At a glance
Celebrating the many different cultures represented at Alfred State, as well as the benefits of international education and exchange, the college recently hosted a weeklong series of events to coincide with International Education Week (IEW).
Celebrating the many different cultures represented at Alfred State, as well as the benefits of international education and exchange, the college recently hosted a weeklong series of events to coincide with International Education Week (IEW).
A joint initiative created by the US Department of State and US Department of Education in 2000, International Education Week is part of an effort that seeks to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. Today, IEW is recognized in more than 100 countries.
Cyan Corwine, interim coordinator of International Student Services at Alfred State, said, “Having an entire week dedicated to the celebration of cultural exchange provides us with an opportunity to not only highlight the wonderful diversity that exists here on our campus, but also to share in some of the initiatives nationally and worldwide that further illustrate the benefits of international education and cross-cultural exchange.”
Among the numerous events that took place at the college were traditional Indonesian Batik fabric dying, African drumming lessons, Japanese umbrella painting, Latin American dancing, and much more. The programming initiatives were a joint effort among the International Student Services Office, Coordinator of Intercultural Student Support Thomas Daniels, and the International Club.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of IEW was the hosting of the Cornell University Humphrey Fellows, who visited both the Alfred and Wellsville campuses. The Fellows are experienced mid-career professionals from selected countries throughout the world who are looking to enhance their leadership potential and managerial skills.
Corwine said the Fellows’ visit “felt like the perfect bookend to the week,” noting that School of Applied Technology Dean Ana McClanahan and the Wellsville campus hosted the majority of the Fellows during the day on Friday, while one Fellow enjoyed a tour of a local quarry with Civil Engineering Technology Associate Professor Timothy Piotrowski.
“The evening event offered an opportunity for the Fellows, faculty, staff, and students to engage in meaningful conversation about the types of issues faced the world over,” Corwine said. “Following the evening chats, some of our international students even expressed interest in one day applying for the Humphrey Fellowship themselves.”
Ivory Humutowo, a business administration major from Jakarta, Indonesia, said IEW was one of the best weeks of the semester so far because, “We had the chance to see so many students from different cultures, countries, and backgrounds interact with one another throughout the week. I definitely made a lot of new friends and encourage people to share their stories, culture, and background so we can all learn and grow as a community together. It was also nice to create a professional network with the Humphrey Fellows, who come from all over the world, as it will have a positive impact on our future.”
