News + Noteworthy Archives - Page 16 of 23 - International Student House Washington, DC

ISH Represented at First Lady’s Luncheon

May 5, 2014 by Marie Pius

ISH was represented at The Congressional Club’s annual First Lady’s Luncheon honoring First Lady Michelle Obama on May 1, 2014. The 102^nd annual luncheon was attended by ISH resident Chimdi Onwudiegwu from Nigeria who is completing her Master’s Degree in International Affairs in Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Chimdi’s participation was made possible by ISH Board member Betty Ann Tanner, whose husband, John Tanner is a former Congressman from Tennessee.

Chimdi Onwudiegwu, Betty Ann Tanner and Marie Pius

In her address, Mrs. Obama emphasized the importance of education. She noted the significance of cultural exchange and stated that The White House will be shining a brighter light on education. The First Lady discussed her Reach Higher initiative, an effort to inspire every student in America to pursue education beyond high school.

Mrs. Obama discussing the importance of education

Betty Ann Tanner, a member of the ISH Board of Directors and a Vice President of The Congressional Club, served on the committee to organize the luncheon which included spouses of Congress members, Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet Secretaries. Mrs. Tanner noted “for one hundred and two years the Congressional Club has honored America’s First Lady by hosting an event in Washington, DC. This year we were especially glad to hear that Mrs. Obama and the White House will focus on higher education and the added value of international education exchanges.”

Board member Annette Aburdene and Development Associate Marie Pius also attended.

Learn about the Reach Higher initiative here

Meet ISH’s New Resident Managers

April 12, 2014 by Marie Pius

ISH’s new Resident Managers, Jennifer Simpson and Robert Gertz, began their positions in December 2013. They oversee facility operations, admissions, resident events and support. Please join us in welcoming them to ISH!

Meet Jennifer Simpson

Hello! My name is Jennifer Simpson and I am one of the new Resident Managers for International Student House in DC. Before becoming a Resident Manager at ISH DC I served as a Resident Director at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC for three years. I completed my Master of Science in College Student Development and Counseling at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. I was able to serve as the Residence Life Graduate Assistant at Newbury College in Brookline, MA, and a Student Activities and Leadership Graduate Assistant at Northeastern University.

You may be wondering why am I interested in working and living at a place like ISH DC. First, I am honored to be able to support the mission of providing a residential experience where international scholars are able to create life-long connections and promote inter-cultural dialogue. The unique experience ISH offers residents is one that will last a lifetime. In my short time here, I have already heard from many alumni of ISH DC and the amazing impact it had on their experience in DC. Secondly, my excitement of travel and culture. I have been fortunate to travel various countries such as Japan, Ireland, Western Europe, and Haiti. Each travel experience taught me new things about myself and gave me a greater understanding of what it means to live in a global society. In a world that is getting smaller through the means of technology, I believe cultural understanding is a necessity. Lastly, it is amazing to see the growth and development of residents who come and go from the house. Residents enter the house a little unsure of themselves, but within a couple of days, they have made connections and feel part of the house family. It makes me proud and honored to be part of this experience.

Meet Robert Gertz

Hello. My name is Robert Gertz. Before coming to the International Student House to be a Resident Manager, I served as a Resident Director within the Student Affairs Division at Temple University. While at that school, I also completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy. My dissertation, Moral Code: The Design and Social Values of the Internet, focused on current moral, political, and global challenges involving technology. My academic expertise centers on ethics and morality, and I continue to teach on this topic part-time.

I enjoy being part of a community interested in scholarly matters, so I am very excited to serve as a Resident Manager at ISH. As well, I spent a great deal of time studying, thinking, and writing on the difficulty of being a global citizen. I appreciate the valuable activity of widening one’s understanding and empathy for other ways of life. I am very pleased to be part of the fascinating history of ISH and take part in its important mission. I hope to contribute to the house and improve the experience of its residents, especially since they have already made my time at ISH so rewarding.

ISH Residents Meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as part of Tour of Pentagon and the 9/11 Memorial

April 12, 2014 by Marie Pius

A group of ISH residents participated in a very special visit to the Pentagon on March 27, 2014, which began with an informal meeting with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in his office. ISH Board members Andrew Ammerman, Senior Executive Advisor to the Pentagon Memorial Fund, and Barbara Slavin, Chairman of ISH’s Committee on International Dialogue, organized this program which included a tour of the Pentagon and the 9/11 Memorial. The visit included a discussion on the history of the Pentagon, the tragic events of the 9/11 attack and first response, as well as the conception and design of the outdoor Pentagon Memorial and future plans for the 9/11 Pentagon Visitor Education Center. The tour also included a visit to the internal crash area memorial and chapel, and the outdoor memorial.

ISHDC Resident Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant

April 10, 2014 by Marie Pius

International Student House of Washington, DC resident, Omar Almatrafi, has received a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant. The Davis Projects for Peace is the vision of Kathryn W. Davis, an alumna of International House New York, who founded the prize to encourage and support today’s motivated youth to create and try out their own ideas for building peace. The prize is open to all IHouse residents who must submit a proposal for consideration.

Mr. Almatrafi submitted a proposal entitled “Preserving Vision for a Healthy Peaceful Community”. The grant will allow Omar to spend two weeks in Trujillo, Peru working with the Regional Teaching Hospital to prevent, detect and diagnose glaucoma, ultimately in hopes to prevent blindness.

ISH Symposium Will Address Sexual Assault on Campus

April 4, 2014 by Marie Pius

Contact: Judy Singer, Director of Development

International Student House

1825 R Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009

Tel.: 202-232-4007 x210

Email: jsinger@ishdc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2014

International Student House (ISH) of Washington, DC will present a symposium on Breaking the Silence: Addressing Sexual Assault on Campus on Thursday, May 1, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 1825 R Street, NW, Washington, DC. Distinguished speakers include Senator Robert Casey (Democrat – Pennsylvania); a representative from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assualt; Major General Jeffrey Snow, Director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response at the Department of Defense; and others from the fields of advocacy, education and personal experience. Topics include current legislation, campus sexual-assault policies, sexual assault prevention and response programming and resources for students and bystanders.

The event is prompted by President Obama’s call to action and the establishment of a task force to protect students from sexual assault. With one out of every five women and one out of every 33 men in college experiencing sexual assault, it is an issue that is now demanding the attention of politicians, academics and the media. Incoming freshmen are the primary target; studies find that 63% of accusers are first year students.

ISH-DC believes this timely symposium reflects a concern and outrage on this issue that transcends generations and cultures. Founded in 1936, ISH-DC builds life-long connections among a diverse community of graduate students, academics and post-graduate interns. Over 10,000 resident scholars representing over 140 countries, including the United States, have passed through the doors of ISH-DC since our founding. Residents are offered a multitude of activities throughout the year that instill a spirit of cooperation while building a solid understanding of US culture, government and business. Through our in-depth programs and focus on cross-cultural dialogue, ISH-DC strives to be a model international community and represents “soft diplomacy” at its best.

Throughout the month of April, International Student House of DC’s resident scholars are participating in activities designed to raise awareness on this issue. These activities include a self-defense class as well as bystander intervention training.