Edward S. Blankenship Outstanding Staff Award:
Dr. Edward K. Khiwa
Epsilon Epsilon Chapter at Langston University
Dr. Khiwa is an amazingly versatile individual who plays many roles both at Langston University and at campuses overseas. In addition to being an administrator, he is also a faculty member with a long and respected record of research and publications.
We are honoring him with this award for his role as senior staff advisor to the students on campus and international students in the state and as chairman of the International Affairs Committee where he coordinates the interests of students, faculty and staff. He manages the international programs at Langston and coordinates the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of PBD. He has led the annual International week series of events that have been described as spectacular. International students from the larger community are invited to participate in an International Cultural Jubilation. In addition he is the Director of Health Professions and spends his summer semester at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda teaching and advising students on Health Care Administration.
Dr. Khiwa was educated in Africa, Russia, Sweden and the United States. He speaks 12 languages and has many publications to his credit. To quote one of his colleagues at Langston: “With charismatic leadership, he gets things done both for students and for faculty”.
Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Education:Dr. Susan Russell
Zeta Gamma Chapter, Northern Illinois University
“Dr. Russell is recognized on our campus as a leader in the area of global engagement and international studies …she has made significant improvements to the international profile of Northern Illinois University during her career here.” this is how one of her colleagues describes the contributions that Dr. Russell has made.
In addition to her long and distinguished academic record, Dr. Russell teaches and researches cultural and economic anthropology, she has served as Director for the Center for Southeast Asian Studies which grew under her leadership, bringing more Asian studies courses to campus. She is the grant writer and director of Project “ACCESS”, a peace building program that for the past five years has provided six week long training programs for an intra-ethnic group of Filipino students who work together to learn strategies for building bridges of understanding across cultural, religious and ethnic divides.
To conclude with another quote: “If international education is to be truly international, it should include students from many countries, not just the US. In her professional life, Dr. Russell has shown that she understands this and has been willing to put an extraordinary effort and commitment toward realizing this principle.”
David Merchant International Student Award for Achievement:Norseha Unin
Alpha Alpha Chapter, Michigan State University
Norseha has demonstrated her enthusiasm for and dedication to international education and cross cultural communication throughout her academic career at Michigan State University, contributing in countless ways to the internationalization of the community. She has served as a member and then graduate assistant for LATTICE (linking all types of teachers to international cross-cultural education). She has served on a community development team to improve life in campus housing for international students and with Community Volunteers for International Programs matching students with “friendship families.
Norseha has been very active with the Alpha Alpha chapter, serving in several positions and mentoring new members. She presented at the 2007 PBD conference. As a major supporter of PBD, she hopes to establish a chapter when she returns to work at a university in Malaysia.Domestic Student Award for International Achievement:Kerby Boschee
Kerby represents everything for which Phi Beta Delta stands: international scholarly achievement, intercultural understanding, international leadership and energetic commitment to helping students from abroad adjust to life on a US campus. During her full academic year in Germany, she maintained her Dean’s list status while taking courses in German with other German students. She is a young woman who does not shy from challenges.
A scholar and an athlete (NIAA All-American in discus throwing), Kerby is committed to intercultural exchange and understanding. As one of her mentors put it: “I have often thought that she would make a wonderful U S ambassador abroad”.
Chapter Awards
Outstanding Chapter Award: Northeast Region
Zeta Xi Chapter, State University of New York (SUNY), Cortland
Outstanding Chapter Award: Southeast Region
Epsilon Delta Chapter, George Mason University
Outstanding Chapter Award: Southwest Region
Beta Lambda Chapter, University of New Orleans
Outstanding Chapter Award: West Region
Gamma Lambda Chapter, California State University, San Bernardino
Eileen M. Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter Award
Epsilon Delta Chapter, George Mason University
Abigail"Abi" Pereira
Director of Awards
Phi Beta Delta Honor Society