Greetings to alumni and friends of the School of International Studies. We’ve had an eventful fall semester. Our dean search continues – these are always lengthy processes given their importance – and we’ll provide news as soon as decisions are made. We do know SIS has a bright future. This fall we hosted Charles C. Mann, author of 1491 and 1493 as our Distinguished Scholar Lecturer. Tuesday World Forum speakers focused on Dave Brubeck’s international forays (Professor Keith Hatchek of the Conservatory), the informal economy worldwide (Professor Niru Yadav of SIS), and a life immersed in Asian Art (Callison alumnus, John Stucky). SIS students represented Brazil at the Model UN conference in New York City, accompanied by their advisor Howard Moseley (SIS, 1989). Two students attended the SCUSA leadership conference at West Point. We joined many talented and successful alumni at events in both San Francisco and Washington, DC. We also began planning for the 25th Anniversary Celebra-tion of SIS on April 14, 2012. Keep your eyes out for more on this: we hope to see all of you at what we anticipate will be a lively and memorable event. The sections below provide more detailed updates on faculty accomplishments, student activities here and abroad, and a profile of alumna Tricia Bury. SIS has alot of which to be proud and, once again, a bright future.

Happy holidays to each of you, and stay in touch. ~Cynthia Wagner Weick, Interim Dean

Fall 2011

Message from the Dean

SIS faculty members have been active scholars this semester.

Professor Ahmed Kanna presented a paper entitled: “The Arab Region’s Forgotten Revolts: South Asian Laborers’ Protests in the Emirates, 2005-Present” at the American Anthropologi-cal Association Conference in Montreal, Canada, Nov. 16-20, 2011.

Professor Yong Kim presented a paper/poster at the 2011 American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting & Exhibition Seattle, WA, August 31-September 3, 2011.

Professor Sarah Mathis published a paper, “Disobedient Daughters? Changing Women’s Roles in Rural Households in KwaZulu-Natal” in the Journal of Southern African Studies. She also presented a paper, “Negotiating Narratives of Political Violence in Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Case Study from Umbumbulu,” at the NEWSA2011 Conference, Burlington, VT, October 21-23, 2011.

Professor Daniel O’Neill presented a paper entitled “Risky Busi-ness: China’s Foreign Direct Investment and Aid to Developing States” at the American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Seattle, WA, August 31 – September 3, 2011.

Professor Analiese Richard presented two papers “Food, Sov-ereignty, and Insecurity: The Symbolic Economy of Mexican ANTI-GMO Campaigns,” and “We Are What We (can decide to) Eat: Anthropologists Engage the Global Food Crisis” at the American Anthropological Association Conference in Montreal, Canada, Nov. 16-20, 2011.

Faculty News

To the left is a photograph of David Wilson, son of George Wilson, standing with SIS fac-ulty, students and staff in front of George Wilson Hall this past fall.

OASIS NEWS

OASIS, the representative student government of the School of International Studies, strives to connect students within SIS and also become involved within the whole Pacific community. Our annual fall event was Contemp and Cupcakes, which assists the new freshman class in adjusting to the requirements of the course Contemporary World Issues. This year OASIS also held its first Safe Trick-or-Treat tour stop using the Bechtel International Center, and incorporated an Around-the-World Disney Theme for the annual university-wide event. The expe-rience allowed SIS to connect with other students while provid-ing a safe environment for the children of Stockton. Next semester we have several events planned including a lecture/discussion about the Euro Zone Crisis, the annual Interna-tional Photo Show, sessions to showcase research topics of our professors, and World Perspectives and Pancakes.~Yasmin Martinez (SIS Sophomore, Secretary)

Student News

SCUSA CONFERENCE

This past November, I had the opportunity to attend the 63rd Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA) at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. The conference split the 200 candidates into roundtable groups, which focused on a specific aspect of United States Affairs with the purpose of composing a two page policy paper and a skit demonstrating the results of each group. I had the joy and oppor-tunity of joining the 20 person group focusing on the challenges facing the Chinese-US relationship. Joining this group gave me the chance to utilize my experience and knowledge gained in my two semester study in Beijing. The conference allowed me to meet multiple students from other leading Universities in International Relations, which helped me better gauge and appreciate how effective my learning here at the School of International Studies has truly been. -Trevor Rosenbery (SIS Senior)

