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A Learning Community Committed to International Understanding,
The University of Bridgeport community honored the life and the academic contributions of the late Dr. Justus van der Kroef, the university’s Dana Professor of Political Science, in a memorial gathering held on April 8 at 4 p.m. in the Art Gallery of the Arnold Bernhard Center for the Arts and Humanities. Dr. van der Kroef died in Aug. 2007. He had taught at the University of Bridgeport from 1956 until 2007. The author of more than twenty-seven books and monographs as well as countless articles, his teaching and his life personified academic rigor and excellence and an encyclopedic masters of world politics and international affairs.Professor van der Kroef was a pre-eminent scholar of South East Asian Affairs, and a well known social commentator and public intellectual. The tribute was hosted by the University of Bridgeport’s International College, where Dr. van der Kroef taught classes over much of the past decade. Adrian van der Kroef, Dr. van der Kroef and a graduate of the University of Bridgeport prepared a slide show reflecting on Dr. van der Kroef’s life. His daughter Sri had a beautiful letter reflecting on her experiences with her father and thanking the University of Bridgeport faculty, administration and students for their support and appreciation of her father.
International College Faculty Member Chosen as National Model United Nations Faculty Lecturer
Clement B. Malin, a member of the International College Advisory Board, served as Commencement Speaker for the 1,200 graduates of the University of Bridgeport Class of 2008 at Harbor Yard. He was also awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa at the ceremony. Malin, Texaco’s former Vice President for International Relations, held several top executive positions at Texaco, in corporate and strategic planning and government relations. He also served in the federal government as an Assistant Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration under Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. He was the senior energy representative in negotiations leading to the establishment of International Energy Agency and head of the delegation to negotiate an energy information exchange with the Soviet Union. He also served as the energy expert in negotiations with Iran for oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and as the leading energy representative to the Conference on International Economic Cooperation and the NATO Energy Preparedness Committee. Prior to that, Malin was an executive with Mobil Oil Corp., carrying out planning assignments in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. He also served as chairman of the Industry Advisory Board to the International Energy Agency, as a member of the board of directors and co-chair of the international committee of the Global Climate Coalition, as head of the delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and a member of the United States Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy. An oil executive concerned about energy policy, he has lectured at colleges and universities and has been a speaker at conferences and forums on energy policy and climate concerns in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and East Asia. He has addressed the Oxford Energy Seminar, the World Energy Congress and the World Petroleum Congress A graduate of Dartmouth, where he was an All American in lacrosse, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs of Princeton University, Malin and his wife, Ann, make their home in Weston.
International College Faculty Member Chosen as National Model United Nations Faculty Lecturer Dr. Dave Benjamin, UB Chair of International Political Economy and Diplomacy and the Model UN Academic Advisor, was one of three faculty members chosen this year as a faculty speaker at the National Model United Nations. Dr. Benjamin spoke on Friday, March 21 on the topic: "Protecting the Protectors: A Case for Immunities and Privileges for NGOs in Conflict Zones." The National Model UN opened this year on Tuesday at the United Nations Headquarters with both UN Secretary General Ban and General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim in attendance. On May 10, 2008, in the midst of the 1200 UB graduates, a contingent of forty-three International College Students numbered among those who made their way across the stage at Harbor Yard, marking the completion of their studies at UB. The months of April and May are a time of celebration of graduates of the University and of the International College. Already on April 17 the International College had a reception for graduating seniors. Dean Ward thanked students for having chosen UB and the International College and Professors Yu, Katz, Zhu, Benjamin, and Skott shared their thoughts with the graduating