Author: galers

The fifth annual International Education Month gets underway from mid-October to mid-November, with a variety of performing arts, film, lectures, and interactive events designed to showcase international, indigenous, and migrant cultures at the University of Indianapolis and the rich benefits of intercultural exchange.

Highlights include the 33rd Annual Celebration of the Flags on Oct. 14, 2-3 p.m. Modeled after the Olympic-style opening ceremony, the event is held outdoors on Smith Mall (rain location: The Arc) with international students, faculty, and staff carrying the flags representing the many nations of the University of Indianapolis community. 

Immediately following the Celebration of the Flags, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to visit the International Exposition in the Atrium, Engagement Area, and Lawn of Schwitzer Student Center from 3-5 p.m. The Expo will feature interactive displays hosted by campus offices, departments, and student groups, including Study Abroad; Global Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies; the Writing Lab; International Relations; and Burmese, Nepali, Indian, and LatinX students, among others.  The Expo also features interactive activities such as henna tattoos, calligraphy, traditional artifacts, clothing displays, and coupons for discounted U.S. passport photos. Participants receive a “UIndy Passport” to be stamped by interacting with cultural presenters and table hosts for L/P credit. 

International Education Month Events

Oct. 11, Dining Services International Night #1, Schwitzer Student Center Cafeteria, $

Tonight’s menu features Asian cuisine.

Oct. 11, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Faculty Artist Concert Series: “Music from The World”, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Free admission, L/P Credit

A concert featuring UIndy international faculty and works. 

Oct. 13, 7:30-10:30 p.m., University of Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Concert, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Free admission, L/P Credit

A concert featuring UIndy students and international works. 

Oct. 14, 2-3 p.m.: 33rd Annual Celebration of the Flags, Smith Mall, Free admission, L/P Credit

Join in the University of Indianapolis tradition of the Celebration of the Flags, representing the many nationalities of our UIndy community. Modeled after the Olympic-style opening ceremony, flag bearers feature the national colors and dress of their country.

Oct. 14, 3-5 p.m.: International Expo, Schwitzer Atrium, Schwitzer Engagement Area, and Schwitzer Lawn, 3-5 p.m., Free admission, L/P Credit

Immediately following the Celebration of the Flags, visit the International Exposition in the Atrium of Schwitzer Student Center. The Expo offers opportunities to engage with cultures represented at UIndy.

Oct. 14, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Free admission, L/P Credit

A concert featuring international works. 

Oct. 18, Dining Services International Night #2, Schwitzer Student Center Cafeteria, $

Tonight’s menu features Irish cuisine.

Oct. 22, 6:30-9 p.m., Film: “Missing in Brooks County,” Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Christel De Haan Fine Arts Center, Free admission, L/P Credit 

Missing in Brooks County follows as “two families search for their loved ones who went missing in the fields of Brooks County,

Texas after crossing from Mexico and find a sobering truth: the deadliest part of the journey is far from the border.  It also features how law enforcement, volunteers and forensic scientists seek to search, recover and identify the bodies of the missing and the challenges they face. Co-Producers and Directors Jeff Bemiss and Lisa Molomot will introduce the film. After the film the audience will be introduced to a panel of four people who are either featured in the film or do work related to the film, and will be able to ask questions.  This includes members of the University of Indianapolis Beyond Borders Humanitarian Forensic Science Team, volunteers at the South Texas Human Rights Center and Co-Founder of the local advocacy group Indiana AID, which provides support to immigrants who have been detained by ICE here in Indiana.

Oct. 25, Dining Services International Night #3, Schwitzer Student Center Cafeteria, $

Tonight’s menu features Greek cuisine.

Oct. 25, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Ryan Behan, piano: Liszt’s Années de Pèlerinage: Suisse (“Years of Pilgrimage: Switzerland”), Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Free admission, L/P Credit
Franz Liszt’s Années de Pèlerinage (“Years of Pilgrimage”), widely considered one of his greatest works, was composed and reworked over the course of his life, and combines the freshness of the young composer with the clarity and meticulous fine-tuning of his Weimar period, unfolding into the mysterious and fragmentary brevity of his late style.  Alfred Brendel writes of these suites that they “draw for their inspiration on a reservoir of diverse impressions—nature and musical folklore, art and religion, craving for freedom; above all, on poetry and literature…The First Year of Pilgrimage—Switzerland—deals with nature in a twofold sense: as nature around us, and as nature within.”  Join faculty pianist Ryan Behan in a complete performance of this first part of Années de Pèlerinage.

Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m.:  Global Languages and Cultural Studies International Film Night presents “The Lives of Others” (Das Leben der Anderen), German with English subtitles:  HEAL 138, Free admission, L/P Credit

Join us for a screening of this international film followed by discussion. 

Nov. 1, Dining Services International Night #4, Schwitzer Student Center Cafeteria, $

Tonight’s menu features Indian cuisine.

Nov. 1, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Faculty Artist Concert Series: Music and Poetry from Around the World, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, Free admission, L/P Credit

Joana Genova, violin; Haruka Ostojic, piano.  Poetry and music from  Bulgaria, Japan, Russia, India, France, Germany, Holland, North America, and South America with UIndy faculty Jyotika Saksena, Gerburg Garmann, Aksana Waskosky, Joana Genova, Haruka Ostojic, Ana Maria Ferreira, and Eileen Mah.

Nov. 3, 4-5 p.m. International Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities, Virtual event, L/P Credit pending

Dr. Karen Newman, UIndy English professor and Honors College Assistant Director for Fellowships, hosts an information session on international scholarship and fellowship opportunities available to ALL UIndy students for undergraduate and post-graduation work and/or study, with specific information and application tips for the federally-funded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the Fulbright Program, and Marshall Scholarships. Join us to learn more about free money to make your international aspirations a reality! L/P Credit

Nov. 3, 6-9 p.m. Diwali Fest, Schwitzer Student Center, Free admission, L/P Credit

UIndy students host the Indian festival of Diwali, complete with a rangoli art competition, dance, and dinner, introducing Indian culture to our campus community and bringing people of all nationalities together.

Nov. 8, Dining Services International Night #5, Schwitzer Student Center Cafeteria, $

Tonight’s menu features Latin-themed cuisine.

November 8, 7-8:30 p.m.: Peace Corps Panel, virtual event, L/P Credit

Former Peace Corps volunteers, including UIndy alums and members of the local Indianapolis community, share stories about their assignments and experiences in a variety of countries via a synchronous Zoom presentation. Panelists will address each of the six sectors of work available to Peace Corps volunteers (Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health and Youth in Development), plus information for potential applicants and strategies for successful applications. 

Nov. 9, 4-5 p.m.: “Candyland: An Afternoon of International Candy and Culture,”  UIndy Hall A, Free admission, L/P Credit pending

Candylan features samples of free, pre-packaged, popular candy from around the world, plus information on the various countries represented by the candy. Participants at the event visit booths hosted by international student representatives and the event organizers and help themselves to candy goodie bags to sample some of the world’s most popular sweets. The event also features a written trivia contest in which students identify the culture, language, and history of countries represented by the candy at the event. Winners will receive a basket of globally unique candy. The objective is for students to be educated, immersed, and gain awareness for cultures, global issues, and languages, through representative sweets.

Nov. 10, 7:30-9 p.m., Kellogg Writers Series: Fiction Reading with Lysley Tenorio, UIndy Hall A, Schwitzer Student Center and via Zoom, L/P Credit

Lysley Tenorio is the author of the novel The Son of Good Fortune and the story collection Monstress, which was named a book of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, a Whiting Award, a Stegner fellowship, the Edmund White Award, and the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His stories have appeared in The Atlantic, Zoetrope: All-Story, and Ploughshares, and have been adapted for the stage by The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and the Ma-Yi Theater in New York City.  Born in the Philippines, he lives in San Francisco, and is a professor at Saint Mary’s College of California.

Nov. 13, 7-8 p.m., Study Abroad in Asia/Pacific Region: APIEA, virtual event, L/P Credit

Hosted by the Center for Global Engagement, this event features study abroad information for students interested in studying in Asia.  

