Updates from Alumni Scholars
By Alena Klimas, IIJ Projects Coordinator
The Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) 2016 scholars returned to their home countries in August. While in the United States, SUSI scholars visited Media outlets across the country and networked with Ohio University professors and media professionals. They brought diverse experiences, courses, and backgrounds. There were a total of 18 scholars from 18 countries from five continents. It was a socially and regionally diverse and talented group with unique academic specializations and interests. The SUSI summer institute is funded by an annual renewable grant from the U.S. Department of State's Study of the U.S. Branch in the Office of Academic Exchange Programs. The Institute for International Journalism (IIJ) at Ohio University, administered the six-week summer program. The IIJ reached out to see what the scholars were doing back home at their home institutions. To no surprise, the scholars are doing amazing things back home and working to incorporate what they learned in the SUSI program (in the United States) into their professional and personal lives.
Dr. Amel Abuzaid (Sudan) with Dr. Kofi Obeng-Asiedu, Program Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
Amel has returned to teaching at her home
university. She teaches courses in the English Language for the Special
Purposes of Communication, Media Laws and Ethics, and Communication
Translation. Amel is also collaborating with different departments at her
school in order to share her experience in the United States (and with SUSI) to
students and colleagues.
Dr. Sofiene Mallouli
(Tunisia), with Dr. Kofi Obeng-Asiedu, Program
Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
Sofiene returned to Tunisia and will began
teaching later September, teaching graduate and undergraduate seminars on Media
Impacts; Pragmatics; Media and Politics; and Media Literacy. He has already included
her SUSI experience into her lectures!
Rosette
Leung - Hong Kong Baptist University
After returning to Hong Kong, Rosette
reflected on her wonderful experience as a visiting scholar for the IIJ, as she
became an integral part of the SUSI scholars’ experience for a few weeks. She
learned from lectures but also from SUSI scholars. Rosette enjoyed and
appreciated the “great opportunity for us to gain something from each other by
sharing different views, values, and cultural experience” SUSI scholars. She
touts SUSI as an amazing experience that she would one day wish to partake. She
is now back home in Hong Kong teaching at the School of Communication at the
Hong Kong Baptist University.
Dr. Ashfara Haque, University of Development, Bangladesh, with Dr. Kofi Obeng-Asiedu, Program Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
Ashfara has kept busy working on
publications and a new research project. She has a piece recently published in
a London based newspaper. She will also be teaching Broadcast Journalism with a
focus on American Media. She will incorporate many of the visits to American
media institutions. She also is in the process of developing an Environmental
Journalism course with materials she obtained during her time with SUSI.
Ashfara plans to continue to work on publications for international conferences
and to pursue further study.
Ms. Joanna
Spiteri- University of Malta
Mr. Batzorig
Tovuu - Mongolian University of Education
Mr. Daniel
Superville, University of Montevideo, Uruguay, with Dr. Kofi
Obeng-Asiedu, Program Officer at the U.S. Department of State.
For Daniel, SUSI was a life changing
event and has left him much to reflect on. He hopes to keep in touch with all
of the friends he made during the program and continue to be an active alumni
of the program. SUSI also challenged Daniel to think more about his course work.
So, Daniel has spent time since his return rethinking about new prospects. He
is now exploring options for his professional career and his future after his
SUSI experience.
Dr. Fatma
El-Zahraa Mohammed- Ahram Canadian
University, Egypt
On social media and on a personal level,
Fatma has shared her SUSI experience with friends, family, and colleagues.
Fatma received hospitality and warm reception in the Athens community. She is
currently working on a joint research project regarding terrorism and intends
to publish it in a US journal. She also intends to participate in the AEJMC
next year.
Mr. Jorge
Cruz Silva- Pontificia Catholic University,
Ecuador
Jorge is writing conference papers and
his dissertation for his Ph.D. He will begin teaching classes titled: Research
workshop; communications; and News writing 101 in October. He hopes to
incorporate much of his SUSI experience especially his visits to The Budget,
The San Francisco Giants organization, and NPR.
Ms. Nahria
- STIKCOM Muhammadiyah University, Indonesia
Nahria returned to Jakarta in late August
to continue her work with her university. She reflected on SUSI program and how
the program “made significant changes in my life, my career, and my college
with all kinds of benefits it offers.” In addition, Nahria talked to the local
media in Jakarta about her experience with SUSI and with her trip to the United
States. She will also be speaking with the US Embassy in Jakarta about SUSI and
its benefits. Nahria facilitated the relationship between her university and
the Department of Ministry of Research and Technology, which is the first
federal connection at her university.
SUSI 2016 scholars on the last day of
their stay in Athens, Ohio.
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