VISITORS

In addition to hosting individual visitors from partner institutions and ad hoc visitors interested in collaborations with Northwestern, IPD has increasingly become a central ‘clearing house’ for visiting delegations. IPD reviews requests and makes decisions on which groups to host depending on timing, availability of faculty and administrators, and general interest in the visitors’ institution.

IPD puts together programs for visitors that include presentations by university administrators and faculty, visits to labs, lunch at the Allen Center, and a campus tour. IPD contacts faculty and makes connections between visitors’ interests and expertise on campus. IPD staff accompany the visitors during the visits.

During the past year, IPD coordinated the following visits:

National University of Singapore: On October 13th, Andrew Gall, the Assistant Manager of the International Relations Office at the National University of Singapore (NUS), visited the Northwestern campus - meeting with representatives from the McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and the Northwestern Office for Study Abroad. Additionally, Mr. Gall held an informational session for prospective engineering undergraduates regarding opportunities for study and research at NUS. 

Makerere University (Uganda): From September 26th-30th, IPD hosted Susan Byekwaso, the International Liaison for Medical Programs from parter university, Makerere University.  During her visit, Susan Byekwaso visited the Evanston campus where she met with Kearsley Stewart (Director, 'Public Health in Uganda' program) and Dévora Grynspan (Director, International Program Development).  Later on her trip, Susan Byekwaso met with Virigina Bishop and Rebecca Wurtz (Masters in Public Health program), Dean Raymond Curry (Medical Education), Shannon Galvin & Robert Murphy (FSM Center for Global Health), and Adam Koon and Dr. Russ Robertson (Family Medicine/ Global Health Education). Additionally, Susan Byekwaso presented to a group of prospective FSM medical students interested in medical opportunities in Uganda and held a pre-departure orientation for several fourth year medical students heading to Makerere this upcoming February.

University of Birmingham (United Kingdom): On September 17th, 2009, a delegation from University of Birmingham visited Northwestrn Univeristy.  The group included Judith Petts (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research), Lawrence Young (Head of the College of Medical & Dental Sciences), Malcolm Press (Head of the College of Life & Environmental Sciences), and Edward Harcourt (Director, International Relations). They were able to meet with various faculty at Feinberg School of Medicine, including Deans Larry Jameson (Medical School), Raymond Curry (Medical Education), Rex Crisholm (Research), and Vice-Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Jeffrey Glassroth. On the main Evanston campus, they met with IPD director, Dévora Grynspan, and Professor Robert Lamb (Molecular and Cellular Biology).

Universidad de Navarra (Pamplona, Spain): On June 22, 2009, Dr. Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, Vice President of International Relations and Álvaro Balibrea, Director of International Programs, from Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain visited Northwestern University.  They met with the Director of Study Abroad, William Anthony; Kellogg's Assoc. Director of International Buisness & Markets, Paul Christensen & Kellogg's Director of Student Affairs, Fran Langewisch; The Executive Director of the Media Management Center, Michael Smith; and lunched with Medill's Director of the Graduate Program in Corporate Public Relations, Clarke Caywood.

Saudi Arabia: On May 13, 2009, a delegation of professors from Saudi Arabia met with Northwestern staff including Marilyn McCoy, Vice-President, Administration and Planning; Wiliam Banis, Vice-President, Student Affairs; Carretta Cooke, Executive Director, Multicultural Student Affairs;  Carl Petry, Professor, History;  Rüdiger Seesemann, Assistant Professor, Religion and Lynn Whitcomb, Coordinator, Arabic Language.  The visit was sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Education and the U.S. State Department

County Cork, Ireland: James Fogarty, Head of IT & BIO, Co. Cork, Michael Delaney, SVP of Development, Cork Institute of Technology and Marie Gaudette, BIO & IT Chair, Cook County Partners with Ireland Committee visited Northwestern on March 16 to discuss collaborative possibilities.  They met with IPD Director, Dévora Grynspan.

Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS):  David Yoken, Professor of Music from Turku University of Turku, Finland, visited Northwestern on March 6th, 2009.  Professor Yoken met with met with various university administrators to discuss additional collaborations.  During the winter & spring quarters of 2009, two Finnish students from Turku studied under NU Professor Billy Siegenfeld as visiting international scholars. Click here to read more.

Makerere University and Ndere Troup: Visiting from Kampala, Uganda and the famous Ndere Troup, Centurio Balikoowa, a Professor of Dance, Music, & Drama, joined NU as a visiting artist-in-residence with the Department of Anthropology from February 14-22nd. Professor Balikoowa conducted a series of performances and workshops around campus during his stay.

Stellenbosch University (South Africa): Pumlani Sibula, Professor of isiXhosa from Stellenbosch University, spends the winter 2009 quarter at Northwestern teaching various groups of undergraduate and graduate students isiXhosa.

