The
International Fellows Program at UGA
Dr. Marsha C. Black
Dr. Chris J. Cieszewski
Dr. Cheryl D. Dozier
Dr. Arthur Grider
Dr. Carole Henry
Dr. Cynthia Hynd
Dr. William S. Kisaalita
Dr. Richard D. Lewis
2000-2001 IFP Proposed Projects
The International Fellows Program at UGA
The International Fellows Pro-gram (IFP) was established at the University of Georgia in 1997 to create opportunities to increase the impact of the University's in-ternational efforts. The Office of Instructional Support & Develop-ment coordinates the program which is cosponsored with the Office of International Educa-tion.
The 1999-2000 and the 2000-2001 International Fellowsat the September retreat
Goals of the International Fellows Program
International Fellows Program Activities
Marsha
Black, Environmental
Health Science
 |
Marsha Black is an associate professor in the De-partment of Environmental Health Science. She received her doctorate in Ecology from the Uni-versity of Tennessee in 1989 and has been a fac-ulty member at UGA since 1995. Her research focuses on the use of aquatic organisms as pollu-tion biomonitors and the development and use of biomarker assays that detect physiological and bio-chemical responses of fish and bivalves to pollu-tion stress. Cham Dallas, Pharmaceutical and Bio medical Science served as Marsha's IFP Mentor. Marsha's International Fellows Project focused on the Tisza River, a large river that flows through central Hungary. In January 2000, the river was contaminated by cyanide and heavy metals acci-dentally released from a waste lagoon in the Baia Mare mining district of Romania into the Somes River. For several days following the spill, a toxic plume of cyanide and heavy metals was detected in river waters stretching from the spill site in Ro-mania, through the Tisza River in Hungary, to the Danube River in Yugoslavia. Several hundred tons of fish died in the Tisza River, mostly due to ex-posure to cyanide. This initial spill was followed by two additional heavy metal waste spills in March 2000 from mines in Baia Borsa, which ul-timately contaminated the Tisza River via another Romanian tributary. The primary goals of her project were to col-lect preliminary data on metal content and tox-icity of Tisza River sediments and floodplain soils, to gather case study information on the Tisza River for classroom presentations, and to establish research collaborations with Hungar-ian researchers for future research on the river. Marsha traveled to Hungary in May 2000 with Deanna Conners, a Ph. D. student in Environ-mental Toxicology. They met with university researchers from St. Istvan University and en-vironmental officials fromgovernment and non-governmental organizations about the status of the Tisza River and related research needs. They also collected soil and sediment samples for tox-icity evaluation. These preliminary data veri-fied a significant contamination of the river's sediments and flood plain soils by heavy met-als, but with little corresponding toxicity to the test organisms. Future research in collabora-tion with Hungarian researchers is proposed to measure metal contamination and toxicity at lo-cations closer to the mine sources, to study fac-tors contributing to the lack of toxic response, and to determine the extent of historical con-tamination from upstream mining activities. |
Chris
Cieszewski, Forest Resources
 |
Chris Cieszewski is an assistant professor in the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources. As a forest biometrician in the school's fiber sup-ply assessment program he specializes in inven-tory projections models and has recently published articles in this area in such journals as Forest Sci-ence, the Canadian Journal of Forestry, and the Forestry Chronicle. Presently, his research in-cludes development of new methods for deriva-tion of dynamic equations and for stochastic pa-rameter estimation. Bruce Beck, Forest Resources served as Chris' IFP Mentor. In efforts to encourage the use of such techniques worldwide, Chris has collaborated with practioners and developers of these methods in the USA, Canada, UK, Spain, France, Portugal and Poland. The scientists have been sharing data and trading ideas to best produce models for specific applications. As one of the offshoots of this international collaboration, they hope to begin development of an eucalyptus growth and yield model for Portugal. Grant financing ap-plied for by the faculty members of the Univer-sity in Lisbon would support this effort. In addition,
the collaborators are presently ex-amining the development of an international
course, which would teach the various ways in which these methods are
applied in different countries. Collaborative efforts have also opened
the door for recruitment of postdoctoral fellows to work at the University
of Georgia with the first postdoctoral fellow beginning in January |
 |
Cheryl Dozier
is an associate professor in the School of Social Work. Her research focuses
on For her International
Fellows Project, Cheryl worked to coordinate social work research and
While in
Ghana, Cher yl colla borated with faculty and university administration
regarding substance abuse, research possibilities, student involvement
in data collection, a s tudent Cheryl is developing a Maymester course and is seeking funding for the next phase of her project which includes taking students and faculty to the University of Ghana. In addition, she hopes to develop a substance abuse needs assessment for that region. |
Arthur
Grider, Foods and Nutrition
 |
