Category Archives: Events

Announcement, Events, International students, Reflection

Look back: OIA Activities from Fall 2018

December 13, 2018 k.emory Leave a comment

The Fall semester was full of events and activities for Chatham student. The Office of International Affairs organized activities to bring students together across cultures and nationalities, and to introduce different aspects of American Culture. Following are some highlights from this past term:

September :

Global Mixer Kick-off

The first event of the semester, the Global Mixer welcomes students to Chatham, and welcomes back returning students. Students, from a variety of countries and cultures are encouraged to mix and mingle as they learn from each other.

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Tour and Tower Climb:

The tour of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church was not for the faint of heart. After receiving a brief overview of the Gothic Architecture and seeing the nave of the beautiful church, the group of almost 20 students started our journey climbing the steps to the tower. After passing through main staircases and a series of winding pathways in the walls of the church, there were several final small spiral staircases to climb. The final leg of the climb was ascending a small ladder onto the highest balcony that only about 4 students could share at a time. We had a 360* view of the city of Pittsburgh and a great breeze hitting our faces to cap off the satisfaction of our journey. After planting our feet firmly back on the ground, students headed to Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream for a sweet

Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center (COTRAIC) 40th Annual Three Rivers Pow Wow.

Students from the United States, Japan, China, and South Korea attended the Pow Wow and engaged with Native Peoples from all over the US. The Pow Wow, held each September, is open to the public.

October:

Simmons Farm- Fall Activities Field Trip

Simmons Farm was a day of sunshine, pumpkins, apples, and fall flowers. The group of 16 headed out to Simmons Farm on one of the warmest days of Fall and enjoyed the activities it had to offer. After a quick hayride, students split into two groups and found their way through the corn maze. Students then chose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and enjoyed some of the cider provided to the group from the Farm. There were fields of beautiful flowers and delicious festival food to snack on. The farm even included a petting zoo with some lazy goats and hungry chickens!

Kennywood: Phantom Fright Nights!

As part of the fall semester long weekend, OIA took students to Kennywood. Kennywood, a local amusement park in operation since 1898, has thrilled generations of visitors. Located a few miles from Pittsburgh, it has roller coasters, a midway, arcade games, and classic American fare. In October, the park is transformed into one big haunted house for Phantom Fright Nights. Open late (6pm-midnight) and full of spooky costumes and decor, it’s a screaming good time. Students from Brazil, Austria, Japan, South Korea, the US, and France, were able to enjoy a classic American amusement park, and Haunted attraction on a foggy spooky night!

December:

End of Term party!

Students celebrated the end of the semester, and for many the end of their studies at Chatham University, during OIA’s End of Term party.

Education Abroad, Events, International students, Student experience

International Education Week: November 12-16th, 2018

November 30, 2018 k.emory Leave a comment

International Education week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education promotes programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences.

Students, international and domestic, are encouraged to participate in the events scheduled during this week. At the events, international and domestic students can communicate with one another and learn facets of one another’s’ culture and make new friends.

On Monday November 12^th, the Office of International Affairs partnered with the Chatham University Modern Language Department for “International Karaoke.” Offered each semester, this popular events brings together students to sing in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, as well as other languages.

Students in the Modern Language classes are able to practice by singing in their target languages. With well over 100 in attendance, International Education Week started on a high note.

On November 13^th, students were invited to the international conversation hour, in the Mellon solarium. The international conversation hour provides topics for students to discuss in order to develop understanding of each other’s cultures.

Later that evening, the Chatham University Vira Heinz Scholars presented on “American Abroad: Social Identity and Positionality in a Global and Domestic Environment.” Students, Miranda Boyden (studied in Italy), Janelle Moore (Costa Rica), Erion Morton (Japan) and Kaylee Spitak (Japan) studied in the summer of 2018 with support from the Vira I Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership. The VIH program “prepares women for tomorrow’s global challenges by offering a unique opportunity for international experiences, leadership development and community service.” Students receive $5000+ scholarship for an international educational experience.

The Chatham 2018 CEE, American Abroad: Social Identity and Positionality in a Global and Domestic Environment involved roundtable discussions around social identity and its impact on students’ experiences at home and abroad.

Thursday November 14^th was a cold and rainy day for trivia! OIA hosted the International Jeopardy contest in the Carriage House, and tested students’ knowledge of world history, geography, and global facts.

With quite of few interested in playing, students played in teams of three to pool their knowledge. With challenging questions, such as “Which country lists internet access as a human right?”, students played through five categories. Though last coming into final Jeopardy, Team Brazil, won with a high bet, and the correct answer. Students Dylan Jacquard, Vinni Muniz, and Mana Soda claimed the title of International Jeopardy Champs!

