GV PS

Fall '07 Special Topics Courses

Fall '07 Special Topics Courses. Both of these courses count for the three courses at the 300-level requirement for PLS majors and minors.

PLS 380 - 01 HUMAN RIGHTS
Tuesday, 6-8:50 p.m.
2107 Au Sable Hall
Prerequisite: PLS 103 or PLS 211 or junior standing
Robert Stewart-Ingersoll, Ph.D.
Course counts for International Relations category requirement for PLS degree

PLS 380 - 02 PUBLIC OPINION
Monday/Wednesday, 3-4:15 p.m.
154 Lake Superior Hall
Prerequisite: PLS 102 or junior standing
H. Whitt Kilburn, Ph.D.
Course counts for American category requirement for PLS degree

Winter '08 Special Topics Courses

Winter '08 Special Topics Courses. All of these courses count for the three courses at the 300-level requirement for PLS majors and minors.

PLS 380 - 01 COMPARATIVE POLITICS:
CHINESE LEGAL DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday/Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
2121 Au Sable Hall
Prerequisite: PLS 103 or junior standing
Yi Zhao, Ph.D.
Course counts for Comparative category requirement for PLS degree

PLS 380 - 02 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Monday/Wednesday, 3-4:15 p.m.
2107 Au Sable Hall
No prerequisite
Michelle Miller-Adams, Ph.D.
Course counts for American category requirement for PLS degree

PLS 380 - 03 POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Monday/Wednesday, 3-4:15 p.m.
122 Manitou Hall
Prerequisite: PLS 102 or junior standing
H. Whitt Kilburn, Ph.D.
Course counts for American category requirement for PLS degree

Alumnus Update: Nerina Cevra

I have been working with Landmine Survivors Network since
2003. I began translating for them initially, and then when I got
accepted into law school, I continued working there with the Rights
and Advocacy department. I have been working with LSN on advocating
for rights of landmine survivors and persons with disabilities
within the framework of the Mine Ban Treaty and the new Disability
Rights Convention.

I represented the government of BiH at the negotiations from 2005 until
the treaty was adopted in December 2006. As part of my work, I have developed
and conducted trainings on human rights advocacy, developed analysis of
international and national legal provisions for protection of disability rights
and developed advocacy manuals to support grass- roots advocacy efforts
of landmine survivors and others in mine-affected countries.

I just finished the four-year part-time law program at the American
University and will be getting a dual JD/MA International Affairs
(US Foreign Policy focus) degree in December 2007.

Here is a report by my organization from the U.N. negotiations for the Disability Rights Treaty.

And this is the Ratification Campaign Handbook that is the most recent
example of our work.

Alumnus Update: Melissa Weston

PRESS RELEASE: NEW IRON COUNTY PROSECUTOR APPOINTED

Crystal Falls, Michigan—41st Circuit Court Judges Mary B. Barglind and Richard J. Celello appointed a new Iron County Prosecutor on Monday, December 18, 2006 following the death of Iron County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph C. Sartorelli. Judges Barglind and Celello appointed 35-year old Iron River resident, Melissa Powell Weston to the position of Iron County Prosecutor after reviewing several resumes from interested applicants and letters of reference.

Weston, who received unanimous support from area law enforcement, was sworn in as Prosecutor immediately after the Order of Appointment was signed by Judges Barglind and Celello. She will serve the remainder of Sartorelli’s term which ends in 2008. Prior to the appointment as Iron County Prosecutor, Weston served as the Iron County Assistant Prosecutor.

Melissa Powell Weston, a native of Breckenridge, Michigan, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Grand Valley State University Honors College in 1993. She then attended the University of Tulsa, College of Law, earning her Juris Doctor in 1996 and a Natural Resources Energy and Environmental Law Certificate from the National Energy and Environmental Law Policy Institute. Shortly after law school she became published with her article concerning the Menominee River Watershed: A Case Study for Stakeholders: An Alternative to Traditional Hydroelectric Relicensing, 18 Energy Law Journal 2, 405-420 (1997).

Melissa moved to Iron River in 1997 and began practicing with Powell Law Office. During her time with Powell Law Office she also served a stint as a court-appointed public defender. In 1999 she moved to Saginaw County where she practiced domestic relations and criminal law with LeFevre and LeFevre, PLLC. In October, 2002 she was appointed Iron County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and returned to Iron County. During her term as Assistant Prosecutor she aided in establishing the Iron County Drug Court and administered the Domestic and Family Violence grant. As Assistant Prosecutor her responsibilities included overseeing the misdemeanor docket, the drug court docket, and the child and family court docket. In addition to being the office administrator, she managed over $600,000 in grant funds during her term and worked regularly with the County Commissioners on various issues.

