International Education Week

By Briana Jessen
University Communications

Ileana Seda-Santana

Fresno State will join schools and colleges across the nation in celebrating the fifth annual International Education Week from Nov. 15-19 with activities on campus including films and speakers from various backgrounds celebrating the benefits of international education.

One of the highlights of the week will a program on Tuesday, Nov. 16, featuring Dr. Ileana Seda-Santana, a visiting scholar from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and member of the Fresno State faculty from 1986-88. She will speak on "Literacy Research in Latin America ." 

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 is a professor at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in the Graduate Division of the School of Psychology . 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.

Exchange programs invest in the future relationship between Americans and citizens of other nations by promoting mutual understanding and respect. Students engage with members from different societies, which promotes tolerance and prepares Americans to live, work and compete in the global economy. Dr. Berta Gonzalez,a 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."

Exchange programs also attract future leaders from abroad to study at educational institutions in the United States , which allows American citizens the chance to develop understanding of other cultures, to increase their global cooperation, and to improve our national security through their interaction with these students and scholars.

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, IT 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, USU room 312-314

• 2 p.m., "The Balkan War and its Influences on Today's Generation," USU room 312-14

• 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. Free to the public.

• 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 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

• 10:00 a.m., "The Value of Studying Abroad." International students speak about their study abroad experiences, USU room 308

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