Presidential Address Highlights International Engagement
On February 12, 2002, Michigan State University President Peter McPherson
gave his ninth State of the University address. In the speech, titled
"Long-term Commitments: MSU and the World after 9-11," he not only discussed
the impact of September 11 on the institution but also issued a challenge
to American institutions of higher education to rededicate themselves
to long-term international engagement. He also featured a number of current
MSU-based development projects that are addressing important world problems
and the faculty who lead them:
Lawrence Busch (sociology) and Thomas Reardon (agricultural economics),
who are working in Guatemala and Kenya helping small producers in developing
countries improve the quality and safety of their produce. Five MSU colleges
are cooperating on this Partnerships for Food Industry Development (PFID)
project.
Mark Kornbluh(history), who, along with colleagues in MATRIX and faculty
in the African Studies Center, is helping expand the Internet's effectiveness
for development in Africa. A series of their Internet connectivity projects
has contributed to bridging the digital divide for Africans. (See pp.
12-13.)
Jack Schwille (teacher education), who heads up a national teacher development
program in Guinea in West Africa that has been cited by World Bank officials
as a model for World Bank-funded collaboration between U.S. universities
and developing country institutions.
David Skole (geography) and other MSU researchers, who are using remote sensing
techniques to develop new maps showing economic activities in the Amazon
region. Skole, Mark Cochrane, and others are also collaborating with the
Brazilian government to study land cover change in the Amazon rainforest
and develop strategies to address deforestation.
Jim Spaniolo and Howard Bossen (both journalism) and Manuel Chávez (resource
development), who coordinate a project involving representatives of the
Mexican press, Mexican scholars, and MSU alumni in Mexico that explores
different ways to protect freedom of the press.
John Staatz and Mike Weber (both in agricultural economics), and their
MSU and African colleagues, who work in Mali and other areas of Africa
to improve food-system performance. They have helped to set up a system
of solar-powered computers that bring the latest agricultural market information
to poor farmers around the country.
Bill Taylor (civil engineering), who received a medal from Pakistan for
his work with the National University of Sciences and Technology. He not
only helped establish that institution, but also facilitated a program
that allows their students to begin graduate degrees there and finish
them at MSU.
Terrie Taylor (internal medicine), who spends six months each year in
Malawi treating malaria patients and conducting research. Her work with
children has been especially important.
Michael Thomashow (plant molecular biology), who has done important work
on plant tolerance to extreme temperatures, and who was recently named
the 2001 recipient of the Alexander Humboldt Foundation Award.
Christopher Wheeler (teacher education) and his colleagues, who help
teachers and students in Thailand study local problems related to forest
management. This decade-old project has also improved student learning
and school-community relations. Recently these researchers began a new
project in Vietnam that builds on their success in Thailand. (See pp.
14-15.)
On the following page, we present portions of President McPherson's address.
We also feature longer pieces about two specific sets of projects mentioned
in the address. In future issues, we will highlight other projects as
examples of the important work being done by MSU around the world.
BACK: Study Abroad Preparation ...
