SMC creates intercultural center
By JENNIE BUEHLER
News Writer
Saint Mary's students can look forward to more opportunities to explore intercultural relations and leadership roles with the creation of the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership.
The Center was established after receiving a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment in November of 2000. Since then it has been more formally established in its current location in Havacan Hall.
"The Center will focus on ways to better prepare young women to become better leaders," said Mana Derakhshani, interim director.
The Center is made up of different positions to facilitate various aspects of intercultural leadership. The community connection coordinator helps to establish connections between community leaders and scholars.
"It's a way for people doing things in the community to exchange ideas, theories, and practices with different scholars who are on campus," said Derakhshani.
The Center will provide a place where the women of Saint Mary's can come to discuss intercultural relations and other topics with scholars.
"Visiting scholars who come to campus will discuss their research in matters including women's role in contemporary world wide cultures," Derakhshani said.
Summer seminars for high school women are planned to further elaborate on the knowledge passed down from visiting scholars. Workshops and seminars are also slated for later in the year.
The Center hopes to offer members of Saint Mary's faculty a year abroad to "travel, write, and experience living in another culture and then bring that knowledge back to the classroom," said Derakhshani.
Students will benefit having this first hand source of an intercultural experience.
Presently, the Center is focused on establishing and expanding its current position on the Saint Mary's campus.
The Center supports existing and creates new study abroad programs and intercultural experiences for faculty and students. The knowledge gained from the research will be used to inform students and will also be incorporated in the annual summer seminars in the future.
All News Stories for Thursday, September 13, 2001