Arthur Grider is an assistant professor in the De-partment of Foods and Nutrition in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. He is inter-ested in studying the potential relationship be-tween poor nutritional status and infection in cer-tain populations in Ecuador. Analyses of the diet in certain areas of Ecuador with a high incidence of parasite infection indicate the possibility of low intakes of zinc and iron. The goals for his International Fellows' project were to strengthen his professional relationships with investigators in Ecuador, to obtain a more informed under-standing of the available resources for research in Ecuador, and to identify potential difficulties that would limit research capabilities. Sharon Nickols, Family and Consumer Science, served as Art's IFP Mentor. While at the Central University of Ecuador in Quito, Art was able to observe ongoing bio-medical research in the diagnosis and treatment of cholera and leishmania. He also visited a field research site and medical clinic in Puerto Quito, a town northwest of Quito. There he observed the treatment of patients with various ailments, including salmonellosis and leishmania. Future studies are planned which will analyze blood samples from affected individuals for zinc biomarkers to determine whether they are defi-cient in this essential nutrient. |
Carole
Henry, Lamar Dodd School of Art
 |
Carole Henry
is an associate professor in the Lamar Dodd School of Art and serves as
chair of As an International Fellow, Carole explored the possibility of establishing art education as a com-ponent of the Cortona Program. Cortona is a small hill town in Tuscany, isolated by location and surrounded by a town wall built by the Etruscans, within travelling distance of Florence, Siena and Rome. Few people speak English in Cortona. However, the UGA Studies Abroad program has been in existence for over twenty years there, and a strong sense of rapport exists between the Cortonese and the University of Georgia. The International
Fellows Project involved Carole travelling to Cortona , meeting school
administrators and observing classes in the schools. In preparation for
the trip, she audited ITAL 2600, an introductory language intensive course
and enrolled in Italian I and Italian II, The project led to an increased understanding of the linguistic and cultural issues surround-ing art education student involvement in the Ital-ian schools and the establishment of profes-sional relationships with educators in Cortona. Plans are now underway to offer such a course . Such an experience would give art education preservice teachers an opportunity to teach in another culture, an experience that would ulti-mately strengthen their ability to work with stu-dents from diverse cultures after graduation. |
Cynthia
Hynd, Division of Academic Assistance
 |
Cynthia Hynd is a professor in the Division of Aca-demic Assistance and serves on the graduate fac-ulty of the Department of Reading Education in the College of Education. She teaches courses in read-ing and learning strategies to undergraduate students and is interested in studying students' critical think-ing and concept changes as they read and study texts in various subject matters. Her interest in critical thinking was the impetus for becoming involved in an international project called the Reading/ Writing for Critical Thinking Project (RWCT) sponsored by George Soros' Open Society and the Interna-tional Reading Association. This project helps teachers in countries that were part of the former Soviet Union to teach their students, using active learning strategies, how to think critically about the things they read. On trips to the Republic of Geor-gia, Cynthia and Penny Oldfather, Elementary Edu-cation, have conducted a series of workshops, ob-served teachers in their classrooms, and gathered data on the changes teachers and students have made as a result of their involvement in the program. As an International
Fellow, Cynthia invited two of her colleagues in the Republic of Georgia
to |
William
S. Kisaalita, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
 |
William Kisaalita is an associate professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engi-neering. He received his doctorate in Chemical En-gineering from the University of British Columbia (Canada). William is the Director of the Cellular Bioengineering Laboratory and his research inter-ests are in developing cell-based screening systems for pharmacological and toxicological activities, with applications in accelerated drug discovery. He is currently teaching three junior/ senior courses: Engineering Physiology, Engineering and Design of Biological Processes II, and Monitoring and Control of Biological Processes. In the past, he has taught Introduction to Biological Engineering and Engineering Dynamics. He regularly guest lectures in Introduction to Africa on technology and devel-opment in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to providing the required technical con-tent in his courses, William tries to foster an un-derstanding of the interrelationships between sci-ence, technology, people and communities. Because today's undergraduates will occupy workplaces and communities that have been transformed by glo-balization; they must learn to make connections across disciplinary, national, and cultural borders. For the International Fellows Project, William used the seed funding to develop study cases that can serve as vehicles for seamlessly add-ing international dimensions to existing courses. With the aid of several undergraduate students, the development of eight study cases spanning the areas of Agriculture and the Environment, Human Health, and Technology and Society is almost completed. Several proposals to fund the next step have been submitted. William has received a Rotary Grant to assist with curricu-lum development at Makerere University in Uganda and will work on video clips for the study cases drawn from Uganda. If secured, other funds will be used to develop companion open-ended thought problems and multimedia WWW-based resources for each case, that will take the student there through "sight" and "sound" without his/ her leaving the classroom. In addition to international exposure, these in-structional materials are expected to foster an appreciation for the relationship between theory and solutions to real local and global problems, as well as enhancing the students' critical think-ing skills. Tom Reeves, Professional Studies, served as William's IFP Mentor. |
Richard
D. Lewis,
Foods and Nutrition
 |
