Lipscomb's EAP program to partner with Vanderbilt as associate campus for Humphrey Fellowship program
Grace Mestad |
This year, Lipscomb University’s English for Academic Purposes program, housed in the College of Education, has partnered with Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College to be an associate campus for the Humphrey Fellowship program during the 2016-17 school year.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Humphrey Fellowship program is a non-degree program that offers individuals from across the globe invaluable opportunities for professional development through selected university courses, attending conferences, networking and practical work experiences.
Todd Beard, program director for Lipscomb’s EAP program was introduced to the Humphrey Fellowship last spring, when one of the fellows, Dr. Soe Than, discovered the EAP program at Lipscomb and expressed his desire to complete his professional affiliation with Lipscomb.
After working with Dr. Soe Than, Beard reached out to Nancy Dickson, program director for the Humphrey Fellowship Program at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, and inquired about a continued relationship with the program.
“After talking with Nancy, we quickly agreed that Lipscomb would be an ideal place as an associate campus for the 2016-17 academic year,” said Beard. “This will be our first year as an associate campus, so I anticipate we will spend much of the coming months exploring how to make this a mutually beneficial relationship between us and the fellows.”
This year's fellows represent countries from all over the world including; Margaret Campbell, of Jamaica; Shazia Kanwal, of Pakistan; Lal Kumar, of Pakistan; Abdelaziz Lahmar, of Morocco; Ekaterina Loshkareva, of Russia; Rolando Guzman Martinez, of El Salvador; Geohanna Noel Matheus, of Venezuela; Tsokalanu Msowoya, of Malawi; Elizeo Joseph Odu, of South Sudan; Lineo Segoete, of Lesotho; and Otilia Thebele, of Botswana.
Beard says a few of the fellows have already expressed interest in actively engaging with the EAP program and/or the College of Education's faculty, as they are interested in teaching English in their native countries. Each fellow will explore all of their options and make a decision about their professional affiliation in December.
The fellows professional affiliation will begin in January and finish in May. During that time, they will work closely with a program, or organization in town that aligns with their professional goals. Beard says he hopes that during their time here, not only will Lipscomb aid the fellows in their learning, but that the fellows will also enrich Lipscomb’s community as well.
“The Humphrey Fellows bring cultural and linguistic diversity and professional expertise from their country to our campus,” Beard said. “From this, we hope to explore initiatives, exchange ideas and develop a robust intercultural dialogue.?”
The partnership between Lipscomb and the Humphrey Fellows is significant in order to expand the opportunities for faculty, staff and students to interact with individuals across the globe who are involved in education. The fellows also look to Lipscomb for fresh approaches to education, as they seek opportunities to grow professionally and develop plans to implement what they have learned in their home country.