director of The McCain Institute for International Leadership, a part of Arizona State University based in Washington, D.C. He remains a Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council; a Trustee of the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence, France; a Trustee of the Hungary Initiatives Foundation; a member of the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board; and a member of the International Advisory Board of the U.S. Institute for Peace. He has taught Transatlantic Relations at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, and is a member of that School’s Board of Advisors.

In recent weeks, Ambassador Volker has conducted several interviews regarding the evolving crisis in Ukraine on major news outlets.  

Listen to the interviews:
CEPA: Kurt Volker: The Transatlantic Community Must Continue to Support Ukraine - May 24, 2022
Sky News: Kurt Volker: Putin's Plans for Ukraine - March 6, 2022
CNN: Kurt Volker: Likelihood of Russian Invasion of Ukraine - February 10, 2022
NPR Morning Edition - February 8, 2022



ACM Professor Aboubakr Jamai quoted in New York Times article regarding Morocco-Israel Relations 

Date: March 28, 2022

Professor Aboubakr Jamai, Dean of ACM's School of Business & International Relations, was interviewed by the New York Times regarding Morocco and Israel relations. The article follows a visit by the Moroccan minister of foreign affairs to Israel on Sunday, with hope that a closer relationship will bolster trade and attract investment and tourism to Morocco. Prof. Jamai sees Morocco’s decision to deepen ties with Israel as aimed at strengthening its relationship with the United States and blunting criticism over human rights abuses that stem from the Israeli Palestinian conflict. 

Please see the full NYT's article for more details.


 

The American College of the Mediterranean has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

November 18, 2021 

The American College of the Mediterranean has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Candidacy is not accreditation nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidacy is a formal affiliation with the New England Commission of Higher Education. It indicates that the institution has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward accreditation.  

Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to: The New England Commission of Higher Education 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 Burlington, MA 01803, U.S.A. Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785 E-mail: info@neche.org Website: www.neche.org 


 

ACM & IAU Welcome Two Spring 2022 Resident Fellows to Aix-en-Provence

ACM & IAU are pleased to welcome its two spring 2022 Resident Fellows to Aix-en-Provence. 

Randall Wilson, Professor of Environmental Studies at Gettysburg College, will join IAU for the full spring semester.  His research focus is on the history and decision-making process for protected lands.  His current focus is a book on the history of Yellowstone National Park.  His focus in Aix will be on completing this book, and initiating a new project looking at French models of conservation in national parks, such as the Parc National des Calanques.  At the end of January he will be joined by his spouse, fellow academic Dr. Robin Taylor Wilson, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University, who will also be conducting research.

Benny Fountain, Associate Professor of Art (Drawing) at Baylor University, will also stay at IAU throughout the spring semester.  His creative practice often focuses on a dialogue with artists from the past.  His interest in coming to Aix is to deepen his work on Cezanne.  Immediately prior to coming to Aix he will be studying ancient Roman frescoes and wall paintings in Rome and Pompeii.


 

IAU Mourns Passing of Board Member Stephen K. Mittelstet

IAU-ACM mourns the passing of Dr. Stephen K. Mittelstet, a longstanding member of its board of directors. Dr. Mittelstet, who was also an IAU-ACM alumnus (1987), served on the board since 2010. He was President Emeritus of Richland College of the Dallas County Community College District, served on the Humanities faculty since the college opened in 1972, and served as its president from 1979-2010. Under Dr. Mittelstet’s leadership, Richland was the first community college to be recognized by the White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (2005). 

Having attended Frank Phillips (Community) College in Borger, Texas, Mittelstet earned his B.A. degree summa cum laude in English, French, and History/Religion from McMurry College in 1967 and earned his Ph.D. in 1972 in Higher Education Administration/English at The University of Texas at Austin. He completed post-doctoral work domestically and internationally.

An active supporter of integrated learning and intercultural communications, Dr. Mittelstet fostered the establishment of Richland’s Multicultural Center, World Languages, Cultures, and Communications Division, Global Studies and Studies Abroad. He was also instrumental in establishing collaborative agreements resulting in curriculum development of joint courses, student exchanges, faculty training, and distance learning course delivery between Richland College and educational institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Mexico, Brazil, Mozambique, Russia, and Vietnam.

In addition, as a staunch proponent of internationalizing community college campuses, Dr. Mittelstet organized a group of administrators from the Dallas County Community College system to visit IAU-ACM’s campus in Aix-en-Provence, France in late May, 2017. The goal of the visit was to demonstrate how community college students and faculty can take advantage of international education opportunities.

IAU-ACM sends its deepest sympathies to Dr. Mittelstet’s family and close friends. He will be greatly missed.

Stephen Mittelstet

Stephen Keith Mittelstet
09/18/1943 – 10/06/2021


 

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and IAU/ACM Board of Trustees Member, Kurt Volker, Publishes Article on A Plan for NATO to Get Serious About Russia

Date: May 24, 2021

Ambassador Kurt Volker is a leading expert in U.S. foreign and national security policy with some 30 years of experience in a variety of government, academic, and private sector capacities. He served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, and as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009. Ambassador Volker is currently Managing Director, International, and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board at BGR Group, which provides government relations, public relations, and business advisory services to a wide array of clients. He is also President and Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors, LLC, and has previously served as a Director of CG Funds Trust and the Wall Street Fund.

From 2012-2019, Ambassador Volker was the founding Executive Director of The McCain Institute for International Leadership, a part of Arizona State University based in Washington, D.C. He remains a Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council; a Trustee of the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence, France; a Trustee of the Hungary Initiatives Foundation; a member of the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board; and a member of the International Advisory Board of the U.S. Institute for Peace. He has taught Transatlantic Relations at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, and is a member of that School’s Board of Advisors.

Read the article online at: https://cepa.org/a-plan-for-nato-to-get-serious-about-russia/ 


Associate Dean Dr. Jessica Calhoun Publishes Article on Promoting Study Abroad Opportunities for Immigrant Students


Date: May 4, 2021

Associate Dean of Admissions, Dr. Jessica Calhoun, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of San Diego and the University of Arizona, has recently pubilshed an article in Diversity Abroad's Global Impact Exchange publication, advocating for those in higher education to promote more study abroad opportunities for immigrant students. Dr. Calhoun provides specific examples of how ACM-IAU is doing its part in this worthy effort through our partnership with the University of Arizona.