DELTA PHI EPSILON

Delta Phi Epsilon, Psi Chapter, is University of the Pacific’s professional, co-ed foreign interest fraternity. Our members come from four different schools on campus and a variety of majors, all interested in educating themselves and our com-munity about international issues. This semester we initiated fifteen new members and have seven members studying abroad. We welcomed Jacob Appel, a developmental economist, as part of our yearly speaker series, collaborated with the Career and Resource Center to host a three-part professional develop-ment workshop for members, attended a graduate school fair in San Francisco, and hosted the Hunger Feed, our annual fundraising event for our international philanthropy, Waves of Hope. We have also tightened our relationship with our local philanthropy, the Boys and Girls Club of Stockton, sending DPE volunteers almost weekly to assist with their after-school program. We are excited to continue expanding our programs and reputation on Pacific’s campus, building a prestigious organization of individuals dedicated to each other and the international community.-Maya Campbell-Unsoeld (SIS Senior, President)

“We strive to connect students within SIS”

TRISHA BURY - SIS GRADUATE 2006

Trisha graduated magna cum laude from Pacific with dual degrees in International Relations and Japanese, and was honored as SIS’s Outstanding Graduating Senior in 2006. She studied abroad in Hirakata, Japan and San Sebastian, Spain, earning a National Security Education Program critical language scholarship for Japanese. Her SIS mentor set her up with an internship at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey to fulfill the scholarship commitment, which led to a two-year position as a Research Assistant in the school’s Center for Contemporary Conflict. At the same time she attended graduate school at the Monterey Institute of Inter-national Studies and interned for NGOs in El Salvador and Ecuador, earning a Master’s degree in 2007 in International Policy Studies with a specialization in International Develop-ment. Post-graduation, she took on another job as a green energy policy advocate for the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. In 2009-10, she worked in Tikrit, Iraq as a Social Scientist on a Human Terrain Team, where she di-rectly engaged the Iraqi populace, analyzed public perceptions on governance and security, and advised the US military. Her thirst for adventure still unquenched, she is currently serving as a Field Program Officer with the US Agency for Interna-tional Development (USAID) in Kandahar Province, Afghan-istan, where she mentors local government officials, monitors health and education programs, and works with Coalition Forces on initiatives for stabilization and sustainable development. (She also has a pretty nifty front-porch view of Pakistan.)

Alumni News

PACIFIC FUND

SIS sophomore Anna Rubianes, has been granted Pacific Funds to participate in the Comitas Institute for Anthropological Study (CIFAS) Field School in Ethnographical Research Methods in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Field School provides a program that lasts ten days in January (January 3, 2012 – January 13, 2012). The fundamental goal of this program is to offer training in the foundations and practice of ethnographic methods for those with little to no experience in the field. Areas covered through this program vary from learning the basics of ethnographic research and data collection techniques to having the unique opportunity of individual one-on-one discussions regarding research projects with anthropologists in South America. This program particularly appealed to me because I am pursuing a minor in Anthropology and have very little experience in the ethnographic field. I am interested in expanding my horizons and learning from practicing anthropologists how to properly gather data and perform ethnographic research. This will help with the ethnographic research project I will undertake while I study abroad next year in Latin America. ~Anna Rubianes, (SIS Sophomore)

Student News, continued

STUDY ABROAD SPOTLIGHT

It took me two attempts and I have finally been able to complete my study abroad requirements in Egypt. Last spring, I came to Egypt expecting a peaceful semester abroad. To everyone’s surprise the Arab Spring took place and I was forced to leave due to the revolution. Stubbornly, I returned to Egypt this fall semester for a second try and experienced minor turmoil throughout my stay. Why did I choose Egypt? One, it is my academic area of specialization. Two, I wanted to study in a Muslim country since I am Muslim. In this second attempt, I have experienced the land of the pharaohs and also built everlasting friendships. I have had the opportunity to learn the language, study, and debate Arab politics with my Arab and non-Arab peers and professors. Most importantly, I experienced the transition first hand rather than learning about it on the news channels. I am also working as a resident advisor in the dorms. Through my job I experienced the riots and demon-strations through a different lens. I learned that we have to be accountable for not only ourselves but for other residents’ safety as well. Working here has helped me obtain more than job experience; I have also gained a family.~Mujeeb Dadgar, (SIS Senior)