First Advisory Council named for Tusculum College’s Center for Global Studies

Members of the inaugural Advisory Council for the Center for Global Studies at Tusculum College have been named by Interim President Dr. Russell Nichols.

According to Nichols, the immediate charge of the Advisory Council will be to create the portion of the strategic plan which pertains to present and future international experiences of all types, for both faculty and students. Additionally, the Advisory Council will have a role in designing the initiatives for grant proposals, refereeing those proposals and monitoring the follow up.

Named to the organization in addition to Nichols are: Dr. Kim Estep, provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jacqui Elliott, vice president for enrollment management; Dr. Geir Bergvin, associate professor of marketing and director of the Center for Global Studies; Dr. Antonio Bos, professor of business administration; Dr. DiAnn Casteel, associate professor of education; Dr. Greg Church, associate professor of biology; Dr. George Darko, associate professor of economics; Robin Fife, assistant professor of social science; Dr. Tom McFarland, associate professor of business administration; Dr. Taimi Olsen, professor of English; Dr. Joel Van Amberg, associate professor of history, and Dr. Ian Van Lare, associate professor of biology.

According to Estep, many of those named to the Advisory Council have had firsthand experience in working international programs into their educational programs and curricula. Several have studied abroad or have taken students on international study programs, including Van Lare, who has taken students on international study experiences to Costa Rica for 13 years.

“According to our most recent data, only six percent of our seniors report engaging in an international experience while enrolled at Tusculum College,” Estep said. “Our goal is to increase this number to 50 percent over the next five years, and this program will allow us to move this process forward and begin to lay the groundwork for future international connections.”

Bergvin added, “Having the Advisory Council in place is a step forward in our overall goal of increasing the number of international opportunities for our students, faculty and staff. As we develop the strategic plan, we can see our vision emerge as a plan of action.”

The Center for Global Studies was formed in spring 2008 and is located in the Pilloni Office on the ground floor of the Thomas J. Garland Library. The mission is to “enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations to address local and global challenges through building relationships with communities, institutions of higher learning and organizations globally.” For more information on the Advisory Council or the Center for Global Studies, visit http://www2.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a civic arts institution committed to developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. About twenty-four hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and four off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.