Croft Visiting Speaker: Business Responses to Grassroots Activism in Latin America
Monday, March 2, 2015 - 7 p.m. - The Joseph C. Bancroft Conference Room (Croft 107) - Prof. Jeffrey Rubin, Boston University
On Monday, March 2, 2015, Prof. Jeffrey Rubin of Boston University will speak about the evolving ways businesses have responded to progressive reform in Latin America. Until the 1990s, progressive movements in Latin America suffered violent repression sanctioned by the private sector and other socio-political elites. Prof. Rubin's research has demonstrated business responses to reform have become more open–ended as Latin America’s democracies have deepened, with repression tempered by the economic uncertainties of globalization, the political and legal constraints of democracy, and shifting cultural understandings of poverty and race. The talk will be based on the findings of the Enduring Reform project (enduringreform.org) directed by Prof. Rubin and Prof. Vivienne Bennett of California State University San Marcos.
Jeffrey W. Rubin is Associate Professor of History and Research Associate at the Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs at Boston University. He received his A.B in Social Studies and Ph.D. in Political Science at Harvard. A specialist on social movements, Rubin is the author of Decentering the Regime: Ethnicity, Radicalism, and Democracy in Juchitán, Mexico (Duke 1997) and co-author of Sustaining Activism: A Brazilian Women’s Movement and a Father-Daughter Collaboration (Duke 2013). He is co-editor of Enduring Reform: Progressive Activism and Private Sector Responses in Latin America’s Democracies (Pittsburgh 2014); “Lived Religion and Lived Citizenship in Latin America’s Zones of Crisis,” (a forthcoming Special Issue of LARR, 2015); and Beyond Civil Society: Social Movements, Civic Participation, and Democratic Contestation (forthcoming, Duke). Rubin’s current project, “Citizen Subjectivities Reconfigured” examines how social movements, business, and religion have reshaped the ways people understand themselves as citizens and act politically in Latin America’s democracies.
300 Croft Dollars will be Awarded.
Croft Sophomore Wins Barksdale Award
At the Honors College Spring Convocation on Tuesday, February 10, Croft sophomore Joe Bell received one of the two Barksdale Awards given this year. The award offers $5000 to students to pursue independent research or humanitarian work. Joe plans to study the impact of labor policy, agricultural policy, and globalization on cowboys and guachos in the United States an Uruguay. “I am intrigued and inspired by the independent and somewhat tragic lives of the North American cowboy and the Uruguayan gaucho,” Bell told the U.M. news service. “These two entities, although separated by an almost hemispheric landmass, have long suffered from the same cultural, economic and legal marginalization.” Two other Croft students have won the Barksdale award, Martina Cotelo (B.A. 2014) and Patrick Woodyard (B.A. 2010). U.M. News Story
Croft Students Participating in the Chinese Language Flagship Program's Capstone Year
Croft graduate William Bumpas (2014) sent us an update on the four current Croft students and two graduates participating in the Chinese Language Flagship Program's Capstone Year. They finished their semester of direct enrollment at Nanjing University on January 23 and can been seen above pictured with the entire Capstone cohort. They are excited to begin their internships in Chinese working environments within the next few weeks.
- Alison Bartel, the Shanghai Young Bakers Club, a French NGO
- William Bumpas, the Beijing branch of CIC, a Shanghai-based social media analysis and market research company
- Kim Butler, Justice for All, an NGO in Nanjing
- Conner Clark, United Efforts and Yunnan Parallel, both non-profit NGOs based in Kunming
- Liana Tai, Labbrand- Brand Innovations in Shanghai
- Palmer Withers, Calling Brands, an international branding and marketing consultancy, also in Shanghai.
U.M. News Story about 2014-2015 Croft Scholars
The University of Mississippi news service recently wrote a story about the 2014-2015 Croft Scholars, Matthew Forgette, Natalie Gagliano, Alexandra Gersdorf, Kate Hill, Sarah Meeks, and Matthew McInnis, and the two winners of the Rose Bui Academic Excellence Scholarship, James DeMarshall and Hadley Peterson.
http://news.olemiss.edu/croft-institute-announces-its-2014-15-scholars/
Joshua Howard Speaks at Sichuan University in China
Croft Associate Professor of History Joshua Howard recently gave a public lecture at the Institute of History and Culture at Sichuan University in China.
