Welcome!

W inter is sometimes seen

as the quiet quarter, but

that hasn’t been the case

for Global Honors. Our students

continue to make amazing progress,

we’ve been pitching the program to

more and m0re prospective mem-

bers, and significant changes are

also rolling out in style. We are

pleased to announce, pending final

approval, Global Honors is possibly

transitioning to a minor. Two new

pathways have also been introduced

to make the program accessible to

more students and majors (see page

3). We thank campus academic lead-

ership for supporting this develop-

ment.

Our seniors have begun

their capstone theses under the

guidance of Program Director Divya

McMillin in our Research Methods

Seminar. Some are also involved in

exciting projects around campus:

Randy Cezan is working on experi-

ential learning projects concerning

the role of art in community engage-

ment (see page 4); Margaret

Lundberg and Amy Hudgins are

beginning work on the collaborative

UWT/Moscow State University Jour-

nalism Project, which will culminate

in an online publication; and we offer

special congratulations to Latif

Davis, who has already been ac-

cepted to Master of Social Work

programs at Temple University and

the University of Pennsylvania!

Meanwhile, the junior co-

hort is wrapping up an engaging

quarter with Global Interactions lec-

turer Elaine Gibbons. Many thanks

to Elaine for sharing her expertise

and for organizing a fantastic Lec-

ture Series enjoyed not only by the

GH community but by program

friends throughout campus. Our

thanks also go to the UWT Arts and

Lecture Series Committee for fund-

ing this series. Of course, none of

this would have been possible with-

out our inspiring guest speakers

Renu Khana, Joe Lizee (pictured)

Larry Dohrs, Cindy Todd, Ruth

Jones, and Paul Wilkes, who brought

different themes in business and

philanthropy vividly to life. Events

like these and other hallmarks of our

rigorous curriculum will continue

with a different but similarly fasci-

nating focus as former GH Director

Claudia Gorbman returns to teach

the juniors in Global Imaginations in

the spring.

On top of their great work

within the classroom, our juniors

continue to make a splash in their

independent activities and achieve-

ments. Some already have promis-

ing internship and study abroad

plans for summer (find out more

about International Programs on

page 3). Noelle Gichohi, Jody Mat-

thews, Russell Mulligan and Xueyan

(Juno) Sun have made excellent pro-

gram ambassadors at outreach

events. Colin McCann and Megan

Nation have been selected to attend

the Citizenship University confer-

ence in Seattle in late March, their

attendance funded by UWT’s Con-

ference & Training Fund (CTF) Com-

mittee. Thank you to Robbie Lang

and everyone at the UWT Office for

Equity and Diversity for helping

make this happen.

Finally, our accomplished

alumni community also merit recog-

nition. Some of the excellent cap-

stone theses they completed while

with GH have been included as part

of the UWT Library’s new Digital

Commons online journal (http://

digitalcommons.tacoma. uw.edu/

global_honors/). Thank you to Justin

Wadland for his work putting this

amazing resource together. With our

seniors working on their capstones

right now, we look forward to future

theses, and the global topics they

explore, reaching a wider audience

via this digital collection.

Featured

Upcoming Events P

ag

e 4

Saturday April 13th:

Global Honors Day of Service

Thursday May 16th:

Global Honors Spring Colloquium

Friday May 31st:

Graduation Reception

Study Abroad

Pa

ge

3

Global Honors is expanding! Learn

how we’ll be reaching more stu-

dents and majors with our new

flexible pathways.

Find out about some of UWT’s

International Programs, including

new and exciting opportunities in

Vietnam and Italy.

Meet some of our current students

and alumni, and find out what they

do in our entertaining Q&A article

Cohort Conversations.

Pa

ge

2

New GH Pathways

Cohort Conversations

1

Where can I apply?

Capstone:

Internship

(5 credits)

Who can apply?

