2014-15: A Year in Review
Table of Contents
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ZSEIFS: Ecuador 2014
Remembering David Coffey
Course Enhancement
ZSEIFS Alumni: In Their Own Words
Beyond the Classroom
Event Spotlight: Art in Motion
Ecuador in the Community
Ecuadorian Fare
Post of the Week
International Year of...
On the Horizon: IYO South Africa 2015-16
Prepared by:
Katherine Paschetto, Programming Coordinator OIP
Addie Cheney, Assistant Director OIP
Designed by:
Jeremy Copeck, Visual Arts ‘14
The International Year Of…
Bringing the world to WKU one country at a time.
The International Year Of… (IYO) program, an annual yearlong exploration of a single country
or world region, is designed to provide WKU students, faculty, staff, and members of the
surrounding community with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of and appreciation
for the world around them. Administered by the Office of International Programs, the IYO
encourages academic colleges, departments, other campus units, and even community
organizations to spotlight the year’s target country in ways that are most relevant for their
audiences. The result is a diverse and varied calendar of events that facilitates a campus
and community-wide engagement with the target country. The 2014-15 academic year
brought the sights, sounds, and flavors of Ecuador into WKU classrooms, student projects,
programs, and events. Over the course of the International Year of Ecuador, thousands of WKU
constituents discovered and explored Ecuadorian culture, cuisine, history, and politics.
International Year of Ecuador
Planning Committee
Fred Carter, Ed.D.
Teacher Education
David Coffey, Ed.D.
Agriculture
John Dizgun, Ph.D.
Kentucky Institute for International Studies
Holli Drummond, Ph.D.
Sociology
Marc Eagle, Ph.D.
History
Cecile Garmon, Ph.D.
Communication
Zuheir Sofia Endowed International Faculty Seminar
Complementing the IYO through extended faculty engagement.
A key component of the IYO and a critical initiative in WKU’s long-term, comprehensive
internationalization strategy, the Zuheir Sofia Endowed International Faculty Seminar
(ZSEIFS) is an intensive interdisciplinary professional development program for WKU faculty.
Each year preceding the implementation of an IYO, faculty participants are selected from
different disciplines and backgrounds to participate in a semester of concentrated study and
preparation that culminates in a two-three week program in the target country. Not only does
the ZSEIFS position a core group of faculty to play a lead role during the relevant IYO, it also
serves as a springboard for their long-term engagement with the target country.
Loup Langton, Ph.D.
Journalism & Broadcasting
Sonia Lenk, Ph.D.
Modern Languages
“I was given the opportunity to meet and work with
others on campus who have a common love for
Ecuador and its people, and in exchange I learned
things that I never knew about Ecuador from my
colleagues. As I say to friends, ‘Ecuador es mi segundo
hogar’, and as ‘my second home,’ I’m proud to help
others learn about it.”
– Loup Langton, Ph.D., Director, School of
Journalism & Broadcasting–
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ZSEIFS 2014 Participants
Jill Brown, M.S.
OCSE, Geography & Geology
Kelly Conroy, Ph.D.
PCAL, Modern Languages
Beverley Holland, Ph.D.
CHHS, Nursing
Aaron Hughey, Ed.D.
CEBS, Student Affairs
Donielle Lovell, Ph.D.
ZSEIFS: Ecuador 2014
In May of 2014, eight faculty members from four different colleges embarked on a two-week journey to and
through Ecuador under the direction of faculty leader Melissa Stewart, Ph.D. (Spanish). The in-country experience
was the culminating piece in a semester-long program designed to internationalize the teaching, research, and
service of its faculty participants. While in Ecuador, participants experienced firsthand the diverse historical,
political, cultural, and geographical landscapes of the South American country. The in-country itinerary, crafted
with the goal of increasing participants’ interdisciplinary knowledge of Ecuador while also providing space for
individual exploration, included opportunities to connect with scholars and other experts in relevant disciplines,
meet with consular officers at the U.S. Embassy to discuss U.S.-Ecuador relations, and interact with one of the
many indigenous communities in Ecuador. Participants applied the new knowledge and connections developed
through the ZSEIFS to their scholarship in the form of enhanced or new academic courses and co-curricular
programming for the subsequent yearlong focus on Ecuador and beyond.
