Faculty Members Offer A Multicultural Perspective

McKendree students are gaining a broader, more multicultural perspective as the University continues to attract faculty members with international experience. As the University draws students from across the globe - 23 countries are currently represented - it has also hired professors who bring a bit of the broader world into the classroom.

“In recent years we have made a concerted effort to seek diverse faculty candidates to better match the racial and ethnic diversity of our student body,” said Dr. Christine Bahr, provost and dean. “One of our student learning outcomes is that ‘students will understand human and cultural differences, engage with diverse individuals, and embrace variety in viewpoints.’ What better way to help students learn about diverse perspectives than to provide instructors who hail from other parts of the world?

“Our international faculty broaden our students’ understanding of how people across the globe live their daily lives, do business, raise families, think, solve problems and communicate. Our students learn not only about differences among various cultures, but also about how people throughout the world share common goals and dreams. Due to advances in technology and the growth of international travel, the world is more connected now than ever before.”

Some of McKendree’s internationally born professors who have joined the faculty in recent years share their teaching philosophy and the benefit of a multicultural perspective.

 

 

Aurélie Capron, Ph.D. (France)

Associate Professor of Spanish
Also teaches French, meditation, power yoga

“Most of our students did not have the privilege to be exposed to a lot of diversity as they were growing up. In today’s increasingly global world, students need that exposure to get a better sense of ‘otherness,’ to be openminded individuals, and to understand and access the potential of this global world.

“Translation and interpretation is a field that is going to grow faster than others, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There is an increasing need for greater communication among speakers of different languages. Technology is not going to replace translators and interpreters anytime soon; in fact, it serves translators and interpreters to work more efficiently in their field.

“My role is to prepare students to master the language so that it is a practical skill for their future career. I also want them to become sensitive to the people they talk to by learning about the culture, customs, and even the history. Those are keys to successful communication in another language.”

 

 

Mostafa Mostafa, Ph.D. (Egypt)

Associate Professor of Computer
Information Systems, Kentucky campuses

“Leaving your culture and living within another culture is a priceless experience. Once you do it you will find yourself a different person, regardless of where you go… It adds to you another dimension. My advice is, regardless of age, if you have the chance to add a new dimension to yourself, take it and never waste it. We learn about science and we forget to learn about each other.

“Most of my students are adults, they are working, and they have a family. This requires different methods and techniques on how to make sure that they learn, not just get a degree. Those students have already shaped their own way of thinking. Forcing one to change their way of thinking to assimilate new concepts needs nontraditional approaches. In this sense, teaching becomes a continuous process of reassessment, updating, and adjusting to new challenges.

“In addition to covering the course material, I have to convey also the real life experience I have had. I must also consider students’ background, experiences and points of view. I do not claim to know the ‘one and only’ interpretation of concepts, and I do not ask my students to adopt my own personal ideas. I encourage them to share and find a variety of possible interpretations.”

 

 

Sameer Dutta, Ph.D. (India)

Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems

“I encourage students to become innovative by challenging established ideas. Learn from the book of life also, not just textbooks. Today's world is converging. People are moving around much more than before, businesses are becoming global and societies are becoming melting pots. An awareness of perspectives different from what one grew up with is education itself.

“Students at McKendree need to be exposed to different cultures because that will teach them values and ideals that are important to different cultures. I believe students in my classes gain actual experience in interacting with someone who grew up in a different culture rather than just reading about it. These interactions can hopefully become a starting point of my students’ future multicultural diverse experiences in a globally connected business world. If in the future they have business interactions with someone from India, they will have the advantage of their experience at McKendree.

“An atmosphere of camaraderie and cooperation prevails at McKendree. I have benefitted immensely from the support and encouragement of everyone I have met since my arrival here in September.”

 

 

Halimin (Hal) Herjanto, Ph.D. (Indonesia)

Assistant Professor of Marketing
Studied and worked in Australia and New Zealand, Spent professional time in Japan and Indonesia

“In my view, a great teacher is like a great explorer with a good storytelling ability. He or she is able to transform raw information into meaningful and valuable information for his or her students. Students benefit from a more multicultural perspective by being able to understand that we can’t live alone and more importantly, we can learn from each other.”

 

 

Yun-Hee Kim, Ph.D. (South Korea)

Assistant Professor of Marketing

“My primary objective is for students to realize that learning through gaining knowledge and experience is important for their lives because they constantly have to deal with learning. A multicultural perspective encourages students to have curiosity and to learn new cultures. They will respect other cultures and open their eyes, which promotes critical thinking.”

 

 

M. Faisal Safa, Ph.D. (Bangladesh)

Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance

“My ultimate goal is to provide students a long-term learning experience that goes beyond the confines of the classrooms, to translate concepts into real world applications. A multicultural perspective helps students to grow with a broader outlook. A typical workplace in the U.S.A. includes people from all over the world. Coping with colleagues from different socio-cultural background and leading a project with them towards success is challenging. From my personal experience, I find students with multicultural experience tend to succeed more in such an environment.”