S tudents will be very excited

to learn that the Global

Honors Program is now

even more accessible and responsive

to all majors. Building on our already

excellent and rigorous core curricu-

lum, we are pleased to announce

significant developments that are a

direct response to student needs.

First, recognizing that our

highly motivated students face

heavy core requirements in their

majors, we are rolling out two addi-

tional pathways: Global Leadership

and Global Citizenship, which priori-

tize experiential learning. Engage-

ment in internships, study abroad,

and community service projects will

allow students in these pathways to

maintain their major focus, expand

global learning, and graduate with a

certificate in Global Honors. While

requiring a lower number of credits

in Global Honors, the pathways allow

students to truly experience the pro-

gram’s mission to provide enriching

pathways to leadership and citizen-

ship and to prepare them for the

challenges of a globalizing world.

Second, for those who

place global studies at the forefront

of their academic goals, the Global

Honors curriculum in its entirety

continues to be an attractive option,

quite possibly culminating in a

Global Honors Minor, pending final

approval. This will further enhance

the honors distinction, and will be of

added value to major requirements

across campus.

This quarter, in TGH 301:

Global Interactions, we experienced

the essence of what Global Honors is

all about, global engagement. Lec-

turer Elaine Gibbons, formerly

Global Head of Offshore Operations

at Russell Investments, organized a

high profile lecture series with lead-

ers of the business and non-profit

communities bringing their real

world experiences into the class-

room. Students were highly engaged

and many were inspired to explore

social entrepreneurship and commu-

nity activism on their own. It is at

these sorts of exchanges that we

experience the dynamics of global-

local interactions, and that the pos-

sibilities of agency and ethical trans-

actions emerge.

The three pathways,

Global Honors Minor, Global Leader-

ship, and Global Citizenship, will

take the core values of Global Hon-

ors to new dimensions, scaling up

and building out our commitment to

scholarly excellence, informed lead-

ership, and responsible citizenship.

Divya McMillin, Program Director

Current sophomores and

incoming transfer students with:

GPA of 3.5 and above

Demonstrated interest in

global themes

Potential to make an excep-

tional contribution

For students who want to complete

the program in its entirety. Typically,

one 2-5 credit course is completed

each quarter of the first and second years, including all four core classes.

This scholarly journey typically culminates in a substantial capstone thesis,

and study abroad is strongly encouraged. 21-24 credits total

For students who want to complete

most of the core curriculum. Typi-

cally, three to four 2-5 credit courses

are completed, and students have some flexibility in spreading these re-

quirements across two years. The capstone requirement typically involves

experiential learning in leadership. 17-22 credits total

For students who want to complete

some of the core curriculum. Typi-

cally, two to three 2-5 credit courses

are completed, and students have flexibility in spreading these require-

ments across two years. The capstone requirement typically involves expe-

riential learning in citizenship. 12-17 credits total

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits,

optional)

Research

Methods

Workshop

Developments in Global Honors

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Research

Methods

Workshop

Capstone:

Internship

(5 credits)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits,

optional)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Introductory

GH Class

(2 credits)

Introductory

GH Class

(2 credits)

Research

Methods Class

(2 credits)

Study Abroad

(optional)

Introductory

GH Class

(2 credits)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Core

GH Class

(5 credits)

Benefits Include:

Global Scholar Award of up to $1500

Transcript Designation

Graduation Cord and Pin

Flexible Capstone options

Benefits Include:

Global Scholar Award of up to $1000

Global Honors Certification

Graduation Cord

Flexible Capstone options

Benefits Include

Global Scholar Award of up to $750

Global Honors Certification

Graduation Cord

Flexible Capstone options

Capstone:

Thesis or Essay

(2-5 credits)

http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/

global-honors

Global Honors Program

Director, Divya McMillin

2

How to Apply

Study Abroad and Global Honors

S tudy abroad is not compulsory for Global Honors, but it is something we strongly encourage all our stu-

dents to consider. You don’t have to leave the United States or even Tacoma to be mindful of and respon-

sive to the global interactions that happen all around us, and our curriculum is designed to broaden aca-

demic, cultural and professional horizons. But nothing really compares to the exchange of ideas, assumptions and

understanding that comes when we step beyond the borders of comfort and routine.

