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The
growing
collaboration
between
Baldwin
Wallace
University
and
organizations
in
Zambia
rose
to
a
new
level
as
the
First
Lady
of
the
African
nation
welcomed
a
BW
delegation
for
a
meeting
at
the
country's
Statehouse.
As BW explores new study abroad and service-learning partnerships within the country, First Lady Esther Lungu and Zambia's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Owen Mugemezulu, met with a BW contingent led by Colleen Visconti, dean of the BW School of Health Sciences.
"She
is
committed
to
using
her
position
as
First
Lady
to
address
the
wellness
of
vulnerable
populations
in
her
country,"
Visconti
noted.
"BW's
hope
is
to
find
collaborative
projects
that
positively
impact
Zambian
people,
in
particular,
children,
and
also
provide
meaningful
experiences
for
BW
students.
We
had
a
wonderful,
productive
meeting."
BW has already established strong ties to Zambia through Chisomo Selemani, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders. Selemani, a BW graduate and native of Zambia, opened the door to the exchange with her home country and she is delighted to see her vision for the partnership grow.
"None of this would have been possible without Chisomo," Visconti said.
In
May,
the
first
group
of
18
BW
speech-language
pathology
(SLP)
graduate
students
traveled
to
Zambia
for
a
15-day
clinical
practicum,
providing
speech
and
language
services
at
a
variety
of
sites
around
the
region.
Moving
forward,
the
distinctive
Zambia
service-learning
experience
will
be
offered
annually
to
first-year
graduate
students
as
part
of
the
SLP
program.
Bridging
the
miles
between
Berea
and
southern
Africa
with
technology,
BW
also
provides
ongoing
distance
mentorship,
professional
development
and
educational
opportunities
for
the
small
number
of
practitioners
who
work
with
Zambian
children
with
communication
disabilities.
The international exchange provides a two-way avenue, as well. This fall semester, the BW School of Health Sciences will enroll the first Zambian speech-language pathology graduate student.
To widen the scope of the exchange beyond the health sciences, BW is currently investigating the development of undergraduate study abroad opportunities for students in broadcasting, theatre, computer sciences, communication sciences and disorders, and education.
Members of the faculty and administrative group traveling with Visconti and Selemani to explore new programming potential included Scott Plate, associate professor of theatre, John DiGennaro, director of strategic initiatives and libraries, and Christie King-Shrefler, director of study abroad.
