Foreign scholars and media educators from across the world will visit the Walter Cronkite School for Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University this summer to gain exposure to U.S. institutions and culture.
The 15 scholars will participate in the Journalism, Technology and Democracy program, part of the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI). SUSI programs expose global professionals and youth to cultural activities, workshops and service projects that provide insight into U.S. media law, entrepreneurship, media literacy and journalism education in the U.S.
The scholars will attend the five-week residency program, which will include an educational study tour to Arizona cultural sites, rigorous academic coursework and panel discussions, interacting and establishing networks with American scholars, and meeting with experts in respective disciplines. The program lasts from June 6-July 10 and is funded through a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State.
The Cronkite School is one of four universities hosting international scholars this summer through the SUSI Scholars program. The others are the University of Montana, the University of Delaware and New York University.
This is the third summer that the Cronkite School has hosted the program as the school continues to widen its global presence, and build partnerships and collaborations throughout the world through its #CronkiteGlobal initiative. Last year’s program took place virtually, but the participants will be visiting Arizona this fall to complete the in-person portion of the Institute.
“As the world shrinks and the interdependence between nations grows, it is more important than ever for universities to incorporate global perspectives into the curriculum to prepare market-ready graduates and citizens of the world,” said Juan Mundel, director of Global Initiatives and associate professor. “The SUSI programs are extremely important initiatives at the Cronkite School, and ASU as a whole. The scholars participating widen our understanding of other cultures, expose our students and faculty to different ways of thinking, and allow the participants to know more about U.S. culture.”
The scholars will visit civic institutions, and in some cases, participate in research symposia and conferences. The journalists and educators are coming to Cronkite from a number of countries including Laos, Albania, Cameroon, Brazil, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Iraq and Romania.
Dawn Gilpin, Cronkite School assistant dean and academic director for the Journalism, Technology and Democracy program, said scholars will have opportunities to try out digital tools, visit newsrooms and historical landmarks, experience local attractions and culture, and talk with judges and elected officials about the role of a free and independent press in a democracy. They also will learn new approaches to teaching journalism and conduct media research on a subject of their choosing.
Session leaders will include:
- Kristy Roschke, managing director of the News Co/Lab, focusing on media literacy and mis-/disinformation.
- Retha Hill, director of the Cronkite School’s New Media Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab, focusing on media technology and entrepreneurship.
- Daniel Barr, partner in the law firm Perkins Coie, who will introduce the scholars to U.S. government institutions and the role of the press.
- Marianne Barrett, Louise Solheim Professor of Journalism, working with the scholars on pedagogical practices and curriculum development.
“The SUSI program is an incredibly enlightening experience – not just for the participating scholars, but also for the instructors and other members of the Cronkite and broader ASU community who have an opportunity to interact with them. We all have a great deal to learn from one another, and these programs help us forge new pathways of understanding, collaboration, and friendship that enrich all our lives,” Gilpin said. ”
List of SUSI Scholars + Countries:
- Hazhan Ahmed, Iraq
- MD Asraful Alam, Bangladesh
- Soledad Arreguez Manozzo, Argentina
- Ani Bajrami, Albania
- Ian Espada, Philippines
- Juan Manuel Gari, Uruguay
- Bintan Humeira, Indonesia
- Roy Jreijiry, Lebanon
- Louis Marie Kakdeu, Cameroon
- Bogdan Oprea, Romania
- Bruno Pedrosa Nogueira, Brazil
- Ekaphone Phouthonesy, Laos
- Brian So, Hong Kong
- Anubhuti Yadav, India
- Alev Yucel, Turkey
About the Cronkite School
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier professional journalism programs and has received international acclaim for its innovative use of the “teaching hospital” model. Rooted in the time-honored values that characterize its namesake — accuracy, responsibility, objectivity, integrity — the school fosters journalistic excellence and ethics in both the classroom and in its 13 professional programs that fully immerse students in the practice of journalism and related fields. Arizona PBS, one of the nation’s largest public television stations, is part of Cronkite, making it the largest media outlet operated by a journalism school in the world. Learn more at cronkite.asu.edu.
About the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars
The Study of the U.S. Institutes are five- to six- week academic programs focused on U.S. studies for small groups of foreign undergraduate students, scholars and teachers. The Study of the United States Institutes aim to promote a better understanding of American people and institutions, explore the diversity and culture of the United States and develop or expand curricula on U.S. studies in colleges and universities. Hosted by universities and colleges throughout the United States, Institutes are designed to offer a balance between academic and experiential learning through an intensive academic program, site and cultural visits, an educational study tour, and opportunities to engage with American peers through community service, engagement and research.