Some differences of lifestyle, belief and culture might seem obvious, but the subtleties and maybe even

the similarities can be harder to pin down. Even if you’ve studied the language, read the guide book, and anticipate

variations of etiquette, the most eye-opening experiences often strike from left field. They certainly make a lasting

impression, and the re-orienting and re-thinking that follow are exactly what Global Honors values. In the words of

GH senior Maria Kimmerle, “If you personally experience the culture of another, your understanding goes deeper

than what you learn from books … I will never see life with the same eyes again.”

W hen asked to think of

Vietnam, many people

immediately think of its

war with the United States. How-

ever, the country contains a com-

plex, colorful history that is revealed

in its food, customs, language, and

natural environment, all of which

invite deeper exploration. Students

who join this study abroad program

will study the media, culture, and

environmental diversity of Vietnam

while traveling from the booming

metropolis of Hanoi in the north to

the rural farming and fishing villages

of the famous Mekong Delta in the

south.

Along the way, students

will take cooking classes, participate

in “homestays,” explore ancient

caves and tunnels, snorkel in the

South China Sea, and cruise on beau-

tiful Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage

site and one of the Seven Natural

Wonders of the World. Where else

could offer so much?

A re the days of the Euro-

pean Monetary Union, and

even the European Union

itself, numbered? For students of

international political economy,

there could not be a more interesting

course or place to teach this topic

than in Rome. Massive demonstra-

tions have sprung up in Italy’s capital

and much of Europe in protest of

government austerity policies that

have drastically cut into social wel-

fare programs related to unemploy-

ment, housing, hunger, health care,

education, and immigration.

Professor Balaam has di-

rected two travel programs in Lon-

don, was a research fellow at the

University of Passau in Germany, and

was a Fulbright lecturer in Bologna,

Italy. Join him in this popular ancient

city and discover for yourself how

Rome is reconciling old values, ideas,

and processes with today’s increas-

ing cynicism about integration and

globalization.

Find out more about study abroad

and apply online at:

http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/

international-programs

Or, contact Study Abroad Adviser

Tracey Norris for an appointment :

Birmingham Block Building, 102M

253-692-4426

uwtintl@uw.edu 3

UWT International Programs and Study Abroad

“I t changed my life!” “I came back a new person.” “Studying abroad is transformational!” No other aca-

demic experience has students making such exuberant claims. Why is this? What happens when we go

abroad? Why are we different when we return? Studying abroad takes us beyond our borders both

geographic and personal. Much of who we are is based on our geography; our personal landscapes are drawn from

our country and culture. Immersion in another country’s culture gives us a basis for comparison – illuminating dif-

ferences we might not be aware of – and we get to know our own values and beliefs in-depth. In the end, we gain a

solid new perspective on ourselves; we learn who we are and where we come from. This is one of the most compel-

ling of the benefits of studying abroad. As writer James Baldwin put it, “I met a lot of people in Europe. I even en-

countered myself.” John Banks, International Programs Director

Rome, Italy, with Dr. David Balaam The Political Economy of the Financial Crisis in

the European Union: Austerity vs. Growth

International Programs

Director, John Banks

Vietnam, with Dr. Ellen Moore Media, Culture, and the Environment

in a Globalized Society

Hillside Farming Triple Canopy Jungle

Ellen Moore David Balaam

Thank You...