PCAL, Sociology
Albert Meier, Ph.D.
OCSE, Biology
Virginia Pfohl, M.A.
CEBS, Psychology
William Pfohl, Psy.D.
CEBS, Psychology
Melissa Stewart, Ph.D.
Faculty Leader, PCAL, Modern Languages
Gil Holts
Aramark District Executive Chef,
Staff Internationalization Grant Recipient
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“Traveling to Ecuador has meant creating fantastic networks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge between activists,
faculty, and citizens of Ecuador and WKU faculty. These Ecuadorian connections mean I have firsthand accounts and
international curriculum to teach from in my classes. Longer term, I intend to maintain these contacts so I can continue to
gain understanding, foster opportunities for faculty and student exchange, and hopefully one day lead a study abroad to this
wonderful country.” – Donielle Lovell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, ZSEIFS Ecuador Participant –
“Dr. Coffey’s love for the country and people of Ecuador was truly inspiring.
Through his study abroad program, I became hooked on international
education—so much so that I studied abroad four times while at WKU.
Dr. Coffey was my mentor and friend, and I cannot imagine my WKU
experience without him.” - Matt Frazier, Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy ’15 -
Remembering David Coffey
David M. Coffey, Ed.D., Agriculture (1950—2014) played an instrumental role in
planning the International Year of Ecuador. Having led more than twenty study abroad
programs to Ecuador over almost as many years, Dr. Coffey amassed a multitude of
contacts both in Ecuador and in the Commonwealth that would contribute to the
successful planning and implementation of the inaugural International Year Of…
program and associated ZSEIFS. Additionally, more than three hundred WKU students
and alumni owe their first experience in Ecuador to Dr. Coffey. It is with tremendous
gratitude that we remember Dr. Coffey’s contribution to the IYO and WKU. Memorial
gifts can be made to the David Coffey Scholarship Fund, which will support study
abroad. For more information, call (270) 745-4597.
Left: David Coffey talks to a group of students on his study abroad program Development and Sustainability in Ecuador in the
spring of 2013. Below: Kristina Arnold MFA (Art), speaks about the late David Coffey at a reception dedicated to honoring his
memory in December 2014.
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Course Enhancement
The International Year Of… is designed to enrich the academic experience
of all WKU students. As such, course enhancements are a vital component
of the IYO program. During the 2014-15 academic year, faculty from all six
academic colleges brought Ecuadorian perspectives and examples into
nearly forty classrooms. Culinary Arts faculty from Universidad San Francisco
de Quito, a WKU partner university, presented to a Catering and Beverage
Management course; those students, in turn, designed a four course menu
featuring baked empanadas, shrimp ceviche, and carne colorada. Visiting
lecturers like Ecuadorian political cartoonist and activist Xavier “Bonil”
Bonilla presented prime opportunities for Spanish students to exercise their
translation skills in a real life setting. Students in Gallery Studies curated
an exhibition honoring the late David Coffey and his love of Ecuador,
interviewing and collecting memorabilia from his family, colleagues, and
former students to create a stunning display in the FAC Corridor Gallery.
Though not all of the thirty-eight academic courses will retain their
Ecuadorian features, many have been permanently transformed, ensuring
that the impact of this year extends far beyond its conclusion.
Xavier “Bonil” Bonilla speaks about censorship in Ecuador as part of the Tracing the Unexplored series, Spring 2015.
“As I was translating Bonilla’s piece, I was struck with the importance of the role that
translators play in the case for freedom of expression. Translators open the doors for
a wider audience and the spread of information. It is comforting and empowering
to know that you are allowing someone’s thoughts and concerns to be heard on a
grander scale— especially when the issue at hand affects us all. If more people learn
about Bonilla and his fight against censorship in Ecuador, more people can support
him and his cause.”