The final event for International Education week was a welcome respite from biting cold. On the day of the first snow of Fall 2018, the staff of the Office of International Affairs met students both local and international to celebrate diversity with a hot cup of tea. The International tea party included flavors from the strong and bitter Irish breakfast to the mellow sweetness of tropical mango and chocolate. This helped warming the attendees and made the conversation flow, everything from food, to internships, to study abroad, to difference between the United States and other countries was discussed.

Many students coming and going from class also stopped by to join conversation and enjoy a hot beverage.

Over the course of IEW, Chatham students across campus were able to engage in international and intercultural learning.

Events, Immigration, International students, Reflection

Goodbye Summer 18 and Welcome Fall 18

August 23, 2018 lphung Leave a comment

Orientation for New International Students. Welcome to Chatham!

While summer may be a slower time for many, the Office of International Affairs was in full motion with 14 intensive courses from the English Language Program, a four-week program for 10 students from Wenzhou Medical University, immigration recertification, and international visits for partnership development, to name a few activities.

Fall 2018 brings fewer new international students than last fall, but plans have been made for a productive semester with a host of activities for the Global Focus Year of Ireland; exciting opportunities to study abroad, including scholarship opportunities; and a robust cultural program to celebrate languages, cultures, and international education. Read through our eNewsletter for information on these programs.

Here are a few highlights of the summer.

With thirty-three students, 70 hours of weekly instruction, three full-tuition scholarships offered to local students, the ELP celebrated the success of the semester with a guest speech from Natalia Castillejo, Product Manager at Duolingo; student speeches by Fadia Azzani and Gabriela Gomez; and music performances from Ayaka Fushino, Ai Fudano, Hong Zhao, and Hong’s husband. It was a wonderful celebration of language and culture!

Opportunities for students for social interactions and cultural discovery include a Conversation Partner Program, Waterfront Battle of Homestead Tour, Mexico War Street Tour, trips to outstanding museums Pittsburgh has to offer, a potluck with education students, BBQ parties at Dr. Phung’s and Mr. Musick’s houses, among others. Students also traveled to so many cities and attractions in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Cuba. What an adventurous bunch!

Students from Wenzhou Medical University at the Fallingwater

Ten students majoring in psychiatry at Wenzhou Medical University participated in a four-week program organized and led by AVP Chris Musick. The students participated in workshops taught by faculty from the Psychology Department, cultural explorations led by AVP Musick, and selected lessons in some ELP’s courses. Many of the workshops had experiential components taking the students to museums, the zoo, and the Allegany Cemetery. The students learned many new concepts which they had not encountered before in their studies in China.

After over 18 months, the Pittsburgh Pathways was finally approved by SEVP. The approval was needed in order for Chatham to issue immigration documents for students to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. and attend the program. Following the approval was intensive work to apply for a SEVP recertification to allow Chatham to continue to enroll international students and host international scholars in its programs.

On the study abroad side, Chatham undergraduate students participated in summer study and internship opportunities in Costa Rica, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Graduate students studying Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy participated in a summer field experience in Ecuador.

AVP Musick visited China with Dean Downey in May to build institutional partnerships. There is now interest from Wenzhou’s College of Nursing, College of Psychology, School of Foreign Languages in building sustainable student and faculty exchanges.

Dr. Linh Phung with Students from Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts

In addition, the staff in the Office of International Affairs attended the NAFSA conference in Philadelphia with about 9,500 other attendees all over the world. We caught up with existing partners and connected with potential new ones. In July, Dr. Linh Phung visited long-lasting university partners in Japan, which together have sent over 100 students to Chatham since 2011. Partnership work is intense and intensive, but also rewarding.

With the summer semester behind, we are looking forward to an exciting academic year ahead!

Announcement, Events

Highlights of the 2018-2019 Global Focus: Year of Ireland

August 23, 2018 lphung Leave a comment

Professor Jim Pierson, Global Focus Coordinator this year, and his wife, Kathleen Pierson, standing on property that has been owned by her mother’s maiden family (the Smyth’s) since circa 1830, in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Global Focus Year of Ireland highlights the Opening Picnic with a great Irish menu on August 28; discounted tickets and free transportation to Pittsburgh Irish Music Festival; a screening of the Emmy-award winning documentary “Ireland’s Great Hunger & The Irish Diaspora;” a music recital by John O’Conor, an internationally acclaimed Irish pianist; and “A Reflection on Women’s Reproductive Rights, Considering Faith-Based Perspectives and Recent Ireland Historic Changes.” Plan to attend!

