FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 9, 2004
Contact: Shirley Melikian Armbruster
(559) 278-2795 or (559) 593-1815

International Education Week Begins Monday, Nov. 15

California State University, Fresno will join colleges across the nation in celebrating the fifth annual International Education Week from Nov. 15-19 with a variety of activities and speakers that celebrate the benefits of international education.

Among the featured speakers is Dr. Ileana Seda-Santana, a former Fresno State faculty member who is a professor at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in the Graduate Division of the School of Psychology. She will speak on "Literacy Research in Latin America" at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Seda-Santana received her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Illinois with an emphasis on literacy, qualitative methods, teacher education and bilingualism. She currently is a visiting scholar at the Latin American Center of the University of California, Los Angeles.

She has received several awards, including five Teaching Excellence Awards from the Universidad de las Américas, and has published a number of articles and books on literary research in Latin America. From 1986-88, Seda-Santana served as an instructor in the School of Education and Human Development at Fresno State.

International Education Week is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. It encourages international education and exchange between the United States and other nations by providing the opportunity to highlight students and scholars who study and teach in the United States and by commending those who organize and participate in exchange programs.

Dr. Berta Gonzalez, associate vice president for Continuing and Global Education said Fresno State currently is host to eight visiting scholars and five international Fulbright graduate students "who continue to share their expertise and culture with our faculty and students as well as the community at large."

International Education Week is co-sponsored by the Fresno State Division of Continuing and Global Education, International Programs Office and the International Students Services

Program Office. For more details on International Education Week events, visit www.csufresno.edu/ExtendedEd/iew.html.

Schedule of events at Fresno State

Monday, Nov. 15

• 11:50 a.m., Opening ceremonies, Free Speech Area.

• 1 p.m., "Living and Studying in Europe" panel of faculty and students, Madden Library, room 1209.

• 5 p.m., "Faat Kine", a Film tribute to African Women, Industrial Technology, room 101.

Tuesday, Nov. 16

• 10 a.m., "Africans in America - Americans in Africa : Challenges and Perspectives" panel of students, faculty and community members discussing their experiences, University Student Union, room 312-314.

• 2 p.m., "The Balkan War and its Influences on Today's Generation," USU room 312-314.

• 4 p.m., "Literacy Research in Latin America," Kremen Education Building, room 140. This colloquium featuring Seda-Santana will be hosted by the Kremen School of Education and is designed for faculty, students and teachers in the community.

Wednesday, Nov. 17

• 10 a.m., "Why Study in America ?" visiting Fulbright students speak about their experiences in the United States , USU room 308.

• 6 p.m., "No Man's Land" a critically-acclaimed film about the Bosnian civil war, Library room 1209.

• 7 p.m., " Armenia Today: Fresno State Projects in Armenia and Opportunities to Study Abroad," Peters Building Auditorium.

Thursday, Nov. 18

• 9:30 a.m., "For Whom is International Academic Collaboration Good Business?" by Dr. Isabel Canto, Social Science Building, room 110.

• 6:30 p.m., "Hmong Voices" - a video production by Fresno State students, faculty and area youth documenting the experiences of Hmong-Americans during the "Secret War" in Laos, Tower Theatre, Olive and Wishon Avenues.

Friday, Nov. 19

• 10 a.m., "The Value of Studying Abroad." International students speak about their study abroad experiences, University Student Union, room 308.

• 2:30 p.m., Reception for Visiting Scholars and Fulbright students.

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