seniors. Monique Ross, Titlayo Ogunbayo, Randolph Ogunbayo, Richard Unger, and Masjo Ward spoke on behalf of graduating seniors. On May 9 the University held its annual Academic Honors Convocation and International College World Religions and International Political Economy & Diplomacy major Youngil Loew was recognized for having earned the University’s highest academic award the Phi Kappa Phi Aristeia award for academic excellence and he was also awarded the Dean’s Award from the International College and the award for Academic Achievement in World Religions. Other students receiving awards were Monique Ross (Academic Achievement in International Political Economy & Diplomacy); Titilayo Ronke Ogunbayo (Academic Achievement in Mass Communications); Ashley DiGeorge (Academic Achievement in the Social Sciences); Hyuk Lee (Academic Achievement in the Martial Arts); Tricia Lee (Outstanding Senior Thesis); and Ashley Glen (Outstanding Senior Project). Following the Annual Honors Convocation, the International College held a gathering to induct the new members into the discipline-based national honor societies. The induction into Lambda Pi Eta, the National Honor Society for Mass Communications, was overseen by the Chapter Faculty Advisor Professor Yanmin Yu. Five students, Linsey Casso, Ashley Glen, Titlayo Ogunbayo, and Ashley Wilson were inducted into the University of Bridgeport’s Tau Gamma Chapter. Dr. Stephen Healey oversaw the induction of Youngil Ely Loew and Hanna Nilson into the Connecticut Beta chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the National Religious Studies Honor Society. Dr. Zhiqun Zhu oversaw the induction of Aaron Barabasz, Chris Calabrese, Wilma Harris, Andres Perez, Sade Kent, Louise Lisboa, Eliana Oliva, Righthero Phillips, Danielle Robinson, Monique Ross, Alexander Ward and Masjo Ward into the Bridgeport Alpha Gamma Pi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. Next Dr. Beth Skott recognized existing members including Christopher Calabrese and Nicole Castelucci, and inducted. Ashley DiGeorge, Dima Grozeva, Adam Jara, Randolph Jean-Baptiste, Sade Kent, DaShawn Laurel, Jenette Lebel, Tricia Lee, Michael Lockshire, Youngil Loew, Eliana Oliva, Andres Perez, Righthero Phillips, Ellen Roberts, Danielle Robinson, Monique Ross, Alexander Ward, Masjo Ward, Amanda Wentz and Jenette Lebel into the Connecticut Beta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu, the International Social Science Honor Society. Dr. Dave Benjamin concluded the ceremony by recognizing Past President Aaron Barabasz and inducting Chris Calabrese, Wilma Harris, Brittany Karchner, Louise Lisboa, Youngil Loew, Danielle Robinson, Alexander Ward and Masjo Ward into the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the Honor Society for International Studies. Following the inductions, Eliana Oliva, Youngil Lowe and Jennette Lebel representing the Honor Societies inductees, made closing observations where they expressed appreciation to faculty and fellow students for the experience of studying at UB.
University of Bridgeport adds new Master's degree program in 2008 In December 2007 the University of Bridgeport received notice from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education that its new Masters degree in Global Development and Peace has received licensure. The 36 credit graduate program is the International College’s first Masters degree. It is designed for students interested in a career in international public service and includes an overseas internship. Students may choose from one of three concentrations: Peace and Development, Conflict Resolution and Culture, or Global Management. Dr. Zhiqun Zhu, a frequently quoted China scholar who is recognized by the International Political Economy Network, will chair the program, which will begin in Fall 2008. For more information click here.
Japan's Model UN's National Team to return to UB in 2008 The 25th Japan National Model UN Team announced in August its intention to pair for a second time with the University of Bridgeport Model United Nations team. The Japan team is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and is made up of students who intend to join Japan’s diplomatic corps. Yukari Hara, who served as her team’s captain for the 2007 Model UN team that visited UB last year, was sent to Nepal on a diplomatic mission by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs this past Summer. Members of the UB team have begun a regular weekly training and a selection process with Dr. Dave Benjamin, Assistant Professor of International Political Economy. Dr. Zhiqun Zhu and Dean Ward will assist Dr. Benjamin. Ayumi Sumita has been chosen to lead to the 25th Japanese National Model UN Team and Nevena Navatchka, an International Business Major and an International Political Economy & Diplomacy Minor, will lead this year’s UB Team.
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