We are excited about our campus activities celebrating the Global Focus Year of Ireland, as well as our study-abroad trip planned for May 2019. Opening convocation and picnic on August 26^th kicks off with a “Six-Piece Flock of Riveting Celtic Music” from the popular local Irish group, the Wild Geese Band.

To align our taste buds to the Emerald Island, a great Irish menu will be served at the opening picnic, to include baked salmon, corned beef and cabbage, traditional Irish coddle, and vegan Guinness stew, along with traditional Irish sides and desserts. All good!

Chatham students will be able to receive discounted tickets and free bus transportation to the famous Pittsburgh Irish Music Festival at a nearby venue. This event attracts over 20,000 visitors over a three-day weekend and celebrates Irish music, culture, language, and other neat things, such as an Irish dog show. Plan to attend!

To highlight just a few of the events planned during the fall for the Year of Ireland, on October 25^th, we will present a documentary of “Ireland’s Great Hunger & The Irish Diaspora,” an Emmy award-winning documentary (48 minutes) and discussion by documentary Chief Historian, Dr. Christine Kinealy, Professor of History and Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University.

We will also have John O’Conor, an internationally acclaimed Irish pianist and former director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, present a recital on campus, at 11:30 am, Tuesday, November 6^th.

One other key event will be “A Reflection on Women’s Reproductive Rights, Considering Faith-Based Perspectives and Recent Ireland Historic Changes.” This will be an important co-sponsored event by Global Focus, the Interfaith Council, and Chatham’s Women’s Institute. In 1983, The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, which strictly limited abortion, was adopted by a referendum vote of Irish citizens by a 2 to 1 majority. Fast forward to 2018, where the repeal of the 8^th Amendment was adopted by a referendum vote of a 2 to 1 majority of Irish citizens.

However, in the United States, efforts to further limit women’s reproductive rights are in full display in 2018 as seen in political campaigns, legislative and judicial activity, and as an issue in the supreme court nomination process. Thus, the issues of women’s reproductive rights are ripe for reflection, in context of faith-based perspectives, and in comparing and contrasting global perspectives between Ireland and the United States.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates on Global Focus activities during the Year of Ireland!

Events, International students

North Shore Tour with the OIA

April 6, 2018 k.emory Leave a comment

On Saturday March 24, students joined the OIA (Office of International Affairs) for the Spring Neighborhood Tour. Each semester, the OIA takes students to a different Pittsburgh neighborhood to showcase local culture and activities, and to encourage students to explore the city on their own.

Students met at the Chatham Chapel, and we took the city bus to Wood Street in Downtown. From there students boarded the “T”- Pittsburgh’s own light rail system. The T is free within the downtown area, and can be used to travel to PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the Carnegie Science Center. The group walked along the Allegheny River from PNC Park to the Fred Rogers Memorial. Mr. Rogers is one of the most famous Pittsburghers, known for the children’s program “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”.

From there, we made our way to Allegheny Commons Park, and to the Mexican War Streets area of the North Shore. This area is full of Victorian-era row homes, gardens, and alleyways. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The tour ended at the Mattress Factory, the premier museum in Pittsburgh for contemporary art. Students had the option to tour the Mattress Factory or go off on their own. One group made its way to Randyland, located around the block form the Mattress Factory to explore the quirky artists’ welcoming space.

Interested in Pittsburgh? Let the OIA know which neighborhood you want to explore! Our next adventure will take place in Summer 2018.

Events, International students

International Exchange Club – Beach Party Dance

April 4, 2018 k.emory Leave a comment

The International Exchange club is an opportunity for International and American students to come together and learn about each other’s culture while creating friendships. The club held a kick-off dance on March 23^rd with a “beach party” theme. Club members were asked to submit their favorite songs from around the world, and the dance featured music in many languages.

Interested in joining the IEC? Contact InternationalAffairs@chatham.edu

Education Abroad, Events, International students

International Education Week 2017 at Chatham University

November 17, 2017 kchipman Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone who took part in the events held this week to celebrate International Education week, #IEW2017. We at the Office of International Affairs (OIA) hope that our events provided the Chatham community with opportunities for international and multicultural engagement, and inspired you to explore the benefits of cultural exchange in your own life.

We have posted images from several of these events below, including the Global Focus “Sounds of Indonesia” Music Festival, International Karaoke Night, International Engagement Photo Contest, International Trivia Night, International Tea Party, Chatham Harvest Dinner and Documenting Your Study Abroad Experience: Panel Discussion.

We hope you enjoyed IEW2017 and that you join OIA for future events!

Documenting your Study Abroad Experience: Panel Discussion

International Education Week (IEW), November 13-17, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. See https://iew.state.gov/ for more information.