Weston stated this about her new position: “No one wants to be appointed under these circumstances. I may never be able to fill Joe’s (Sartorelli) shoes, but I’m honored to walk the same path and honored to serve the citizens of Iron County.”

Fulbright scholarship opportunities for students

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Competition Opens

The Institute of International Education, in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
Board, is pleased to announce the launch of the 2008-2009 Fulbright U.S.
Student Program competition.

For more than 60 years, the federal government-sponsored Fulbright U.S.
Student Program has provided future American leaders with an
unparalleled opportunity to study, conduct research, and teach in other
countries. Fulbright student grants aim to increase mutual
understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange
while serving as a catalyst for long-term leadership development.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,300 grants
annually and currently operates in over 140 countries worldwide.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships are now available to 26
countries. Fulbright full grants generally provide funding for
round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and
accident coverage and full or partial tuition.

Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program must be U.S. citizens
at the time of application and hold a bachelor*s degree or the
equivalent by the beginning of the grant. In the creative and
performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience
meets this basic eligibility requirement. The Fulbright U.S. Student
Program does not require applicants to be currently enrolled in a
college or university. Applications from young professionals interested
in an international experience are also encouraged.

For more information, interested individuals should visit the Fulbright
U.S. Student Program website at www.us.fulbrightonline.org . Students
currently enrolled at Grand Valley should contact their campus Fulbright
Program Adviser Mary Albrecht for more information. Applications must
be submitted both electronically and in hard copy to the Provost*s
Office at 24 JHZ by the September 30, 2007 in order to be received by
IIE electronically by October 19, 2007 and in hard copy by the October
22, 2007 national deadline.

Professor Diven visits Cracow, Poland

Professor Diven spent 6 days in Cracow in late May, attending a conference on U.S. foreign policy and visiting the Cracow University of Economics (CEU), GVSU's partner institution in Poland. She presented a paper entitled "Dissecting Anti-Americanism" at the conference which was attended by 45 international scholars who study U.S. foreign policy. She also spent one day touring the former Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau. In addition, Professor Diven toured the CEU campus and met with the international student office to learn more about study abroad opportunities there. Talk to her if you are interested in studying in Poland; she is a strong proponent of this program!

IR and PLS Students Study Abroad in Summer 2007

Record numbers of IR and PLS students are studying overseas this summer. A partial list follows:

Australia - 1
China - 3
France - 3
Jordan - 6
Mexico - 3
Egypt - 1
Argentina - 1
Switzerland - 1
Ghana - 2
England - 1
Poland - 1
Japan - 1

There are also two students earning internship credits while working in Paris and New Delhi this summer.

We are really excited that so many students are taking advantage of the many opportunities to work and study overseas as part of their education. If you are considering study abroad for next year, please visit the Padnos International Center or speak with Professor Diven.

Perugia Faculty Exchange

I recently participated in a faculty exchange at the University of Perugia, Italy during the first half of May. As you may know, Perugia is the sister city of Grand Rapids. Each fall, the University of Perugia sends us one faculty member, and then one of us goes to Perugia in May. Perugia is the capital of the region of Umbria, and is a beautiful, ancient hill town, fortified with city walls. It has a fantastic gallery, the National Gallery of Umbria, and features numerous amazing architectural sites. We are working to develop a student exchange, so stay tuned for more information. Some of the highlights of the trip were meeting the Mayor of Perugia, teaching a comparative law course, giving a public lecture on the development of freedom of expression jurisprudence in the U.S., and meeting many faculty members.

View from the edge of the city

Meeting the Mayor (L-R: Francesco Clementi, Alessandra Pioggia, Dean Giorgio Montanari, Mayor Renato Locchi, the Richards family)

Outside the Palazzo dei Priori (with Daniella Borghesi, who works on International Relations for the city of Perugia and is our sister city contact person)

Piazza d' Italia, one of the many fantastic piazzas throughout the city

With my colleagues, after an amazing Italian lunch

At the University

Note the ancient city walls

Entrance to the National Gallery of Umbria

A special thanks to everyone in Perugia for your gracious hospitality and stimulating discourse. - Mark

Alumni Updates

We have two updates today:

1. Megan Koops ('06) is a graduate student in the School of Public and Nonprofit Administration, working on her MPA. She is currently a graduate assistant, working at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership on the Nonprofit Good Practice Guide.

2. Ashley Renkes ('06) will be attending Wayne State University Law School, starting in the fall.