FDU Magazine — Making an Impact


Directed by Professor Stephen Hollis and well trained for the vigors of theater life, FDU students rise to the challenge of Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” The United Nations Academic Impact promises to address worldwide challenges and engage students in global concerns. Catch a sneak preview of the award-winning film “Favorite Son” with writer, director and professor Howard Libov. Professor David Hanson’s images of the World Trade Center have become a moving historical tribute. John Vitale describes his FDU study abroad experience in Japan, from mountain villages to the bustling Tokyo. Alumni Profile International Alumnus Finds Global Success John Mangeli, BS'64 (M) Alumni Profile Reaching Out to Stricken Haiti Donna Bruno Stuart, AA'60 (T)	DU Vice Provost for Global Learning Jason Scorza says, “The initiative represents a bold new vision for the role of colleges and universities within the United Nations system and an opportunity for global higher education to position itself as part of the solution to the challenges facing the world while remaining faithful to our core missions of teaching, research and extension.” FDU is currently doing several concrete things that further the principles of the Academic Impact: Twenty-five members of the FDU faculty serve as representatives on substantive nongovernmental organization (NGO) committees at the United Nations, providing their expertise on numerous subjects, including human rights, women’s issues, children’s issues, HIV, AIDS, mental health and peace and disarmament. FDU provides technical support to the African Union Commission as it establishes Pan African University — a network of graduate training institutes that seeks to reverse the “brain drain” in African higher education. WFDU-FM (89.1) broadcasts United Nations Radio News, disseminating important educational information from the United Nations more broadly over the public airwaves. Scorza adds that FDU is planning several projects to increase its role in the Academic Impact initiative. These include setting up a special summer program for undergraduate and graduate students at the United Nations. This course, which will introduce the inner workings of the world body, will be called “Inside the U.N.” am proud, but not surprised, that Fairleigh Dickinson University has joined the U.N. Academic Impact,” says senior Brian Choi, a political science major. He pointed to FDU’s long history of cooperation with the United Nations and NGOs, including the fact that FDU was the first institution of higher learning in the world to earn special consultative status from the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). A student worker in FDU’s Office of Global Learning, Choi coordinates logistics for U.N. ambassador forums and special events, and leads student trips to the United Nations. He adds, “FDU creates innovative initiatives and applied learning opportunities for our students. We also do a terrific job of sending students to the U.N. and international conferences, and bringing international students and speakers here to learn and share with us, as we did with our Emerging Global Leadership Seminar last summer.” [The seminar engages youth with global citizenship learning opportunities and last summer brought Chinese high school students to FDU]. Choi participated, for example, in the 7th Annual U.N. Youth Assembly in 2010 and engaged in panel discussions and meetings with more than 600 students from more than 40 countries, along with dozens of international leaders, activists and experts. He recalls, “The topics and activities of the Youth Assembly engaged all of the principles that Academic Impact is committed to. What I took away from the event was that even though our global challenges will require coordinated, sustained effort to overcome, the young people of the world definitely have the determination and resourcefulness to make it happen.” He adds, “Joining the UNAI will further enable FDU to have a real impact in formulating international policies, as well as help cement ties not only between FDU and the United Nations, but between FDU and other universities around the world. Improved cooperation and coordination should let us pool our ideas and resources to more effectively address global challenges, and eventually overcome them. This partnership is also an invaluable benefit for students, because it equips us with the knowledge and skills to participate in — and perhaps even lead — an increasingly globalized world.”

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FDU Magazine is published twice yearly by the Office of Communications and Marketing, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1000 River Road, H-DH3-14, Teaneck, N.J. 07666. FDU Magazine welcomes your comments. Use the comments box above or e-mail Rebecca Maxon, editor, at maxon@fdu.edu. J. Michael Adams, President; Richard Reiss, Senior Vice President for University Advancement; Angelo Carfagna, Assistant Vice President for University Advancement and Communications; Okang McBride, Director of Alumni Relations; Carol Kuzen Black, Director of Publications/Senior Editor; Rebecca Maxon, Editor and Web Designer; Contributors: Howard Libov, Tom Nugent, Melissa Payton, John Vitale Photo/Illustration Credits: Bill Blanchard, Bill Cardoni, Gary Darden, Favorite Son Productions, Don Hamerman, David Hanson, Ted Horowitz Photography, Dan Landau, Mike Malone, Morteza Nikoubazl, Gloria Pastorino, Nick Romanenko, Danny Schwartz, Jayson Scrimizzi, Daniel Twomey, John Vitale For a print copy of FDU Magazine, featuring these and other stories, contact Rebecca Maxon, editor, at maxon@fdu.edu. To update your address e-mail fine@fdu.edu or update your profile online at www.MyFDU.net. ©Copyright 2011 Fairleigh Dickinson University. All rights reserved.