Read the article online at: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.diversitynetwork.org/resource/resmgr/documents/Final_Winter_Spring_2021_Glo.pdf.



Webinar with Dean Aboubakr Jamai with CAREP Paris

Date: February 2, 2021

Join Dean Aboubakr Jamai for this webinar with the Centre Arabe de Recherche et D'Etudes Politiques de Paris (CAREP Paris) on February 9th, where he will discuss the differences in Morocco's approach to the Arab Spring and the pressures put on the Moroccan regime, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Sign up at the link below.

https://www.carep-paris.org/evenements/webinaires/webinaire-31-les-limites-du-modele-marocain/ 



Dean Aboubakr Jamai Quoted in Le Monde Article 

Date: 19 January 2021

IAU-ACM's own Professor Aboubakr Jamai was quoted in an article in Le Monde today, looking at the state of Morocco ten years after the start of the Arab Spring:

Link to the full article below and an excerpt with Professor Jamai's quote here: "L'absence de perspectives apportées par l'éducation-la qualité de l'enseignement dans le public est médiocre, de la maternelle à l'université, et les jeunes diplômés sonl confrontés à un très fort taux de chômage - et le sentiment d'être les oubliés de la carte postale marocaine nourrissent la grogne so­ciale. Celle-ci s'entend dans les stades de footba11, seul véritable espace d'expression politique. "Le "printemps arabe" a été dé­denché par des jeunes urbains sans emploi. Or cette catégorie a augmenté au Maroc de­puis 2011. Cela explique le déploiement sécu­ritaire important dans les villes. Car la vraie menace subversive pour le régime, ce sont les soulèvements urbains 11," explique Abou­bakr Jamaï, professeur à l'Institut améri­cain universitaire d'Aix-en-Provence et an­cien directeur du Journal hebdomadaire, ti­tre réputé pour son indépendance et mis en liquidation judiciaire en 2010."



IAU Signs Partnership Agreement with Northern Arizona University


IAU President Carl Jubran and Daniel Palm, Associate Vice President of the Center for International Education at Northern Arizona University, recently signed a partnership agreement while attending the AIEA (Association of International Education Administrators) conference in Washington, DC.

The new agreement between IAU and NAU opens up many new, low cost and high quality study abroad opportunities for NAU students at IAU study abroad sites, including its flagship campus in Aix-en-Provence, France, its Centers in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, and its 14 thematic multi-country January term seminars held across Europe and North Africa. In addition, as a partner, NAU’s faculty now have access to IAU’s Resident Fellows Program, created specifically for university faculty on sabbatical who wish to work on their research or book project while abroad.

Dr. Jubran signing MOA with NAU
Dr. Jubran and Dr. Daniel Palm, at the MOA signing at AIEA in DC 


University of Oregon Athletes Explore Identity, Place, and Representation through the Arts in Aix-en-Provence
In summer 2019, 20 University of Oregon athletes came to Aix-en-Provence to learn about post-impressionists Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh. The group was led by IAU alumna ('88) and UO instructor, Lisa Abia-Smith. 

The program began in Aix-en-Provence, a city that offered momentary sancuary for major artists to express notions of place, identity, and representation. Here, the Ducks participated in outdoor town and country excursions, plein air painting and local museum trips. The students created oil paintings of landscapes, self-portraits, and the city of Aix and surroundings. The program concluded in Paris, where students used museum galleries and collections at the Louvre for observations, discussions and sketching.

To learn more about this unique program and see video footage, please visit the links below.

Video credit: Joe Ryan Stephan

University of Oregon athletes study abroad in Aix
Documentary of University of Oregon students in Aix

Athletes study art in Aix



IAU College to Offer New Madrid Program Starting in Fall 2020
IAU College, in collaboration with Universidad Pontificia Comillas, will open its new Madrid Center in fall 2020.  The dynamic program boasts over 50 course offerings from various disciplines including business, engineering, religious studies, Spanish, psychology, and environmental science all of which are designed and taught by IAU faculty. Courses will be held on the Comillas campus and students will have access to all university facilities including libraries, study spaces, gyms, and cafeterias and can participate in extracurricular activities together with local students.  In addition to IAU courses, students may also choose to enroll in courses at Comillas alongside local and international peers. To further enhance their academic experience, all students have access to unpaid, for-credit internships at prestigious companies and NGOs throughout the city.  The program curriculum and support services mirror those found at U.S. institutions giving students an American-style education abroad.


  Madrid

IAU College and University of New England Sign Partnership Agreement
IAU College President, Dr. Carl Jubran, and Dr. Anouar Majid, the University of New England’s Vice President for Global Affairs and director of the Center for Global Humanities, met last week in Tangier, Morocco to formalize their institutions' partnership by signing an official memorandum of agreement. The exclusive agreement will allow UNE students to pursue an extensive array of educational opportunities at the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence as well as expand collaborative opportunities for faculty and traditional study abroad students. The signing ceremony included over 40 IAU students who joined Dr. Jubran on a January term seminar which traveled through Northern Africa and southern Europe. 

Dr. Jubran and VP Majid Sign MOA
Dr. Jubran (right) and Dr. Majid sign partnership agreement in Morocco

IAU College and George Washington University Sign Partnership Agreement

IAU President, Dr. Carl Jubran, and George Washington University's Associate Provost for International Programs, Dr. Donna Scarboro, met on November 14, 2019 on the GWU campus to sign an official memorandum of agreement between the two institutions. While IAU and GWU have collaborated on programming in the past, including a customized program in summer 2019 in Barcelona in which GW led a cohort of 11 students to IAU's Barcelona campus, this marks the official beginning of a formal partnership. IAU looks forward to future innovative programming opportunities for both GW faculty and students and to further expanding collaborative efforts.