The WKU International Year of Ecuador Celebrates
Dr. David M. Coffey display, designed by students,
in progress in FAC corridor gallery, Fall 2014.
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Ecuadorian photojournalist Pablo Corral Vega (left)
and Loup Langton, PhD., Director of WKU’s School of
Journalism and Broadcasting, discuss their collaborative
work on the photograph collection Discovering Ecuador
and the Galapagos Islands, Spring 2015.
– Erin Miller, Spanish/Communication Studies ’16, on translating Xavier “Bonil”
Bonilla’s campus lecture. –
ZSEIFS Alumni: In Their Own Words
OIP recently followed up with ZSEIFS alumni, Aaron Hughey, Ed.D. (Student Affairs), and Donielle Lovell, Ph.D.
(Sociology). Here is what they had to say about the ongoing impact of their ZSEIFS experience.
It has been more than a year since you participated in the ZSEIFS to Ecuador. In what ways is that
experience still impacting you as a scholar?
DL: “I think this program helps me to keep in the forefront that I’m not just asking students to think critically
about U.S. sociological issues, but also more globally and where we fit as a nation in both addressing and
contributing to global problems.”
One of the primary goals of the ZSEIFS is to internationalize academic courses—not just for the relevant
IYO celebration, but also in the long-term. What strategies did you use to infuse new international
subject matter into existing courses?
DL: “In order to make my engagement with Ecuador long term in the classroom I created modules based on
different themes that can be reused and updated in a quick manner. For example, I created the module “The
Hidden Cost of Production: A Marxian Analysis of Flower Production in Ecuador,” which was applicable in
different contexts in my courses, including Sociological Theory (SOCL 304); Collective Behavior (SOCL 312); Race,
Class, & Gender (SOCL 362); and Diversity in American Society (SOCL 375).”
AH: “I have infused reading related to Ecuadorian culture into the course requirements for International
Students & Services in Higher Education (CNS 581) to give students a wider perspective when dealing with
international students. Being able to think critically is increasingly important to education and to our society
as a whole. Nothing happens in a vacuum; only by understanding the context can one accurately interpret the
practices of a particular region.”
The ZSEIFS is also intended to seed long-term engagement beyond the classroom—in the form of
research projects, new education abroad programs, or other creative or collaborative endeavors
involving Ecuador or Ecuadorian scholars. Are you pursuing any projects/activities that stemmed from
your participation in the ZSEIFS to Ecuador?
ZSEIFS Ecuador participants walk along La Ronda in Quito, Ecuador’s
capital, Summer 2014.
AH: “I am working on a journal manuscript comparing attitudes regarding the importance of higher education
among different levels of the Ecuadorian society. The research I am conducting is much more than an academic
exercise (as it would have been before) due to my more intimate knowledge of the culture I am investigating.”
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With the capacity to foster both intellectual and social
development in our students, co-curricular programs
are a valuable educational tool. The IYO program,
in partnership with internal and external units,
dedicates substantial time and resources to creating
high-quality, high-impact programs that extend our
students’ learning spaces beyond the traditional
classroom. Thanks to the contributions of more than
thirty-five campus units and community organizations,
the IYO Ecuador brought over forty Ecuador-themed
co-curricular events to WKU audiences. From art
exhibits to musical performances to guest lecturers
from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, the year’s
diverse calendar of events engaged well over 3,000
students, faculty, staff, and community members in
meaningful ways, building upon knowledge gained in
academic courses or sparking new interests through
the introduction of unexplored topics.
Beyond the Classroom
Carlos Montúfar, Ph.D., President Rector of Universidad San Francisco de Quito
presents From Copernicus to Darwin, a talk on the central role Ecuador has played
in major scientific movements, sponsored by the Department of Biology, Fall 2014.
