Student Spotlight of the Week

        Miles Bullock

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

College:  University of New Mexico

Undergraduate Focus:   Foreign Languages Major (Portuguese, Spanish & French) with a minor in Communication

 

How did you become interested in the IIC program?   I had a strong desire to enhance my understanding of international communication and this unique interdisciplinary program offers a wide range of themes and skills.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in:   Diplomacy, International media, Film making

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: St. Augustine, Florida

Dream job:   Department of State Spokesperson

IIC Students Integrating Election Night into the Classroom

Students in Christof Demont-Heinrich's International Communication class gathered together on election night over delicious pizza and baked goods. The class participated in a mock ballot, casting their votes for who they thought would take home the election. They also specified which way they thought the swing states would sway! Later on, the class broke into different groups to look at how and what other countries were covering the election. The class was able to share what they were finding by posting links to twitter and using specified hashtags. All in all, it was a fun and interesting way to come together on such an important night. 

Student Spotlight of the Week

 

Maggie Lautzenheiser-Page

Hometown: Aurora, CO

College:  University of Colorado Boulder & Colorado State University

Undergraduate Focus:  Germanic Studies & International Studies/Development

How did you become interested in the IIC program?  I found out about it through the Peace Corps Fellows website and loved that it was such a unique interdisciplinary program between the Media, Film & Journalism and International Studies schools.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in:  Human Rights and Print Journalism

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: Bunaken, Sulawesi, Indonesia: the snorkeling was unbelievable, the food was amazing, and the locals so much fun!

Dream job:  Photojournalist for National Geographic

International Feast!

Hello, everyone!

Thanks so much to those of you who came to the IIC International Potluck last Friday! We had a great time and all enjoyed a wonderful variety of foods from across the world. The table was filled with everything from guacamole and chicken curry to baguettes with brie, Mexican casserole and apple pie. Needless to say, we did not go hungry!

Students and faculty had a great time socializing and we also honored one of our graduating students, Grace. Congratulations to everyone else graduating this quarter and thanks again to those who made it on Friday. We will be organizing another IIC get together this winter and we hope to see you all there!

Check out some of the photos from Friday below!

IIC International Potluck Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the IIC Potluck is THIS Friday, October 19th starting at 6 p.m. at the International House. Please RSVP to the Evite below and let us know what international dish you'll be bringing. Feel free to bring significant others or friends with you. Hope to see you all there!


Evite

Student Spotlight of the Week

Annetta Crecelius 

Hometown: English, Indiana

College: University of Indianapolis

Undergraduate Focus: Visual Communication Design

How did you become interested in the IIC program? I wanted to supplement my work experience with more education and prepare myself for an international career.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in: Strategic communication, digital media and human rights

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: Toledo, Spain

Dream job: Communications position within an international nonprofit organization

Presidental Debate 2012 "Moment in Time"

Are you in any of these? Check out the"Moment in Time" photos students posted from the 2012 Presidential Debate hosted by YOUR University of Denver last week!

Moment in Time

IIC Potluck

Hi all,

We've set a date for the quarterly IIC Potluck! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 19th from 6-9 p.m. at the International House. Take a break from your busy schedule and bring your favorite international dish to share with your fellow IIC students.

We'll be sending out an evite, so don't forget to RSVP and let us know what you'll be bringing. Hope to see you all there!

IIC Spotlight

Each week we will be highlighting a different student in the program so we can all get to know our peers a little better. This week we thought we'd start out with ourselves! 

Get to know your Communication Assistants: 

Joanna Hamel and Kaitlyn Bayne

Name: Kaitlyn Bayne

Hometown: Mineola, New York

College: Niagara University

Undergraduate Focus: Communication Studies and French

How did you become interested in the IIC program? I was looking for a program that would combine all of my interests into one. I had found a few programs that I liked but when a professor suggested this program to me it seemed like the perfect fit. I went on a gut feeling, having never been to visit DU, let alone Colorado, that this was the right program – and so far it seems to be so.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in: I am definitely interested in focusing on global health communications. Specifically what area of communications, I’m not sure yet, since I find so many realms of it to be fascinating, as of now I’m leaning more towards public relations.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: Soloy, Panama

Dream job: I don’t know that I’ve figured that out just yet, but I think my first goal is landing an internship position with MSF doing press work or multimedia work, which I know can be quite difficult, but one that I think would be a really good fit for me. 

Name: Joanna Hamel

Hometown: Chapman, Kansas

College: University of Kansas

Undergraduate Focus: Journalism and International Studies

How did you become interested in the IIC program? My sister went to grad school for social work at DU and I discovered the IIC degree while looking at what other graduate programs DU had to offer. It's a very unique program and perfectly combines my undergraduate studies and interest areas.