President Jubran and Assoc. Provost Scarboro sign MOA at GWU campus
Dr. Jubran (right) and Dr. Scarboro sign agreement at GWU campus

Fall 2019 Closing Ceremony in Aix-en-Provence    
  

IAU hosted its Fall Closing Ceremony on December 12, 2019 in the historic Salle des Etats de Provence at the Aix en Provence City Hall. Surrounded by figures from the history of Provence, Dean Leigh Smith lauded the Fall 2019 students for their perseverance and sense of adventure. Professors awarded academic prizes for excellence in French, translation, philosophy, literature, fine arts, creative writing, art history, business and international relations. A new prize was awarded for Excellence in European Studies, endowed by an anonymous donation from an IAU professor. Recently retired Professor Philippe Lorrain was honored for his decades of service to the French Program. Several students spoke about their experiences, including Jamie Hoeft, who spoke about the Marchutz Core Art Program, focusing on the emotional rewards of being in a community that is learning how to see together. In closing, three students shared their experiences. Madison Dougherty of Gonzaga University spoke of getting outside her comfort zone to discover a new country, and of her internship with a French company devoted to sustainable living. Isabela Santos of Rollins College meditated on how living in France informed her conception of identity, both her own and others. Evan Tedesco of Gettysburg College discussed how he used his study abroad experience to dive into the brand new activity of painting. All were united in saying their study abroad experience in France was deeply rewarding.

For a full list of award winners, please visit this link. 


IAU Mourns Passing of Professor Voelker-Ferrier, Former Resident Fellow




Margaret Voelker-Ferrier, M.A.
(1948-2019)
Professor of Design (Emerita)
Cincinnati College of Design
Architecture, Art & Planning

"Margie was a wonderful, gentle presence here in Aix. I’ll bet many that autumn remember her smart, encouraging-of-others, deeply kind, stylish self – as well as her giant, mod-fab glasses and her infusing, sage bons mots about art and life – pursuing one’s chosen work with passion, the value of art and art-making in an increasingly commodified world, about the joys of following one’s sense of curiosity, about loss and love and enduring friendships across generations and across a life, and about the importance of trust – in the classroom, at work, between people – and a trust in life itself.

I’m sure several of us remembering her talking to students about finding work that resonates with what one can help bring into being in the world.

Just a few weeks ago, she so kindly reached out and sent a personal note of hello to wish us all well and to say how much being in Aix, at Marchutz and in Giverny had meant to her personally and professionally, and sent sweet words about the many people here for whom she had affection – promising to return for a visit.

I know firsthand that at least one person came to the IAU and had her life deeply affected because of the trail Margie set. Many of us had this student in class who came to IAU an indirect result of Margie’s Resident Fellow experience at the IAU. This student – especially in retrospect -- placed so much importance on her time in France and said how it helped to change her trajectory, how she saw the world and her role in it; she even ended up writing about her IAU experience in her application to a coveted spot with Teach for America, into which she was accepted. Who knows, but none of that might have happened had Margie not opened that particular door, had she not believed in the value of new experiences leading to growth, and paying it all forward."


Dean Aboubakr Jamaï Interviewed by World Politics Review
Aboubakr Jamaï, Dean and Professor, School of Business & International Relations was recently interviewed by the editors of World Politics Review regarding the recent wave of teachers' strikes for better working conditions in Morocco. Read the full interview here.

2019 Graduation & Closing Ceremony
May 10, 2019
Le Centre de Congres d'Aix-en-Provence

  ACM graduation ceremony 2019 master's in aix-en-provence 
IAU alumnus and former Ambassador Frances D. Cook spoke at the May 10, 2019 commencement ceremony of the American College of the Mediterranean and the Institute of American Universities in Aix-en-Provence. Fourteen ACM graduates from Masters Programs in Fine Arts, International Relations, and Art History (names below), and almost 200 IAU study abroad students heard Ambassador Cook’s call for political, artistic and social engagement in the world, illustrated with vignettes from her inspiring career as a diplomat and foreign policy advisor. Her first big break, she said, came due to the French-language skills and self-confidence she learned from studying abroad. Arriving as a young officer at the U.S. Embassy, Paris in May, 1968, Ambassador Cook noted, “I arrived at the huge US Embassy in Paris, fluent, and very comfortable working in the unique work environment of France, thanks to the French I learned here.” Her ability to play a role at the center of the seminal events of 1968 – monitoring the student riots, working on the U.S.-Vietnam peace talks, witnessing the rocky Franco-American relations of that period – launched her on a diplomatic career that led to several Ambassadorships. This included being the youngest career diplomat to be named Ambassador, and later on the first woman from any country to serve as Ambassador in the Arab Gulf, in the Sultanate of Oman. She said it was now the graduates' turn to join her in “working for change,” telling them, “The wonderful nation of France is now a part of you, and you’ll draw on its richness and depth, its challenges and its lessons, for the rest of your lives.” 

Thank you, Ambassador Cook, and congratulations to the graduates! 

2019 ACM Graduates: 
  • Tryphena Asamoah, MAIR
  • Larkin Brown, MAIR
  • Chloe Cummings, MAIR
  • Nika Lomidze, MAIR
  • Lisa Mandel, MAIR
  • Kirsti Stangeland, MAIR
  • Isabel Burnette, MAAH
  • Jenny Cawood, MAAH
  • Benjamin Garza, MAAH
  • Patrick Beeby, MFA
  • Sophie Browning, MFA
  • Bill Hindle, MFA
  • Mary Leone, MFA
  • Hilary Stein, MFA
To read the full text of Ambassador Cook's commencement address, please follow this link.  Master's graduates Hilary Stein (MFA), Lisa Mandel (MAIR), and Jenny Cawood (MAAH) each gave speeches to conclude the ceremony. See the full text of their speeches below: 
Interested in more graduation information? Visit the Graduation & Closing Ceremony webpage. 

IAU/ACM Student Conference Debates New Threats to Democracy

IAU/ACM hosted the annual student conference on New Threats to Democracy March 28-30, 2019 with keynote speeches by former Georgian Defense Minister and human rights activist Tinatin Khidasheli and French parliamentarian Delphine O.  IAU/ACM scholars Prof. David Coombes, Prof. David Walker, and Prof. Sebastien Llorca also spoke during this three-day event designed to bring the IAU community together and raise student awareness of current issues shaping their world.