Nov. 13, 7:30-10:30 p.m., University of Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Concert, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall,  Free admission, L/P Credit

A concert featuring UIndy students, faculty, and international works. 

Nov. 15, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Faculty Artist Concert Series: The Indianapolis Quartet Peforms Beethoven and Janáček, Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center/Ruth Lilly Performance Hall and live-streamed, Free admission, L/P Credit

Zach DePue, violin; Joana Genova, violin; Michael Strauss, viola; Austin Huntington, cello. The concert features two masterworks of the string quartet repertoire: Beethoven’s glorious Tenth Quartet, filled with vitality, heart, invention, and accessibility, which earned its nickname “The Harp” from the first movement’s elegant pizzicato sections, and Janáček’s Intimate Letters, referring to hundreds of letters that he wrote over many years, expressing his love to a young, married woman.  Janáček described his second string quartet as “beautiful, strange, unrestrained, inspired, a composition beyond all the usual conventions.”

Nov. 16, 2-3 p.m.: “A Taste of Home,” UIndy Hall A, Free admission, L/P Credit

This student-hosted event features a video screening of UIndy international students discussing foodways and favorite foods from their home countries, plus an interactive discussion following the video, where participants learn more about the relationship of food and culture.  Free food and prize giveaways round out this cross-cultural experience.  

Nov. 17, 6-8 p.m.: Global Languages and Cultural Studies International Film Night presents “The Painting” (Le Tableau), French with English subtitles:  HEAL 138, Free admission, L/P Credit

Join us for a screening of this international film followed by discussion. 

Upcoming Events (details to follow):

Fulbright Program for UIndy Faculty, Virtual event, Time and date TBA

Join a guest Fulbright faculty ambassador who will share information for UIndy faculty about applying to the Fulbright Program for scholars and educators.  

International Careers, Student Internships, and the U.S. Foreign Service Exam, Virtual event, Time and date TBA; L/P Credit

Join the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomat in Residence for the North Central Region, who will share detailed information about international career opportunities and student internships, as well as information and tips for taking the highly competitive U.S. Foreign Service Exam.  

The University of Indianapolis welcomed the Class of 2025 during Welcome Week for the Fall 2021 semester. This fall nearly all courses are back in the classroom. Also in the works are in-person events, including full-capacity athletic events and more than 250 lectures, student events, and more. Below you’ll find photos from Welcome Week and the first week of classes!

The Department of History and Political Science recently announced award recipients for the 2021-22 academic year. Megan Young ’22, a political science major with minors in international relations, legal studies, and biology, received the Donald F. Carmony Award for Excellence in History and Politics. Kathryn Powell ’21 (history, pre-law concentration) received the Roland T. Nelson Scholarship.

“I was surprised, excited, and grateful to receive this reward and it means a lot for the Political Science department to choose me,” Young said.

Young talked about the support she’s received from faculty in the department.

“I really enjoy how close-knit the whole political science department is and how much they care about their students. One of the biggest things that will help me is the connections that I was able to make with the faculty. They are each a part of a much larger network and are always able and willing to open doors of opportunity for UIndy students,” she explained.

“Megan is easily one of the best students I have taught at UIndy. I had the pleasure of meeting her when she was a freshman. Like many excellent students, Megan was motivated, organized, and engaged. She arrived at UIndy eager to learn. She became proficient at reading for meaning. In her writing, she skillfully synthesized primary and secondary sources. I had the pleasure of presenting Megan for induction to Phi Alpha Epsilon. She is one of UIndy’s best,” said Mat Billings, associate faculty adjunct.

Powell, whose goal is to become a lawyer, said UIndy’s professors have been the biggest factor in helping her prepare for her career.

“Dr. [Larry] Sondhaus and Dr. [Ted] Frantz have helped steer me in the right direction when preparing for law school and Dr. [Laura] Wilson has shown me several internship opportunities that have provided relevant experience for the field of law. I’ll certainly be grateful for them for many years to come,” she said. “I’m very grateful to be thought of by the faculty. It’s a good reminder of how much the faculty cares and actively encourages us to do our best.”