The Croft Student of the Month for February: Alex Borst
Alex Borst was chosen as the Croft student of the month for February, 2015. Alex is studying German and International Governance and Politics. He is also minoring in intelligence and security studies and environmental studies. Congratulations to Alex!
Croft Sophomore Wins Barksdale Award
At the Honors College Spring Convocation on Tuesday, February 10, Croft sophomore Joe Bell received one of the two Barksdale Awards given this year. The award offers $5000 to students to pursue independent research or humanitarian work. Joe plans to study the impact of labor policy, agricultural policy, and globalization on cowboys and guachos in the United States an Uruguay. “I am intrigued and inspired by the independent and somewhat tragic lives of the North American cowboy and the Uruguayan gaucho,” Bell told the U.M. news service. “These two entities, although separated by an almost hemispheric landmass, have long suffered from the same cultural, economic and legal marginalization.” Two other Croft students have won the Barksdale award, Martina Cotelo (B.A. 2014) and Patrick Woodyard (B.A. 2010). U.M. News Story
Croft Students Participating in the Chinese Language Flagship Program's Capstone Year
Croft graduate William Bumpas (2014) sent us an update on the four current Croft students and two graduates participating in the Chinese Language Flagship Program's Capstone Year. They finished their semester of direct enrollment at Nanjing University on January 23 and can been seen above pictured with the entire Capstone cohort. They are excited to begin their internships in Chinese working environments within the next few weeks.
Spring 2015 Language Tables at the Residential College
Once again, the Department of Modern Languages is offering Language Tables at the South Residential College. These give students a chance to practice their languages in an informal, no-pressure situation. See the full schedule to find out when your language meets.
Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs Trans-Pacific Student Contest
The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is looking for essays and videos on the future of U.S.-Asia relations for its third Trans-Pacific Student Contest, part of Ethics for a Connected World, a three-year global education project to mark the Council's centennial, which was celebrated in 2014. Winners will receive a trip to New York City. Each submission must be a collaboration between a U.S. citizen and a citizen of one of the following Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), East Timor, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam. The essays or videos should be in English and written in op-ed (not academic) style. Essays should be 2000-3000 words in length, and videos should not exceed 10 minutes. Students looking for a partner can use the Trans-Pacific Contest Matchmaker page. The contest is only open to graduate and post-graduate students. For more information visit http://www.globalethicsnetwork.org/page/trans-pacific-2015.
Croft Senate Kiva Fundraiser Results
Do you remember the delicious bake sale at the end of last semester that raised money for our fundraiser (and your weight on the scale)? The Croft Senate has taken the proceeds from that bake sale (a total of $171.47 in only two days!) and given a $175 microloan to a businessman named Zoumana from Mali. Although Mali is not located in one of the four regions Croft offers as concentrations, the Senate and the Croft administration thought it would be appropriate to choose Zoumana in order to show our dedication to every world region! Thank you to all of the students, faculty and staff that donated their time (and money) to this service event. If you would like further information on what Zoumana plans to do with his loan, please visit the Croft Kiva Fundraiser page on the Croft website. For more information on the Kiva organization, please visit kiva.org.
Croft Assistant Professor of History Contributes Chapter to Book on Muslims in Ireland
Croft assistant professor of history and international studies Vivian Ibrahim contributed a chapter to the forthcoming book Muslims in Ireland: Past and Present, published by Edinburgh University Press. The study, which "makes an important and original contribution to understanding the diversity of Muslim presences in different national contexts across Europe," will be available on March 31, 2015. Publisher's Website
Croft Professor Joshua Howard's Article Wins Regional Award
An article published in the 2013 in Modern Asian Studies by Croft professor Joshua Howard was awarded the 2014 essay prize by the Southeast Conference of the Association for Asian Studies. The article is entitled "The Politicization of Women Workers at War: Labour in Chongqing's cotton mills during the Anti-Japanese War."