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Participants discuss the Ecuadorian film Que Tan Lejos at an installment of the Faraway Flix film series, Fall 2014.
“The most interesting thing that happened to me at the International
Year of Ecuador Centennial Market was that I spoke with an
Ecuadorian artisan and his wife in Spanish, first about the jewelry
they were selling and then about life in Ecuador. It was a wonderful
experience, and it made me really excited to interact with native
speakers to improve my Spanish-speaking abilities.”
– Cathryn Ellis, Communication Studies/Spanish ’18, on her
experience at the International Year of Ecuador Centennial Market –
Students peruse the items available at the International Year of Ecuador Centennial Market.
At this kickoff event—inspired by the iconic street markets of Ecuador—participants could
purchase Ecuadorian goods, interact with native Ecuadorians, sample fruit juices common in
Ecuador, and listen to live Latin music, courtesy of Serenatta, Fall 2014.
“Working with the IYO Ecuador allowed our students access to an
artist they would not otherwise have been able to work with.
They were impressed with the depth and range of Sandra
Fernandez’ experience as a young artist and social activist in
Ecuador, remarking that her talk gave them a first-hand account
of events that they had only read about in books.”
– Kristina Arnold, MFA, facilitated seven events during the
IYO Ecuador including three exhibits, a visit and lectures by
Ecuadorian artist Sandra Fernandez, and two receptions.
Arnold also incorporated country-specific content into her
Gallery Studies (ART 496) course. –
Visiting artist Sandra Fernández and her exhibit On Migrations, Dreams, and Dreamers, Fall 2014.
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Event Spotlight: Art in Motion
President Gary Ransdell admires Guayasamín’s work at the Art in Motion
exhibit opening reception, Spring 2015.
Art in Motion: Guayasamín’s Ecuador Unframed,
an exhibit conceptualized by a group of scholars
at the University of Notre Dame and made
possible by Vanderbilt University’s Center for
Latin American Studies, was on display at the
Kentucky Museum during the month of Feburary.
The exhibit bridges cultural theory, mathematical
analysis, media visualization, and computer
programming in an innovative installation of
the mural Ecuador (1952), a major art work by
Oswaldo Guayasamín, one of the most prominent
Latin American artists of the twentieth century.
Guayasamín’s original mural, consisting of five
moveable and interchangeable panels, explores
notions of identity within the Ecuadorian context.
The Art in Motion exhibit utilizes technology
to digitally ‘unframe’ Guayasamín’s panels,
providing viewers the ability to rearrange and
reorient the panels into some of its infinite
configuration possibilities.
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Belén Sánchez, Head of International Cooperation Unit of the Embassy of Ecuador, at the Art in Motion exhibit opening reception, Spring 2015.
Ecuador in the Community
Bowling Green’s favorite coffee house,
Spencer’s Coffee, partnered with the
Honors College at WKU and IYO Ecuador
to host From Seed to Cup: The Economics
of Coffee in Ecuador and Around the
World. The event featured guest
speaker Matthew Huested of Louisville’s
Sunergos Coffee and free Ecuadorian
coffee samples for participants.
Community Partners of the
International Year of Ecuador
SPENCER’S
Left: Samples of freshly ground Ecuadorian coffee are
prepared for participants at From Seed to Cup: The
Economics of Coffee in Ecuador and Around the World at
Spencer’s Coffee, Spring 2015. Below: A variety of South
American wines await sampling at Taste the Wines of
South America at Liquor Barn, Spring 2015.
In the spring of 2015, IYO Ecuador found its way
to the palates and minds of local community
members. Taste the Wines of South America,
an event offered in partnership with Liquor
Barn and Bowling Green – Warren County
Community Education, provided community
members the opportunity to sample wines from
Chile and Argentina. The event also included
a presentation on Ecuadorian wine and the
reasons behind its underrepresented status in
South American wine production.