Tinatin Khidasheli opened the conference with a discussion of how her country has struggled to build a democratic society while facing pressure from Russia.  She stressed the need for inspiration to power democratic activism, and highlighted how un-democratic powers use new social media and connection technologies to undermine democracy.  Delphine O, who joined the French National Assembly for the first time in 2017 as a member of President Macron’s movement, spoke of her work to promote participation in the upcoming European Parliament elections, and what it is like to move from civic activism to electoral politics.  Both women made powerful calls for active participation in the democratic process as the key to dealing with the rise in anti-democratic forces in Europe.
ACM Master’s students helped organize the conference, and student respondents were a part of every panel. The conference closed with a half-day workshop where student groups analyzed the threats to democracy raised during the conference and developed engagement strategies to confront them. 

 
(Left) Member of Parliament Delphine O with Conference Participants
(Right) Tinatin Khidasheli speaking at the Opening Night of IAU/ACM Student Conference


IAU Trustee Sanford Ungar featured on PBS NewsHour regarding Free Speech and Expression on College Campuses


Trustee Ungar, President Emeritus of Goucher College and Director of the Free Speech Project at Georgetown University, weighs in on President Trump's signing of an executive order requiring that U.S. colleges seeking federal research funding must certify that their policies support free speech in order to receive it. 

IAU Fellow Publishes Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy for USC Center for Public Diplomacy

The latest issue of CPD Perspectives on Public Diplomacy this year is an article by IAU Fellow and Center for Public Diplomacy Research Fellow Mieczyslaw (Mietek) P. Boduszynski.

"Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy: Balancing Mission and Security" looks inside high-security, "high threat" American diplomatic posts and the ensuing impact on public diplomacy practice. Boduszynski finds an imbalance between securitization at heavily guarded missions in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the ability to achieve foreign policy goals through public diplomacy. 

The fortress embassy "represents a culture that is preoccupied with security, inward looking, suspicious of locals and unwilling to take any risks. The goals and operations of public diplomacy, by contrast, are outward looking and focused on engagement with local populations," writes Boduszynski. "The security-first mentality of fortress embassies makes it hard to argue for the value that comes from meeting with locals to increase situational awareness and cultural fluency." He adds, "Outreach to diverse audiences is not just a feel-good thing: it delivers results."

Read "Public Diplomacy and the American Fortress Embassy: Balancing Mission and Security" here.


IAU Statement on Recent Demonstrations in France

IAU continues to monitor the protests in Paris and across France. The demonstrations began in response to a proposal by the French government to increase the fuel tax, which has since been abandoned. There is hope that the government’s move will help defuse the situation, but protests are ongoing. While these demonstrations have been occurring across the entire country, most are relatively peaceful except for those in Paris.

Current IAU students studying in France have been advised to avoid any areas where protests are scheduled in Paris or elsewhere. All IAU students are required to submit their weekend travel plans should emergency response be required and are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive timely updates regarding the situation.

Please be assured that while education of our students is fundamental to our mission, the safety of our students comes first. Of course, we maintain caution and students attending IAU will have constant access to IAU administrators in order to ensure their safety for the remainder of the fall term and into the upcoming January-term program.

IAU Welcomes New Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ms. Marianne Keler

Marianne Keler, the new Chair of the Board of the Institute of American Universities, is an accomplished business lawyer and non-profit leader.  Most importantly, she is a lifelong advocate for the power of international education to build a more peaceful world.  As she takes on her new position she said, “I am deeply grateful to outgoing chair Mary Frances Pearson for her constant support and commitment to IAU.  I look forward to working closely with President Carl Jubran as he leads our growing institution as it seeks to change the face of study abroad.” 

Marianne Keler's belief in international education is rooted in powerful personal experience.  In 1956 she became a refugee in the U.S. as her family fled the Communist government in Hungary.  Eight years later they moved to Switzerland, and she spent the next five years in Swiss and French schools.  She says this early experience of exile and immigration, multiple cultures and languages, and different educational systems, gave her “the confidence that I could do anything.”

Her international outlook led her to the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.  After graduation, she initially planned to become a diplomat.  But she also loved the law, and after attending the Georgetown University Law Center went on to a career of over 30 years as a business lawyer in the corporate and government spheres, including 21 years at Sallie Mae, the market leader in education finance, where she served as executive vice president and chief legal officer.

But her devotion to international education never left her.  Her interest in IAU was cemented by her daughter’s positive experience in an IAU summer program and she joined the board in 2007.  Her goal is to do “everything in my power” to increase the number of U.S. students who study abroad.  “It is more important than ever to give students the intellectual and emotional ability to live in a global world.”     

In addition to her work with IAU Ms. Keler supports other educational endeavors.  She chairs the board of Building Hope, a non-profit charter school lender and service provider, and formerly served as trustee and board chair for the American University in Bulgaria (2001 - 2014).  Ms. Keler also serves as a director of Sallie Mae and board chair of CubeSmart, a publicly traded real estate investment trust. 

The mission of the Institute for American Universities, one of the oldest American educational programs in Europe, is to provide excellence in international education, inspire intercultural awareness, and prepare students for success in a global community through the study of European and Mediterranean history, languages, cultures, and contemporary issues.


IAU Announces New Vice President of Administration, Professor Philip Breeden

Philip Breeden, American Diplomacy J Term 2017

Professor Breeden teaches the American Diplomacy J-Term;
pictured here (center) with his students in 2017.

In early May, IAU began the search for the first Vice President of Administration, a key senior executive level position based in the main campus in Aix-en-Provence, France.  The search has concluded with the hiring of an internal candidate who stood out among all of the applicants and also happens to be one of IAU's finest professors. 

Effective August 1st, 2018, Professor Philip Breeden will become the inaugural Vice President of Administration at IAU/ACM. 

Philip Breeden has almost three decades of experience as a cultural diplomat and nine years of experience with IAU.  He joined the Board of Trustees of IAU in 2009.  In 2015, after leaving the U.S. Foreign Service and the IAU Board, he began teaching part-time at IAU, transitioning into a full-time position in 2016.  In 2017 he became the Associate Dean for Public Affairs while continuing to teach international relations and diplomacy.  