Prof. Howard also recently had an article published in the e-journal Cross Currents: East Asian History and Culture Review: "Music for a National Defense": Making Martial Music during the Anti-Japanese War. The format allows the reader to follow links to audio and video files of the songs he analyzes.
Joshua Howard Speaks at Sichuan University in China
Croft Associate Professor of History Joshua Howard recently gave a public lecture at the Institute of History and Culture at Sichuan University in China.
Croft Graduate Works with Entertainers to Create Innovating Marketing Programs
Croft graduate H.L. Ray (B.A. 2005) was recently featured on Skyward.com's Content Standard blog. H.L. is the Senior Director of Business Development and Entertainment at Gilt, an online retailer that offers designer fashions and exclusive experiences at discount in flash sales. He works with entertainers to develop marketing campaigns related to major events, such as a tour or the release of an album. H.L writes, "My experience [at Croft] has fed greatly into my career as it stands now. We are super focused on international expansion at Gilt and the curriculum at Croft gave me a solid foundation for building a global career."
http://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/innovator-series/interview-how-gilts-h-l-ray-works-with-celebrities-to-create-extraordinary-content/
Croft Alumnus Patrick Woodyard Featured in Alumni Review
Croft alumnus Patrick Woodyard (B.A. 2010), the co-founder and chief executive officer of Nisolo, is featured in the Fall 2014 issue of the Ole Miss Alumni Review. The article explains how Patrick's experiences at the Croft Institute set him on a path to connecting talented shoemakers in Trujillo, Peru, with customers in the United States. A poster hanging on the second floor of the Croft Institute depicting the United States alone on the planet with the tagline, "We are not alone," inspired Patrick to think of himself as a global citizen and led to the name of his company, Nisolo, which is Spanish for "not alone."
Croft Graduate Authors Book about Historic Memphis Signs
Croft graduate Caitlin Pendergrass Horton (B.A. 2009) collaborated with painter Rebecca Phillips to create Memphis Type History: Signs and Stories from Just Around the Corner. The book, available from Caitlin's website, Memphis Type History ( http://memphistypehistory.com/book/), consists of nineteen paintings of iconic Memphis signs and their stories.
Job Posting: Research Associate in Asia Studies at Council on Foreign Relations
Croft graduate Alyssa Yuen (B.A. 2011) passed along this job posting for a research associate in Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. The job is well-suited for any young China specialist, whether he or she has a master's degree or not. It calls for strong Chinese reading skills and an interest in cyber security and innovation. The research associate would work for Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Maurice R. Greenberg and the Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program, Adam Segal.
Job Details and Application
AmeriCorps Opportunities with Impact Alabama
Croft alumna Kendra Wright (B.A. 2014) invites Croft seniors and graduates to consider the AmeriCorps program, whether at Impact Alabama / Impact America or at one of the thousands of other placements available. For more information and to apply visit the Impact America application or the AmeriCorps website.
Language Opportunities at Leidos
Leidos, a national security, health and engineering company that started with the proud traditions of SAIC, is currently looking for individuals with experience in linguistics, language analysis, and translation.
U.M. New York and Washington Internship Experience
The University of Mississippi has two programs designed to support students pursuing internships, one in Washington, D.C. and the other in New York, N.Y. The programs provide guidance in finding an internship, housing, the opportunity to earn academic credit, and the benefits of being enrolled as a U.M. student - including access to financial aid - while interning. For more information, visit the programs' websites:
McClean Institute Innovation Scholarships for Rising Juniors
Rising juniors interested in entrepreneurship and community development should apply for the Innovation Scholars Program sponsored by the Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) initiative at the McLean Institute at the University of Mississippi. Ten scholarships, each of which provides $8,000 a year for two years, will be awarded to students who can propose a project to research a problem related to poverty, education, asset building, or healthcare and to develop and pilot a sustainable and scalable solution, whether a business plan, a framework for a non-profit organization, or a policy or academic research paper. For more information, see the call for applications. A similar program is available to graduates students at the University of Mississippi.
McLean Institute Innovation Scholars Undergraduate Call for Applications
McLean Institute Graduate Fellows Call for Applications
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