By ALISA THOMAS

Staff Writer

Dr. Tamara Powell, an assistant professor of English, and Dr. Kenneth Robbins, director and professor of the School of Performing Arts, received travel awards on behalf of the International Travel and Study Program sponsored by the Council of International Exchange for a trip this summer.

Powell will travel to India, while Robbins will visit China. Both are excited about their upcoming trips.

“I’m very excited and ready to leave now," Powell said. "I’m trying to learn the alphabet and some basics of Hindi in preparation.”

Robbins sees his travel plans as a dream come true.

“I am excited by the prospect of actually visiting China," Robbins said. "It has been my dream to explore the nation, its people and its art and culture.”

The Council of International Exchange as noted at their homepage www.ciee.org is designed "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." 

This opportunity was made possible to faculty members through the university’s decision in starting the "Internationalizing the Curriculum Initiative" earlier this year.

The "Internationalizing the Curriculum Initiative" is a program the university designed to incorporate international and global perspectives in teaching and learning throughout the university.

Faculty members submitted applications and proposals for areas they wish to travel and study internationally.

Applications were reviewed by the Instructional Innovation Committee, and two faculty members were chosen.

The Instructional Innovation Committee focuses on applicants who attended the Council of International Exchange’s International Faculty Development Seminars.

International Faculty Development Seminars are designed to encourage faculty to internationalize their curriculum by studying abroad.

Powell’s love of traveling and curiosity about the Indian culture are a few of the reasons she chose India for her studying.

“By taking part in this trip, I will be able to understand Indian and Indian- American culture better," Powell said. "That understanding will allow me to teach more Indian-American literature and to broaden my Asian-American literature course offerings.”

Robbins’ interest in taking the trip to China is mainly to learn something that he will be able to share with his students.

“My desire is to gain insight into Chinese art and culture and share this information with my students upon my return,” Robbins said.

Nicholas Harrison, a graduate assistant in the department of speech and theatre, knows Robbins well and considers his upcoming experience, as well as Powell’s, as a means of making them stronger and wiser.

“Dr. Robbins is already a very intelligent man and this trip will broaden his horizons," Harrison said. "This opportunity will make both Dr. Powell and Dr. Robbins stronger as professors and individuals.”