Richard Lewis is an associate professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition. His research focuses on the roles of diet, physical activity and growth factors on bone mineralization, growth and body composition in children. Richard also coor-dinates the Sports Nutrition Graduate Training Pro-gram in which selected graduate students work with The University of Georgia athletes as part of a co-ordinated sports medicine program. Obesity is an epidemic in developed nations with childhood and adolescent obesity of particular con-cern. While developing countries throughout the world are familiar with undernutrition, there are signs that obesity and chronic diseases associated with obesity may be increasing. Increased con-sumption of westernized foods (fast foods) and de-creased physical activity may contribute to in-creases in weight. Richards' international fellowship project focused on examining the extent to which Trinidad is un-dergoing a nutrition transition in which obesity coexists with malnutrition. The project assessed the nutritional status of adolescents in urban and rural areas of Trinidad to determine the extent of obesity and the roles of contributing factors related to obesity such as diet and physical ac-tivity. Early detection of this nutrition problem could lead to intervention programs that may prevent obesity from escalating to epidemic lev-els. Sharon Nickols, Family and Consumer Sci-ences, served as Dr. Lewis' IFP mentor. An additional priority of Richards' international fellowship was to include students in the imple-mentation of the research project. An under-graduate and graduate student have had the opportunity to visit Trinidad and become fa-miliar with the culture and dietary patterns in the West Indies. Moreover, the graduate stu-dent will assist in data collection and the completion of the project. |
2000-2001 IFP Proposed Projects
Alex
Brewis, Anthropology
Project Title: Integrated Research and Teaching in Mexico and the Caribbean
Project Goals:
*Language
study at University of Veracruz
*Develop sites with potential for integrated research/ teaching activities
*Research
in the role of cultural differences in the
expression of attention deficit hyperactiv-ity disorder
*Explore possibilities for graduate and undergraduate
students to gain international fieldwork experience
Cynthia
Hewitt, Sociology and African American Studies
Project Title: Third World Governance and Immigration
Project
Project Goals:
*Participate
in the Center for Global Education
Seminar: Haiti and Cuba, Distinct Neighbors
*Develop case studies on race, ethnicity and political
economy for Race and Ethnicity course
William
Lewis, MIS Department
Project Title: Impact of Cultural Differences on Business Continuity
Planning in Hong Kong
vs. the United States
Project Goals:
*To increase understanding of differring cultural
perspectives on business continuity planning
*Write
a case study of cultural differences in business continuity planning for MBA
course MIST 6080 (Hong Kong disaster recovery plans for business continuity
in case of disruptions
of information technology)
*Establish or enhance professional relation-ships with IS researchers in Hong
Kong
Allen
(Bernie) Moore, Adult Education & CRD
Project Title: Adult Folk High Schools in Scandinaivia and USA with Implication
for Community Development in Georgia
Project Goals:
*To develop a formal collaborative arrangement with the faculty at the
Adult Folk Schools in Scandinavia
*To compare the community learning ap-proaches in Scandinavia and locations
in North Georgia and Tennessee
*To propose models and strategies for promoting learning centers or programs
in rural areas based on the study of folk learning opportunities in Scandinavia
and the U. S.
*Internationalize curriculum for graduate course
Doug
Northrop, History
Project Title: Socio-Cultural Change in Twenti-eth-Century Central Asia
Project Goals:
*Explore the Soviet experience on the day-to-day existence of ordinary people
in Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan
*Determine how traditions and folkways were defended, abandoned and adjusted
during Soviet rule
Leara
Rhodes, Journalism
Project Title: Journalism Study Abroad Program in Tanzania
Project Goals:
*Establish and conduct a Maymester study abroad program in Tanzania and
create joint academic research
*Provide opportunities for students to work on directed or independent studies
with Africanist faculty
Robert
Wicklein, Occupational Studies
Project Title: Technological Strategies and Approaches in Costa Rica
Project Goals:
*International research perspective on technol-ogy
*Develop official relationship with the Univer-sity of Costa Rica
*Enhance graduate course
The Office of Instructional Support & Development
Teaching at UGA is a biannual publication of the Office of Instructional Support &Development (OISD). OISD is a unit within Academic Affairs devoted to the advance-ment of instruction at the University of Georgia. The office is advised by the University's Instructional Advisory Com-mittee and reports directly to the Vice President for Instruction.
The central mission
of OISD is to provide campus-wide leadership on matters relating to instruction.
By coordinating a wide vari-ety of programs and activities, OISD serves faculty,
administrators, and graduate assis-tants in each of the University's thirteen
schools and colleges.
Dr. William
K. Jackson is the Director of OISD. Dr. Kathleen Smith, Coordinator
of the International Fellows Program was the editor for this issue of TUGA.
Samuel Chung, Communications Coordinator, provided technical assistance.
Our sincere thanks to the1999-2000 IFP faculty members who contributed to this
issue.
The Office of Instructional Support & Development is committed to providing access to its programs for all people with disabilities and will provide accommodations if notified. Please call OISD (542-1355) for information about architectural access and to arrange for a sign language interpreter, an assistive listening device, large print, audio, or braille.
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