Terre Haute will welcome David Mould, author, international consultant and retired educator to both campuses as part of the celebrations for International Education Week, Nov. 13-17.
The presentations will bring global perspectives to the Wabash Valley and highlight the realities and rewards of living, studying and working abroad. Mould will be at SMWC 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Woods Student Center, Rooney Library, and at Ivy Tech 11 a.m. Nov. 16 in the Community Room. The events are free and open to the public.
“International Education Week provides an opportunity for students to learn about other cultures, the global economy and how to become better global citizens,” said Scott M. Powell, Ph.D., associate professor and global studies coordinator at Ivy Tech and sociology instructor for Woods Online. “Educating oneself about the world not only increases knowledge and awareness of important issues of our time but also prepares students for a career in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Born in the United Kingdom, Mould worked as a newspaper and TV journalist before moving to the United States in 1978. He retired from Ohio University in Athens in 2010 after a 30-year academic career. He has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa and currently works as a communications consultant and freelance writer. He has directed grant-funded projects for the U.S. Department of State, USAID, UNESCO and UNICEF. His first book on travel, history and culture, Postcards from Stanland: Journeys in Central Asia, was published in 2016 by the Ohio University Press; his second, Monsoon Postcards: Indian Ocean Journeys, will be published in 2018.
Mould’s first book chronicling his travels to the remote, diverse and strategically vital region of Central Asia — which includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — is the subject of the interactive presentation at SMWC. Mould will read excerpts from his book, show images and artifacts from the region and share stories about ordinary citizens — teachers, students, politicians, entrepreneurs, journalists, cab-drivers and market sellers — to learn about their history, culture and struggle to survive in the post-Soviet era.
“This is a great opportunity for us to learn about this little known part of the world and its people,” said Dianne Frances D. Powell, co-organizer of the event at SMWC. “An event like this can deepen our understanding of cultures outside ours, promote diversity and increase cross-cultural understanding.”
During an informal presentation at Ivy Tech, Mould will discuss the skills and attitudes students need to prepare for overseas experiences. He will reflect on 20 years of experience working abroad as a teacher, trainer, consultant and researcher, as well as supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students on grant-funded international projects that required flexibility and cross-cultural sensitivity.
Mould’s presentations are sponsored by the SMWC Office of Campus Life and Ivy Tech Terre Haute’s Student Life Office and Global Studies Council.
A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange. It is a nationwide effort by the two federal agencies to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.