As a senior American diplomat, he created and directed communication, cultural and educational exchange programs in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He also served as the U.S. Consul General in Marseille. His final diplomatic posting was as Minister Counselor for Cultural Affairs and Communications at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, a fitting capstone to his long association with France, beginning as a study abroad student.  As a diplomat, Professor Breeden received numerous awards for his skill at managing creative teams in multi-cultural, multi-lingual environments, including a Superior Honor Award for his public diplomacy efforts in Tunisia, the Palmes Académiques for his work with high schools in France, and the Secretary of State’s Career Achievement Award. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University and an M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.  He speaks French, Arabic, and Turkish.  He is married to Laurence Hélène Breeden and they have two children, Aurélien and Tristan. 

Please join us in congratulating Professor Philip Breeden and welcoming him to the IAU/ACM Team in this new role as Vice President of Administration.  



IAU Honored to Receive University of Georgia
Emerson Scholar in Support of Study Abroad

University of Georgia junior Taylor Marie Jones is the second UGA student to receive a scholarship in honor of the late Meredith Hope Emerson, a former UGA student and IAU alumna from the summer of 2004. The Emerson award supports a UGA student enrolled in IAU’s study abroad program, covering half the cost of tuition.  IAU is committed to changing the face of study abroad by making it accessible to as many students as possible.  IAU is therefore delighted that an IAU alum is helping UGA, a large, public university, provide support to students who would otherwise not be able to participate in a study abroad program.  Dr. Jonathan Krell, Professor French at UGA and Spring 2018 IAU Resident Fellow in Aix-en-Provence said that “the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Georgia is very excited about its relatively new relationship with IAU. More and more University of Georgia French students are applying to study at IAU.  Having spent a semester as a Resident Fellow in Aix, I can vouch for the high quality of the program, and its dedicated professors and administrators. Aix is a beautiful place to live, and an ideal place to begin exploring the cultural and natural wonders of Provence.”  IAU is excited to welcome Ms. Jones to Aix this coming Fall 2018 semester as well as all future UGA students interesting in pursuing their study of French language and culture.





Does the West Have A Vision For The Western Balkans?
By Michael Carpenter and Mieczyslaw P. Boduszynski, Pomona College and IAU Resident Fellow


IAU Hosts Track II Diplomacy Conference
March 28-29, 2018
Aix-en-Provence, France

On March 28-29 IAU brought together nine specialists in non-violent conflict resolution from Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and Syria to discuss Track II diplomacy – a term encompassing wide-ranging efforts by unofficial groups and personalities to resolve international conflicts. Whether it was Monica McWilliams discussing how she built a women’s coalition for peace in Northern Ireland, or Amb. Cameron Munter examining how the EastWest Institute works behind the scenes to head off future conflicts, the conference was a chance for IAU students to learn from eminent practitioners of Track II Diplomacy about how it contributes to building the conditions of peace.  The conference also allowed participants to share experiences across regions and discuss how the changing international environment of the 21st Century creates new challenges and opportunities for Track II Diplomacy. IAU Master students in international relations helped develop the program, and all the participants appreciated the time given over to dialogue with each other and with students. Such conferences are a part of IAU's devotion to experiential learning; putting students together with notable personalities who are trying to make the world a better place.
The Participants in the Conference were:

Prof. Paul Arthur
Professor of Politics, Emeritus Director of the Graduate Program in Peace and Conflict Studies
Ulster University

Caroline Ayoub
CoFounder and Project Manager - Radio SouriaLi

Kurt Bassuener
Senior Associate of the Democratization Policy Council PhD Candidate/Fulbright Scholar
School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews

Prof. R. Bruce Hitchner
Professor of Classics and International Relations Director, Archaeology Program
Tufts University

Pat Hynes
Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation and Adjunct Faculty
Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention, Maynooth University

Salam Kawakibi
President of Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Paris

Srecko Latal
Political Analyst and Regional Editor
Balkan Investigative Reporter Network, BIRN

Prof. Monica McWilliams
Transitional Justice Institute, Ulster University

Amb. Cameron Munter
President, EastWest Institute

Michel Nseir
Senior Advisor for Peace Building in Syria
World Council of Churches

IAU Signs Memorandum of Agreement with Gonzaga University

IAU and Gonzaga University, a private, Roman Catholic university in Spokane, Washington, signed a Memorandum of Agreement this March effective with the fall 2018 semester. This partnership allows Gonzaga students access to all IAU programs abroad including IAU scholarships. It also allows Gonzaga faculty to apply for the IAU Resident Fellows Program and priority access to customized/faculty-led program planning. Gonzaga is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and sends over 700 students abroad each year.  IAU President Dr. Carl Jubran said, “We are excited by the possibilities created by our new partnership with Gonzaga, which will make important contributions to our goal of changing the face of study abroad.”

IAU’s mission and the goals of the Gonzaga study abroad office are well-aligned. Both institutions seek to develop a community of global citizens by providing immersive and enriching study abroad opportunities.  Richard Menard, Director of Operations & Study Abroad for the Center for Global Engagement at Gonzaga, says, “Gonzaga is extremely happy with the partnership. Our faculty, staff, and students are excited about the ongoing relationship, and it is showing in the number of students who are applying to the program.  We went from three this first year to nine applications for this fall (2018).  The faculty are grateful that we added this program, and we are pleased as well because we expect that it will help increase our enrollments in French majors and minors.”  

IAU looks forward to welcoming its cohort of Gonzaga students this coming fall.


The Institute for American Universities and West Virginia University Sign Memorandum of Agreement

WVU MOA Signing
Dr. David Stewart (Associate Vice President for Global Strategies and International Affairs, WVU), Mr. Kurt Schick (Vice President, U.S. Operations, IAU), Dr. Carl Jubran (President, IAU) and Dr. William Brustein (Vice President for Global Strategies and International Affairs, WVU)

The Institute for American Universities (IAU), a study abroad institution with European headquarters in Aix-en-Provence, France and Barcelona, Spain signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with West Virginia University (WVU) on February 21, 2018. At the signing, IAU President Dr. Carl Jubran said, “We are excited by the possibilities created by our new partnership with WVU, which will make important contributions to our goal of changing the face of study abroad.”