Ran

dy C

ezan

Aji F

aye

Alumna : Junior

A: When envisioning this sculpture, you said you were inspired by pat-terns you saw repeating in nature. How did you incorporate these pat-terns in Large Interacting? R: I meant to expose the viewer to an archetypal experience of natural patterns, something we all share but

are unaware of. This, according to Carl Jung, is what makes one piece of art popular and another not, even when they are non-representational. Interaction stimulates diversity, which makes creativity possible. But creativity can also express what we all have in common. A: Is there a particular mood you want viewers to feel, or are their impressions more subjective? R: I think each viewer will experience a personal reflection that is part of her or himself. This is beyond the dreams of the artist. But the mood should be a form of recognition, even when you cannot pinpoint what it is you almost, not quite, recognize. A: Do you see thematic connections between your personal art projects and the work you've done with GH? R: Large Interacting reflects genuine

human interaction. If you think of the large pieces as separate spiral galaxies, like the Milky Way, the gravity pulling between them cre-ates diversity and distortions that are akin to what happens when peo-ple or nations interact. Genuine in-teraction never takes place without change, which in turn gives rise to new diversity. I could have depicted interaction as two Frisbees passing without contact or exchange. But in life, in globalization, and in the uni-verse, interaction is creation.

L: What originally attracted you to Global Honors?

B: The main attraction was the promise of challenge. Even though I heard the program was hard, that was offset by the chance to learn more. Simply put, it was a program that offered something unique. L: During my time with GH, I really valued taking classes with the same cohort every quarter, and having our own events and activities. Has this been of importance during your GH journey so far? B: Being with the same cohort has actually been more important than I expected. It seems to let things like discussions and group projects flow better as a result. But more impor-tantly, it makes us feel like we're really taking this journey together.

That's something I can't say about my regular classes. L: Now you’re completing your sec-ond quarter with the program, do you have a different perspective of what it means to be involved than when you first started? B: There's definitely a lot more GH pride. At first, I thought being in Global Honors was more about tak-ing tough classes, but there really seems to be a sense of unity be-tween everyone in the program. It's those little things like talking to each other in the Reading Room that really brings the feeling home. I feel like I can go up to my friends and say that I'm proud to be a part of Global Honors.

Cohort Conversations

M: How did GH help you prepare for the challenges of graduate studies? C: GH helped prepare me thanks to respect by faculty, a seminar-type learning environment, and a holistic understanding of global complexi-ties. It also gave me the encourage-ment to produce an original thesis composed from primary research. M: What’s the key to producing a personally satisfying and academi-cally original capstone thesis? C: The key for me was conducting fieldwork as part of my GH study abroad in Kenya and Sierra Leone. When connecting primary research with the large body of published academic literature, I realized I was part of this larger community in-stead of a non-contributor. This realization allowed me to take own-ership in the necessary rigor of re-search and instilled self-confidence in the development of my own unique perspective and ideas.

Bran

do

n O

reiro

Lam

a Ab

basi

Marg

aret Lu

nd

berg

Ch

ristop

her T

ho

mas

W hat does it mean to belong the Global Honors community? Our diverse student body represents very

different academic, professional and personal backgrounds, which makes for great conversations.

Here, GH juniors, seniors and alumni quiz each other on what the program is all about.

Lama graduated in 2012 and works as

a Corporate Coordinator with North-

land Communications in Seattle.

Brandon joined GH in Autumn 2012,

and is majoring in Communications.

Margaret joined GH in Autumn 2011

and is majoring in AMC. Christopher

graduated in 2010 and is currently

working on his MA in Geography at

the University of Oregon.

Aji joined GH in Spring 2013 and is majoring in Healthcare Leadership. Randy

joined in Autumn 2011 and is majoring in AMC. His artistic projects extend

beyond the classroom, and his sculpture Large Interacting (below right) was

recently on display in downtown Tacoma. Here, Aji asks Randy about this

project and how it connects to Global Honors.

Global Honors Program

University of Washington Tacoma

Box 358457, 1900 Commerce St

Tacoma, WA 98402

ghonors@uw.edu

253-692-4770

...to Program Intern Yukying Lee and

newly hired Student Assistant Amy

Hudgins for helping produce this

newsletter, and for all their work

arranging and promoting GH events.

Junior : Senior

Senior : Alumnus

4