Tallahassee Community College has announced the lineup of events for its 10th annual celebration of International Education Week, November 17–21.
The U.S. Department of State and Department of Education spotlight similar events around the nation and the world to promote international education and exchange.
“We always have a wonderful week of events here at TCC,” said Betty Jensen, coordinator of international services. “Our large contingent of international students and our Global Council and study abroad programs have helped create a very dynamic international atmosphere on campus.”
TCC kicks off the week with the International Parade of Nations on Monday, November 17, at 12:30 p.m. During the parade, students create a beautiful display around the campus flagpole, each filing in with his or her country’s flag, followed by an introduction in the student’s native language. The event will feature remarks from Asra Q. Nomani, author of “Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam.” TCC alumnus Maximo Mendoza from Venezuela will also speak.
Following the parade, Nomani will give a thought-provoking address titled “The Fight for International Women’s Rights” at 3 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. She is a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and a leading voice in progressive Islam. Nomani teaches journalism at Georgetown University and is co-director of the Pearl Project, a collaborative investigative reporting course that involves students in real-world projects. The Pearl Project was named for Nomani’s close friend and fellow reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002.
“We are very pleased to sponsor such a distinguished guest on our campus,” said Forster Agama, TCC professor and Global Council chair.
Tuesday offers the opportunity to interact with international students at several information tables set up in the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can take the “How Global Are You?” quiz, spin the language wheel, learn about TCC’s study abroad and Global Gateway programs, and more.
That will be followed in the same location by an open forum on “Struggles in the Middle East,” led by TCC students Mohammad Masoud from Afghanistan and Badar Belhaj of Lybia, along with Onder Koklu from Turkey, professor and TCC exchange visitor. Tuesday closes with International Night at the TCC Eagle Dome.
On Wednesday, November 19, the popular “Bringing the World to TCC” event returns to the Student Union ballroom from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Guests may “visit” 16 of the more than 80 countries represented in TCC’s student population—learning about the culture, sampling native foods and asking questions of our international students about their country and how they arrived at TCC.
Thursday features three lectures in the Student Union Ballroom that will take attendees around the world and across an intriguing variety of topics. From 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Lucia Yang, professor and TCC exchange visitor, will speak about “Chinese Myths and Traditional Holidays.” At 12:30 p.m., TCC professor Kermit Harrison will give a talk titled “Philosophy…Loving Life for Thousands of Years!” The day will wrap up with “Music Unites the World,” an evening with Maestro Darko Butorac, music director and conductor of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Butorac is also principal conductor of the Fidenza Opera Festival in Italy and has worked with orchestras around the United States and Europe.
Friday will feature two events that are new to TCC’s International Education Week celebration: a tour of TCC for international student alumni at 11:30 a.m., followed by an international student alumni luncheon at 12:30 p.m. as part of the celebration of the 25th year of TCC’s International Student Organization.
For information, contact Betty Jensen at (850) 201-8457 or jensenb@tcc.fl.edu.