The new IAU partnership will launch for the Fall 2018 semester in support of WVU’s commitment to providing unique, educational, and rewarding international opportunities to its students. WVU is a public, land-grant, space-grant, research-intensive university in Morgantown, West Virginia serving close to 33,000 students. WVU currently sends approximately 1,200 students abroad each year. The agreement was signed for WVU by Dr. William I. Brustein, Vice President for Global Strategies and International Affairs and Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of History at WVU and Dr. David Stewart, Associate Vice President for Global Strategies and International Affairs for the Office of Global Affairs and Associate Professor of English. Dr. Stewart commented that, “West Virginia University is thrilled to be a partner with the Institute for American Universities (IAU). IAU has a long-standing reputation for delivering first class education, at locations which are attractive to students, and through courses which are very innovative and engaging. This partnership will make available to our students a wide array of education aboard opportunities which only serve to further enhance their educational experience.”

This new partnership is the culmination of several years of careful work to craft an agreement that will advance WVU’s “2020 Global Goals” which include “increasing the international experience for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, increasing international engagements and collaborations for faculty, promoting scholarship on major global issues, and creating and expanding robust international partnerships.”


IAU Resident Fellow and Assistant Professor
of Politics and International Relations Pomona College, Mietek Boduszynski
on the Current State of American Diplomacy
Published on thehill.com

"...As a former foreign service officer who is still in touch with many currently serving American diplomats, I worry that the relentless criticism gives the impression that U.S. diplomacy is at a standstill while not giving credit to the important work being done in Washington, D.C., and around the world by career foreign service officers who carry on the work of advancing U.S. foreign policy interests..." Read more here.



New IAU Board of Trustees Member, Dr. Lisa Anderson

IAU is delighted to announce that Dr. Lisa Anderson has joined the Board of Trustees.  Dr. Anderson is a distinguished scholar and administrator specialized in state formation and democratization in the Middle East and North Africa.  She is Senior Lecturer at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and Gruss-Lipper Visiting Scholar in Middle East Policy Studies at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.  Dr. Anderson served as President of the American University in Cairo for five years, from 2011-2016.  Welcome, Dr. Anderson!



Students from the School of Business & International Relations (SBIR) Participate in 48 Hour Challenge
November 2017

This November, the School of Business & International Relations will be sending five students to CESI Business School in Lyon to participate in an innovation competition. Over the course of 48 hours, IAU business students will collaborate with French university students from a variety of disciplines, including business, tech, and engineering, to develop innovative solutions to solve contemporary business and social issues. Students will improve their critical thinking skills and learn to work in fast-paced multicultural environment. At the end of the contest, the students will present their ideas to a jury of subject matter experts. View more udpates from the SBIR.

IAU hosts Conference Camus Conference
November 2017


Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir la Société des Etudes Camusiennes pour le colloque « Le Sourire  de Camus » qui aura lieu du 8-11 novembre au sein des bâtiments IAU. Nous remercions aussi David Walker d’avoir orchestré l’organisation de ce colloque qui réunira des camusiens venants de France, Argentin, Tunisie, Brésil, Israel, Espagne et autres.


 

Dean of the School of Business & International Relations, Professor Aboubakr Jamai, contributes to Le Monde Diplomatique
July 2017



Article in French

Article in English


Summer 2017 Lecture Series



60th Anniversary Celebration
May 17-20, 2017
This May IAU celebrated 60 years in Aix-en-Provence, France. This milestone is an especially exciting time in IAU's history, as it also marks the celebration of IAU's first graduating class with U.S. Masters Degrees in Fine Arts, International Relations, and French Studies. IAU continues to grow its academic programs for both study abroad and degree-seeking students and is looking forward to what the next 60 years will hold.

Read the full article at La Provence, including a special excerpt from President Jubran!



To mark our 60th anniversary, Mayor Maryse Joissains Masini of Aix-en-Provence sent us a letter congratulating IAU for 60 years of international education, "in the heart of the city."  In celebrating the "strong ties" that link IAU with the City of Aix, the Mayor said the "beautiful adventure" that IAU and the School of Art offers American students allows them to profit from the rich history and culture of Aix, making them all "true Ambassadors of Aix-en-Provence."  She concluded by saying the "unique educational mission" of IAU and its School of Art was noble work which she was confident would continue for decades to come. Thank you Madam Mayor!



IAU partners with the Académie Bach Aix to celebrate the second annual Festival A Fleur and the fifth anniversary of the Académie. Featured above is président d'honneur, Gilles Cantagrel.


IAU Trustee and former U.S. ambassador to NATO and executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership shares his perpectives on former President George W. Bush, former French President Jacques Chirac and the war in Iraq.


Artist Aithan Shapira to Give Lecture on Art and Business to IAU Students
"Making to Think" | Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016 | 18h30-20h00



Aithan Shapira MFA Ph.D., Lecturer, MIT Sloan / Lecturer, Museum School of Fine Arts / Co-Founder, Artepreneurship.Academy / CEO, Making to Think | Artist, Entrepreneur, Creative Strategist, Educator, Researcher, Innovator

Aithan exhibits internationally and has been a visiting critic and teacher in studio arts across continents over 15 years, from the Royal College of Art and RISD, to Yale-NUS, Museum School of Fine Arts, and Sydney College of Art. He has also pioneered the top-rated leadership development course for MIT’s Sloan Innovation Period; co-founded several successful start-ups linking art, business, and social enterprise; developed tools for creative strategies, talent retention and building cultures and systems for success (and failure) at Fortune 500 tech, financial, aviation, healthcare and power firms; and designed programming for MIT Media Lab, Stanford d.School, the launch of MIT’s Hacking Arts, Cambridge Innovation Center, C2 Montreal, and Berklee College of Music's Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship. His research spans a PhD in creative process to 3 years living with Aboriginal Australians studying innovation in cultures of survival. Aithan is most passionate when helping teams take apart urgent global challenges and reassemble them in strategic ways that multiply results.