Fundaçâo Getúlio Vargas (FGV): visit Northwestern and sign agreement with President Bienen and Provost Linzer. The group visited Northwestern Law School, Kellogg School of Business, the Institute for Policy Research, and IPD.

Capital Medical University (CMU): Hosted a 12-person delegation from our partner institution in Beijing March 9-12, 2008. Organized a joint symposium with FSM on medical education, hosted by Ray Curry, with presentations by both CMU and FSM faculty.

Chinese Consul General: visit of the Chinese Consul General and Education attaché to meet President Bienen and Provost Linzer on April 9, 2008. President Bienen hosted lunch at Allen Center.

Chinese Ministry of Education: on April 15, 2008, at the request of the Chinese Consulate, hosted a delegation lead by Mr. Xiaodong Zhang, Deputy Director of the Division of International Students in the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, Ministry of Education. The purpose of the visit was to learn about federal regulations and visa requirements for Chinese students and scholars. They met with staff in IPD and in the International Office.

Chinese Ministry of Education: Hosted a second delegation from China’s Ministry of Education on January 10, 2008, headed by the Chinese Vice Minister of Education Ms Li Weihong. The six person delegation met with Donna Shear, Director of the Northwestern University Press.

École Normale Supérieure & Consulat Général de France in Chicago: On January 11, 2008 organized a visit from Mr. Frabolot (Director, International Relations, École Normale Supérieure), and staff from the Consulat Général de France in Chicago: Jean Pierre Toutant (Scientific Attaché) and Anne-Emmanuelle Grossi (Deputy Cultural Attaché). They visited Morimoto’s lab, and met with a number of faculty including Marianne Hopman, Kenneth Seeskin, Jan Winston, Bryna Kra, and Jean-François Gaillard (Civil Engineering), Jay Walsh (Vice President for Research), Michael Loriaux (Political Science and Director, French Interdisciplinary Group), and Dévora Grynspan. They met with the Provost, and ended their visit at IBNAM where they met with Sam Stupp.

Sciences Po (Paris): every year, we host the directors of our programs in Paris, who come to NU to participate in orientation meetings with the students participating in those programs and also to talk with colleagues and collaborators. Bruno Palier visited on March 5, 2008 and met with the alumni and new participants in the Public Health in Europe program, and Francesco Saraceno visited on May 5-6, 2008 and met with students participating in the European Union Studies program.

University of Nice: At the request of Dean Landsberg (FSM), Prof. Grynspan met with Daniel Benchimol to discuss possible medical collaborations with Nice, to take advantage of Dean Landsberg’s existing relationship and travel to Nice.

Universiteit van Amsterdam: Willeke Jeeninga, Anne van de Graaf met with Devora to discuss the expansion of the relationship between NU’s Department of Communications Studies and the University of Amsterdam

Jacob du Plessis (Stellenbosch): Prof. Gryspan invited Jacob du Plessis to Northwestern for discussions about becoming field director for the Public Health in South Africa program. Prof du Plessis became director of the program for Spring 2008

Samantha Walbrugh-Parsadh (Stellenbosch), associate Director of International Programs, visited Northwestern on May 19, 2008 to meet with the Study Abroad Office and IPD staff and to explore student exchange possibilities with Northwestern.

National University of Singapore: Two representatives from NUS visited Northwestern on May 21, 2008 to meet with Prof. Grynspan, IPD staff, and representatives from Engineering, Study Abroad, SESP, and School of Communications. The purpose of the visit was to finalize the agreement being negotiated and to look into the expansion of the agreement which is now focused on Science and Engineering.

2007 - 2008 Academic Year

Getulio Vargas Foundation (GVF): a delegation from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, based in Rio de Janeiro, visited NU and met with Prof. Grynspan on November 7, 2007 to discuss collaborations in the social sciences

Tsinghua University: at the request of our partner institution in Beijing, Tsinghua University, we have hosted several visitors and delegations. On October 5, 2007 we hosted a three person delegation: Kang Kejun, Vice President and Professor of Engineering Physics; Wang Zanji, Executive Director, Office of Scientific Research, Professor of Electrical Engineering; and Xia Guangzhi, Deputy Director, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange. The delegation met with Professors Licheng Gu (African and Asian Languages); Richard Lueptow (Mechanical Engineering); Peter Voorhees (Materials Science), and Daniel Linzer (Provost).

Tsinghua University: on October 16, 2007 we hosted a 13-person delegation from Tsinghua and arranged meetings and presentations for them including: Marilyn McCoy (Vice President for Administration and Planning), Monica Olvera de la Cruz (Director, Materials Research Center), and Brad Moore (Vice President for Research).