Name some specific areas within IIC you’re interested in: International non-profit work or multicultural programs/study abroad in higher education are two of my main interest areas.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to so far: Capri, Italy or Santorini, Greece

Dream job: I would love to be a study abroad program director or advisor to students in higher education. I had the greatest experience studying abroad and also had the opportunity to work in the study abroad department at the University of Kansas when I returned. I want to encourage others to have the same wonderful experience I did!

A Jump Start Welcome

Hi, my name is Katie, and along with Joanna, I will be helping to keep all of you updated on any events and updates for the program. Below I have shared my own personal experience at our orientation. I look forward to getting to know all of you better as the year progresses! 

The decision to come to the University of Denver was one that took multiple pros and cons lists, late nights of virtual tours, and thorough examination of curriculums. As it came down to the wire to make a decision, I went on some blind faith that DU would be the school for me. Departing for Denver, a place that I had only ever seen in pictures, I started to wonder just what exactly had I gotten myself into. Coming from New York, how was I going to handle being displaced so far from what I’ve spent 22 years becoming familiar with? Now, I’ve only been in Denver for a little over a week, but I’ve never felt more at home in a place so unknown.

The welcome party for all new and continuing IIC students was held on Saturday, September 8, in the International House. The orientation solidified the feelings I had already begun to feel about Denver and I knew that I had made the right choice. Students and faculty alike were open and inviting, which was quite a refreshing feeling. While I still felt like I had my guard up, the walls were slowly starting to come down as the night proceeded. Starting off the orientation, students formed into five different groups as different stakeholders in a very emotionally charged issue surrounding a group of indigenous people in Panama, the Ngäbe-Buglé. The discussion that followed made me realize again why I was here and was comforting to know that I will be sharing a classroom with like-minded individuals. It was certainly an intense way to start off the school year, but gave a quick insight into the fast-paced and exciting material that will be covered this quarter.

After the students worked up an appetite, it was time for dinner. We all began to learn a little more about each other over a great meal. As dinner came to a close the new graduate students were taught a very important lesson from Margie, about the importance of bringing zip lock bags to catered events! In just a few short hours I had already learned so much. The orientation was definitely a wonderful way to begin the school year and while the daunting first day still hung over my head, I was at ease now that good company would surround me. 

Welcome to the IIC Blog

Hello and welcome to the IIC blog!

Fall is here and the 2012-2013 academic year is off and running! I’m Joanna, a first year IIC student, and one of your communications assistants for this year. Along with Katie, we will be keeping you updated with IIC news, events, reminders and photos. Feel free to share any ideas or events with us and we will gladly post it for everyone to see.

IIC kicked off the new quarter with an orientation on Saturday, September 8^th at the International House. This year IIC has 15 incoming graduate students and 17 returning students.

First came introductions…

As new and returning IIC students introduced themselves, it quickly became apparent that this program has one of the most unique groups of people around. Several students recently returned from the Peace Corps in places like Tanzania, Indonesia and the Philippines while another just finished teaching English to high school students in France. Many have been working full time for the past five to 10 years all across the United States, while others graduated from college within the past year. It was a great opportunity for everyone to hear about the exciting backgrounds of their peers.

Among our IIC students, specific interests and ambitions range all over the map. Many are interested in human rights issues and international non-profit work. Others are thinking about careers in diplomacy and higher education. News reporting, study abroad advising, international social networking and many more future career paths were discussed.

…then came an interactive exercise

IIC Director Margie Thompson has spent many summers working in Costa Rica as a journalist for ESCIBANA, an online non-profit women’s communication agency. During her time in Costa Rica, Margie became aware of a situation of conflict in Panama between the Ngäbe Buglé, an indigenous group, and the government. The Ngäbe Buglé are involved in a very conflictive struggle and resistance to mining and water concessions to transnational corporations. The assignment was to split up into different stakeholder groups and identify needs, concerns or self-interests. Each group also had to come up with strategies and suggestions on how their particular stakeholder could contribute to the resolution of this situation.

After discussing their ideas, students then tried to find parallels between these groups. The situation was a great example of the type of topics IIC students will encounter throughout their studies in the program and was an excellent way to get started.

…and then came dinner and socializing!

After the interactive exercise and discussion, students and a few faculty members were able to enjoy dinner together. Several second-year mentors met their mentees, socialized and asked questions about the IIC program, campus and coursework. All in all, the orientation was a success and a great opportunity for everyone to meet and get excited for a new experience and a new school year.

We hope your classes are going well and make sure to check back in with us for updates!

 

2012-2013 IIC Grad Students and Professors

 

 IIC Returning Students

*Photos courtesy of fellow IIC student Kate Haake with Kasa Photography

www.kasaphotography.com