Making to Think
:  A unique look into art from the maker's perspective, Making to Think intersects art and business and asks what we can learn about strategy for leading change from the decision-making and behaviors behind the evolution of art giants. Artists are constantly developing new strategies for creativity that fuel innovation, vitality, endurance. These strategies are rooted in deeply practiced and tuned abilities to recognize opportunities, increase self awareness, challenge assumptions, and hold different perspectives.

French Honors Program 'Cérémonie de Clôture' Discours
by IAU student Lauren Butler of Muhlenberg College, Spring 2016

"Il y a des expériences dans la vie qui dépassent les mots - et je pense qu’il n’y a personne dans cette salle qui ne le sait pas. Oui, il y a des expériences comme ça, et je suis sûre que celle-ci, elle en est une." Read the whole discours here.



Dr. Muriel Cros, Director of the French Honors Program with the Spring Class of 2016


 


Professor Aboubakr Jami, Dean of IAU's School of Business and International Relations, discusses Morocco as seen by the EU in his "Letter from Rabat" published in Carnegie Europe.

"We have asked our contributors from each capital to give a candid assessment of the EU’s approach toward their state, with a ranking on a scale from “irrelevant” to “helpful.” This week, the spotlight is on Morocco."

- Carnegie Europe


"The benefits of an overseas experience are difficult to quantify, but there is little doubt that studying abroad can be beneficial for all students, regardless of their income level, background, or the school they attend."

- Sanford J. Ungar, IAU Trustee


2015 Joseph Yedlicka Summer Scholarship
Recipient's Thank 
You Letter
Dear Dr. Evans,
 
The time that I have spent at the Institute of American Universities (IAU) in Aix-En-Provence has been unlike anything that I could have imagined, and I am so grateful for having been given this opportunity. This experience has made me more proficient in the French language, and has given me a new perspective on the world.  I was able to not only immerse myself in the language and culture of Aix-en-Provence, but also to fully understand its people thanks in part to my loving host family.  
 
The French Honors Program Was everything that I had hoped for, both challenging and immensely rewarding.  I was tested from the start, not just by the difficulty of the coursework but also by the requirements of the program. Being Required to always speak French within the program was very helpful, it allowed us to learn different phrases and local slang, and to share experiences together. Our professor, Madame Cros, was as enthusiastic to teach as we were to learn, creating conversation topics that would sometimes last the entire class period. Her knowledge of the local culture gave us an insight how to truly adapt ourselves into the culture. The learning experience was not limited to the classroom, as our passion for language drove us to practice with each other and with the locals so that we continued to improve. Though there were only eleven of us, this small group quickly grew into a family. The bonds we formed in the trustee’s room of the Centre d’Etudes Françaises will last a lifetime.
 
Though I learned a great deal from the program’s curriculum, much and more was learned through experience. Time spent in Aix, interacting with the locals, walking the streets and enjoying the markets, are things that made me a better French student and a more confident young woman. Seeing cities like Arles, Avignon, Cassis, La Ciotat, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Marseille showed me how historically rich and vibrant the south of France is. Having the opportunity to take a weekend to see Barcelona was the cherry on top of the sundae; it was a city so alive and rich in culture, and the memories of the times I shared with friends will stay with me forever.  
 
Finally, I want to thank my host mom, Marie-Ange, who was such a wonderful person throughout my entire stay. She is a ray of sunshine, one of the best storytellers, and was always there to support me during difficult times. She spoke French with me, corrected my grammar, and taught me all sorts of new words that I would never have known without having such a caring host mom. The best part of IAU was the host stays, and I hope that each student in the future has such a positive experience with their host family as I did with mine. 

Thank you again to Dr. Evans and all members of Pi Delta Phi for choosing me to experience a world that I’ve dreamed about since I started studying French. I know that I will be back to France as soon as possible. Until then, I have wonderful memories to share with my  friends and family.

- Julia Shipley, Suny Oswego, French Honors Program, Summer 2015

Julia Shipley, the 2015 Yedlicka Summer Scholarship recipient [left],  hiking at The Bibemus Quarries

Julia Shipley, the 2015 Yedlicka Summer Scholarship recipient [left],
hiking at The Bibemus Quarries

New York: Jews Honor Moroccan King Who Saved them From the Nazis



IAU joins San Diego State University
at a Flag Ceremony to show solidarity with France


IAU Students in the News
Professor of Sociology, Yumna Masarwa, accompanies 30 students
to a local Mosque in Southern France where they receive
a warm welcome by local French Muslims


European Union Class visits the European Parliament & the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France

In October, the IAU International Economics in the European Union course taught by Professor Amy Mumma visited the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.  The class was fortunate that the European Parliament was in plenary session and students observed the debate concerning the issue of Greece in the Eurozone and the EU.  This was very pertinent as it is a case study during our semester.  Students listened to the debate with headphones for translation.  Over 1,000 language translators work in Parliament. 

At the Council of Europe, students had the opportunity for a private session with Mr. Guiseppe Zaffuto, the Director of Communications for the Council of Europe.  Mr. Zaffuto explained the role of the Council, it's place in the European Union and global initiatives.  This was followed by a question and answer session.  In addition, students had a historical tour of Strasbourg via boat through the numerous canals winding through the city.   

"I truly value the depth of learning this experience provided and hold a much clearer understanding of how the European Parliament and Council of Europe function. Sitting in on the Greek debate plenary session was invaluable and so interesting to hear so many different opinions and perspectives. Reading about it on the cover of a newspaper is not nearly as eye-opening as watching history happen in person."
- Jennifer Julius, Fall 2015

Econ Students with Mr. Zaffuto, Director of Communications for the Council of Europe

"The Strong Connection Between Art and Science" 
By Tiffany Riley
Marchutz Core Art Program
Summer of 2013

“In order to be inventive, one must be curious and motivated to think differently than others. Even though I may not be creating art when practicing pharmacy, I am still using my imagination to solve problems.” 


IAU partners with Scholars at Risk

In collaboration with the Resident Fellows Program, IAU is proud to announce its partnership with Scholars at Risk, an international network of higher education institutions dedicated to protecting threatened scholars, preventing attacks on higher education communities and promoting academic freedom worldwide.