Events

International Conversation Hour

September 4, 2017 lphung Leave a comment

COOLIDGE 037 LOUNGE

THURSDAYS, 11:30am-12:20pm

¨ share your experiences, stories, and cultures

¨ learn a few words and phrases in a different language

¨ participate in communicative and intercultural tasks

International Conversation Hour Summer 2017

Date	Topics and Facilitators (May Change)
Sept. 7	Language and Culture Dr. Linh Phung, ELP Director
Sept. 14	Student-Led Conversations
Sept. 21	Student-Led Conversations
Sept. 28	Student-Led Conversations
Oct. 5	Language and Gender Ms. Oksana Moroz, ELP Lecturer
Oct. 12	NO CONVERSATIONS
Oct. 19	Student-Led Conversations
Oct. 26	Student-Led Conversations
Nov. 2	Race Relations in the U.S. Mr. David Williams, Chatham Graduate
Nov. 9	Student-Led Conversations
Nov. 16	Student-Led Conversations
Nov. 23	THANKSGIVING BREAK: NO CONVERSATION
Nov. 30	Student-Led Conversations
Dec. 7	Topic: TBD

Events, International students

International Conversation Hours

May 25, 2017 lphung Leave a comment

WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION HOURS

COOLIDGE 037 LOUNGE

THURSDAYS, 11:30-12:20

Day and Time	Topics and facilitators (May change)
Thursday, June 1, 11:30-12:20	Summer activities in different cultures Facilitator: Dr. Linh Phung, ELP Director
Thursday, June 8, 11:30-12:20	Cultural similarities and differences Facilitator: Jeff Chung, ELP Intern
Thursday, June 15, 11:30-12:20	Language learning stories Facilitator: Alina Volper, ELP Lecturer
Thursday, June 22, 11:30-12:20	Traveling Facilitator: Kate Emory, International Student Services Coordinator
Tuesday, June 29, 11:30-12:20	Friendships and relationships Facilitator: David Williams, Chatham Gradaute
Thursday, July 13, 11:30-12:20	Memorable events and stories Facilitator: Ms. Kate Emory, International Student Services Coordinator
Thursday, July 20, 11:30-12:20	Cultural box Facilitator: Dr. Randi Congleton, Director of Multicultural Affairs
Thursday, July 27, 11:30-12:20	Food in different cultures Facilitator: Dr. Wonjin Sim, Psychology Professor
Thursday, August 3, 11:30-12:20	Hopes and dreams Facilitator: Dr. Karen Kingsbury, Professor of English and International Studies

Events, International students

A Semester of International Activities

April 25, 2017 lphung Leave a comment

By Kate Emory, International Student Services Coordinator, and Sylvia Shipp, ELP Lecturer

It has been a lively semester with lots of fun events for our international students. Office of International Affairs (OIA) kicked off the spring semester by hosting a Global Mixer, a standing-room-only social event rich with games and food, in the Carriage House. Following this event was our fun-filled International Karaoke Night, where you can expect to hear students sing songs in many different languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, French, and Spanish.

In March, students from the Spanish language classes, offered a night of Salsa and Bachata dance lessons. Attendees learned basic Salsa steps, individually and with partners, and later learned Bachata moves. “Salsa” and “Bachata” are genres of music that incorporate many different influences from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Dance is a popular way to interact with the music.

At the beginning of April, OIA also hosted the first International Trivia Night. Students tested their global knowledge in a Jeopardy!-like quiz. Teams registered in advance, and there were prizes for first, second, and third places. Trivia included questions about international food, world history, and “Where’s Carson?”.

The English Language Program (ELP) chose the Carnegie Science Center for the OIA/ELP field trip this semester. Many of our Japanese students and ELP students joined us on the hands-on fun. We watched “Dream Big,” an inspiring documentary about the wonder of design at the Omnimax Theater. As usual, we held our bittersweet end-of-term party in mid-February for our Japanese exchange students, who would soon return to their home schools: Kobe College and Kyoto Women’s University, after a 6-month program in English and American culture. The spread was fantastic—Asian & American fare specially prepared for our students. We also held an end-of-term party after final exams, treating the students to pizza and cake. Several students received certificates and prizes in recognition of their efforts.

ELP students had other special days, too. Aside from the usual social activities such as our Conversation Partner Program that many students enjoy participating in, students also went on class field trips to places such as the Chatham Eden Hall and Eastside campuses, the Carnegie Art Museum, University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms, and Millie’s Ice Cream in Shadyside. A special group called the International Student Ambassadors helped to create a clever video to showcase the beauty of Chatham University, welcoming other international students who are considering studying abroad.

Aside from the formally hosted activities, many ELP students also took part in the indoor intramural sports such as soccer, which is held in our state-of-the-art gym.