MSU iPALs

This year I have been working on a large project with the Distinction in Public Affairs pilot program.

I was put in a group balanced with different strengths with the goal to learn more about the Public Affairs Mission at Missouri State.
(Which involves three parts: Cultural Competence, Community Engagement, and Ethical Leadership)

This Spring, we had to put together a project focusing on Awareness or Action.
My group decided to do research on how to better integrate International Students onto MSU's campus, and how that would benefit the Springfield community as a whole.

We called ourselves iPALs, or International Public Affairs Leaders, and we presented out findings at the Public Affairs Conference a couple of weeks ago. That was a nerve-wracking experience all on its own.

Now, that all the stress has passed, I want to share it with you all. :)

Here is our presentation:

Distinction In Public Affairs: IPALs on Prezi

Our conclusion from many interviews and focus groups with students, faculty, staff, and community members was essentially MSU is doing their best, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Most of this work relies on the local students reaching out to the international student community. We came up with a mentor program that we think would be really great.

One of our team members, Scott Turk, was just elected student body president, so who knows, maybe our dream will become a reality next year!

Remember we can all make a difference! Reaching out to one person different than you may impact their life in ways you will never know. 

Diversity starts with an attitude of curiosity and acceptance. :)

As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Here are some interviews from our project:

Pin It

Barbara Bush and Global Health Corps

This week at Missouri State University we are having our 7th annual Public Affairs Conference. I have been doing a lot this week with it, and I will share more later, but I am just so excited about tonight's presentation, I have to share NOW. 

In a nutshell, the Public Affairs Conference is a chance for Missouri State to put the Public Affairs Mission into action. The three components of the Public Affairs Mission are Community Engagement, Cultural Competence, and Ethical Leadership. Missouri State brings together speakers from all over the world to offer their expertise and spark conversation about Public Affairs. This year the theme is "Leading in a Global Society" and the chair of the conference is my advisor, Dr. Gloria Galanes. She has done such a fabulous job putting this conference together.

Well, back to tonight.

I attended the plenary address of Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and founder and president of Global Health Corps.

Essentially, what Global Health Corps does is act as a hub for recently graduated students to connect their expertise to a non-profit working in global health. Bush said that the program seeks to show young people that no matter their background, they can be a part of the solution for global health problems.

Her story was inspiring. Now, I want to be a "fellow", and go to Africa for one year. 

The neatest thing about the program is they partner up a foreign "fellow" with a local "fellow. My favorite story she shared was of a young man who was born in Rwanda. His family fled the genocide, and he returned to Rwanda to go to a university. He worked with Global Health Corps and an American fellow to create the first state of the art hospital for that region. Now, he serves his home country under the minister of Health.

Seriously, everyone should check out her program!

Pin It