2008 Woodie Awards
Students learn when they study abroad
Leah Bigelow
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: News
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"Belle has done a lot of work to promote international student education," said Rhea Williamson, associate dean of graduate studies and research, who has known Wei since she was a professor in the engineering department.
Wei said she started out as an electrical engineering professor in 1987, was moved up to chair of the electrical engineering program in 1998 and became dean in 2002.
"My job is to lead and manage," she said.
Wei said that there is more of a need to prepare students for a globalized society. She said she hopes to enlighten students about the increasingly competitive and interconnected world.
For the past three years, Wei said she has led the Global Technology Initiative, which takes the top 25 students in the engineering, humanities and social sciences department to Asia. Next year, she said, the students will be going to India.
"I want students to find happiness in work that is meaningful to them," Wei said.
Renee Spahn, a senior industrial technology major, said she has wanted to be a part of the Global Technology Initiative since she attended an informational meeting her freshman year.
Spahn said she is a current Global Technology scholar who will join Wei on the trip to India in January.
For now, Spahn said she is taking classes on the economy, history, background and culture of the country in preparation for the trip.
 Media Credit: KHALID JIVANI, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY Abi Romero Ramirez, a jazz pianist performs at the award banquet for Dean Belle Wei, monday in the University Room. |
Hadi Alamdar and Laura Hughes, both graduates of SJSU's electrical engineering program, went on the Global Technology Initiative trip in 2004. They said they traveled with Wei to China and Taiwan.
"It was a great opportunity," said Hughes, "and it was an honor to be chosen.
In addition to honoring Dean Wei for her international achievements, members of the international programs and students committee also honored students who received money from the Louie Barozzi Study Abroad Scholarship.
The scholarship was created when the former director of international programs and services retired, said current director Helen Stevens.
She said they were originally only able to give out one scholarship a year, but thanks to donations the committee is now able to give out four. Two are given to SJSU students who are going to study abroad and two are given to international students who are studying on this campus, Stevens said.
About 50 people attended the reception, including the members of the international programs and students committee, staff from the international programs and services department, International House Director Leann Cherkasky Makhni and humanities professor Scot Guenter.
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