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Llapingachos
Fried, cheese-stuffed
potato patties
Aramark District Executive Chef Gil Holts assists visiting Chefs Ana Teresa Pérez and Mario Jiménez of Ecuador’s Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
who developed, prepared, and presented an Ecuadorian meal for President Ransdell and guests, including Carlos Montúfar, President Rector of USFQ, Fall 2014.
Ecuadorian Fare
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Ecuadorian empanadas ready for presentation.
Common to all and as diverse as the people
who prepare it, food is an ideal way to explore
a new culture. The IYO Ecuador partnered with
Aramark to bring this key cultural marker to the
WKU community. Aramark District Executive
Chef Gil Holts, a Staff Internationalization Grant
(SIG) recipient, incorporated Ecuadorian dishes
into both the catering and Fresh Food Company
menus. Holts’ SIG took him to Ecuador in the
spring of 2014. While in Ecuador, Holts explored
local gastronomy and developed connections
with culinary professionals that sparked the
transformation of WKU dining options.
Ingredients:
5 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tbs sunflower or avocado oil
½ cup finely chopped white onion
2 tsp ground achiote
1 cup grated quesillo or mozzarella cheese
Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Boil potatoes until soft
2. Heat the oil over medium heat, add onions &
achiote, cook until onions are soft
(about 5 minutes)
3. Mash the potatoes, mix in the onion refrito and
salt to taste
4. Cover potato dough and let it sit at room
temperature for about an hour
5. Roll the dough into small golf ball-sized rounds
6. Make a hole in the middle of each dough
balland fill with the grated cheese
7. Shape the dough into thick patties around
thecheese
8. Cook the patties on a hot griddle until browned
on each side, (about 4-5 minutes each side)
9. S erve with fried egg and sausage, avocado
slices, and peanut or aji sauce
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Post of the Week
In an effort to leverage social media to further the educational goals of the IYO
program, OIP launched the IYO Post of the Week contest. The contest puts students in
the role of educator and has the potential to extend the impact of the IYO far beyond
the boundaries of our campus. To participate, students simply share a photo along
with a statement about what they learned about Ecuador—through their coursework
or an IYO event—to their preferred social media outlet. Each week, a winning post is
selected and reposted to the IYO social media sites. At the end of the year, each Post
of the Week winner is entered into a drawing for a $250 book scholarship.
IYO Post of the Week grand prize winner @rainsavannah posts about her experience
at The Musical Traditions of Ecuador:
“Tonight during guest speaker Milton Estèvez’ presentation about music culture in Ecuador,
I learned about the prominent musical and cultural influences like Papá Roncón, an
Afro-Ecuadorian musician who has risen to fame playing marimba and guitar.”
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International Year of...
What country do you want to explore in 2018-19? Groups of faculty with demonstrated investment/experience with a country
are invited to submit a proposal for upcoming countries of focus.
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See wku.edu/iyo or contact internationalization@wku.edu for more details.
On
the
Horizon:
IYO
South
Africa
2015-16
Featured Events
*Ticketed event. For details, contact WKU African Student Union at wkuasa@gmail.com. **Each episode will be shown at a different time/location. See wku.edu/iyo for full schedule.
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International Year of Ecuador by the Numbers:
Courses featuring
Ecuadorian content
Guest scholars,
performers, and
other experts
Campus and community
events with an
Ecuadorian focus
People attended
events, exhibits,
and lectures*
WKU academic colleges,
departments, and service units
WKU colleges
participated in IYO
Ecuador through event
facilitation and/or
course integration
External
organization/
businesses
sponsored events.
* Many events during the International Year of Ecuador were exhibits, making it difficult to track attendance. We confidently estimate that the total number of attendees for the IYO Ecuador was well over 3,000.
All data above gathered from a survey of WKU faculty, conducted summer 2015.
Western Kentucky University
Honors College International Center
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11066
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: (270) 745-5334
Fax: (270) 745-6144
Email: internationalization@wku.edu
Website: wku.edu/oip
Facebook: WKU Office of International Programs
Instagram: @wkuiyo
Twitter: @wkuiyo