IAU Conference
May 5-7, 2015: Progressives & Islamists

History & Current Events, Challenges & Responses
to the Ideological Divide of Arab Oppositions




How Studying or Working Abroad Makes You Smarter: Research shows that experience in other Countries makes us more Flexible, Creative, and Complex Thinkers

How does studying or working abroad change you? You return with a photo album full of memories and a suitcase full of souvenirs, sure. But you may also come back from your time in another country with an ability to think more complexly and creatively—and you may be professionally more successful as a result. Click here to read more.
These are the conclusions of a growing body of research on the effects of study- and work-abroad experiences. For example: A study led by William Maddux, an associate professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD, found that among students enrolled in an international MBA program, their “multicultural engagement”—the extent to which they adapted to and learned about new cultures—predicted how “integratively complex” their thinking became.

That is, students who adopted an open and adaptive attitude toward foreign cultures became more able to make connections among disparate ideas. The students’ multicultural engagement also predicted the number of job offers they received after the program ended.

More generally, writes Maddux, “People who have international experience or identify with more than one nationality are better problem solvers and display more creativity, our research suggests. What’s more, we found that people with this international experience are more likely to create new businesses and products and to be promoted.”

Angela Leung, an associate professor of psychology at Singapore Management University, is another researcher who has investigated the psychological effects of living abroad. She reports that people with more experiences of different cultures are better able to generate creative ideas and make unexpected links among concepts.

Like Maddux, Leung found that the advantages of living abroad accrue to those who are willing to adapt themselves to the ways of their host country: “The serendipitous creative benefits resulting from multicultural experiences,” she writes, “may depend on the extent to which individuals open themselves to foreign cultures.” This openness, she adds, includes a tolerance for ambiguity and open-endedness, a lack of closure and firm answers.

Could it be that people who choose to study or work in other countries are already more inclined to be complex and creative thinkers? David Therriault, associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Florida, anticipated this possibility. He and his coauthors administered creative thinking tasks to three groups of undergraduates: students who had studied abroad, students who were planning to study abroad, and students who had not and did not plan to study abroad. The students who had actually studied abroad outperformed the two other groups in creative thinking.

Studying or working in another country can make us better thinkers—more flexible, creative, and complex—if we’re willing to adapt and learn from other cultures. As the title of an article by William Maddux advises: “When in Rome . . . Learn Why the Romans Do What They Do.”
Paul, A. M. (2014, April 29). How Studying or Working Abroad Makes You Smarter [source].


Happy at IAU Aix-en-Provence

See how "Happy" IAU's students were this spring! Watch for cameos by IAU alumni, faculty, staff, and administration, including President Jubran!


And a special thank you to the Production Team for the creation of the video. Cinematographer: Stephen Katz, ASC and Cameramen: George Greenlee, Charley Umbarger



Theatre Workshop - Combatants for Peace
Featured Article in La Provence

During the 11th Annual International Student Conference on Euro-US Relations hosted on the IAU campus in Aix-en-Provence, students attended the Theatre Workshop for Combatants for Peace. Former Israeli soldier, and now playwright, Idan Meir of Combatants for Peace conducted with Fadl Mustapha, Palestinian actor, an all-day workshop on using theatre as a means for reconciliation and understanding of the other. He has conducted these workshops throughout the world, bringing theatre into the arduous task of peace-building.

The workshop was featured in the local paper, La Provence, in Aix-en-Provence during the week of March 9th. The student conference featured in the article as well.



Professor Aboubakr Jamaï Receives Leaders for Democracy Award

Continued international recognition for Professor Aboubakr Jamaï. The prestigious Washington group, the Project on Middle East Democracy, has awarded Aboubakr Jamaï and his co-founding partner of lakome.com, Ali Anouzla, their 6th annual Leaders for Democracy Award. Professor Jamaï has been invited to Washington, D.C. to receive these much-deserved accolades. The Project on Middle East Democracy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to examining how genuine democracy can develop in the Middle East and how the United States can best support that process. Professor Jamaï and his colleague have tirelessly and relentlessly promoted and practiced freedom of the press in North Africa and in the Middle East. It is our honor and privilege to be able to congratulate Professor Jamaï in person. 

Photo courtesy of EMAJ Magazine

11th Annual International Student Conference on Euro-US Relations
March 13-15, 2014

The Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College is pleased to announce the 11th Annual International Student Conference on European–U.S. Relations to be held in Aix-en-Provence, France at IAU from March 13–15, 2014. The annual conference, also co-sponsored by AEGEE - the European Students’ Forum, has been held since 2004, so that students can explore the character and future of US– European relations, as well as the fundamental differences between the European Union and the United States both structurally, and on important international issues.

This year’s conference explores the changing nature of the information environment and how surveillance becomes ever more normalized in contemporary societies. Whether in the form of phone calls and emails or through tracking devices recording everything from medical conditions, to shopping habits and driving behavior, the normalization of surveillance has the potential to change not only individual behavior but is likely to alter politics and society itself. The conference will address the subject of surveillance from a Peace and Conflict Studies perspective focusing on arenas of contestation between the surveyed and those surveying.  In addition to examining surveillance from an historical perspective the conference participants will also elaborate significant differences related to surveillance between Europe and the United States.

Participating students will hear from experts on the subject and participate in reflections with their European counterparts on the issue as well as seek solutions together to confronting the challenges of living in today’s world.  

The conference fee of $175 will include three nights lodging and meals through Saturday evening.  Students interested in participating should contact Dr. Leigh Smith, IAU’s Vice President of Student Affairs.


IAU Hosts Albert Camus Conference
November 7-9, 2013

IAU is pleased to have hosted a conference on famous French author, Albert Camus. The conference, held on November 7-9, 2013 at IAU in Aix-en-Provence, France, featured keynote speaker Professor David H. Walker of the University of Sheffield. Professor Walker is the Editor, Pleaides Edition of Camus' Complete Works. Visit the Camus Conference Agenda to learn more.

See photos from the event!


Theatrical Reading by IAU students directed by David Hay