“Kathryn combines a fantastic work ethic with great insight, an analytical mind, and a knack for the written word.  She is a pleasure to have in the classroom,” said Ted Frantz, professor of history.

Earlier this year, the department also announced three Class of 2021 recipients for the Dwight L. Smith Award for Excellence in Research and Writing: Kelsey Green (history and psychology), Cameron Misner (political science and legal studies), and Karlye Vonderwell (political science and international relations).

When the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC) was first launched as a university-based center of excellence 20 years ago in 2001, it did so with expectations that it would have a transformative effect on older adults in Indianapolis, the state, the region and beyond, as well as on the university. Twenty years later, those expectations have been fulfilled, and the Center is continuing to find new ways to positively impact lives. 

Impact on the university

“The idea was that the Centers (CAC & Center for Excellence in Leadership of Learning) would provide a way for the university to reach outside of itself, not only in terms of being known and recognized, but also in terms of attracting grants and consulting projects to the university,” said Dr. Ellen W. Miller, CAC’s executive director, who has been a part of the Center since its inception.

“When we started,” recalled Miller, “UIndy didn’t have the infrastructure for doing large-scale grant and contract work. There was no IRB (institutional review board), no grants office, no accounting experience or framework to manage this kind of work.”

Then-university President Jerry Israel said the Centers “were going to pull the university along” to move the institution to a place where receiving grant dollars and revenue from consulting contracts would be a normal part of university business.   

Read more: CELL-ebrating 20 years of excellence!

“CAC helped pull UIndy along,” Miller said. “Now we have many of the processes and policies in place, making it easier for everyone on campus to do the same kind of work. The university stepped up to make the necessary changes, with the Centers leading the way. That’s important because every grant or contract we bring in extends the university’s reputation and diversifies the university’s revenue streams.”

Impact on the community, state, and region

There have been plenty of contracts secured by CAC in the past 20 years, though that was not the initial focus of its work. When CAC was launched, an advisory group worked to narrow the Center’s focus to a few key issues, including meaningful work for older adults and aging in place. After several years of focusing on its own interest areas, CAC leadership realized that its strength came from the ability to partner with aging network organizations around their interest areas. What organizations needed was a University partner that could help accomplish real work as well as bring subject matter expertise. CAC flipped its business model to one that brought the expertise and capability of UIndy to organizations that work with or on behalf of older adults. The interprofessional team at CAC has become known for its ability to work collaboratively and is a sought after partner for solving real-world challenges faced by aging network organizations.  

CAC is a financially self-supporting unit, as well as generating revenue to support university functions.That revenue has come from contracts with state agencies such as the Indiana Department of Health, the Indiana Division of Aging, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services – Aging & Adult Services Division. In addition, CAC has also partnered with funders, nursing home corporations, and health care organizations to conduct needs assessments, develop and deliver training, manage complex projects, and design and implement program evaluation. CAC also partners with other universities when the expertise and capabilities of both organizations are necessary to achieve project goals. When possible, CAC brings in the expertise of UIndy faculty to work on its contracts and projects and has provided applied experience in aging for many graduate students. 

“All of the work of our team is done with the intent of improving quality of life for all people as they age,” Miller said. “We’ve made an impact in the areas of better health for nursing home residents, more efficient and effective spending on aging services by government agencies, and education and training of people who work with older adults. We even helped train the National Guard troops deployed to Indiana nursing homes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

CAC has also been deliberate about being a good partner to the rest of the university, providing service to the campus through efforts such as Memory Cafes, the Caregiver Resource Group, and presentations like Dementia Friends and the Virtual Dementia Tour. 

“Aging is a common thread that ties us all together,” Miller said. “We try to help others make sure that thread is brightly colored and vibrant.”

Anniversary Show

In recognition of its 20th anniversary, the Center for Aging & Community has partnered with the UIndy Theatre Department and the Fonseca Theatre to reprise performances of “Forever Sung: A Celebration of Age in Song,” an original work created for the Center’s 10th anniversary. The performances will take place at the Fonseca Theatre on November 13 and 14 and at the UIndy black box theatre on November 20 and 21. More details and tickets will be available this fall.