Fulbright visitor to share Islamic culture with BGSU

In terms of bridging cultural differences, there is no substitute for human contact. That is the philosophy of a new Fulbright program that is bringing scholars from Islamic countries to American colleges and universities this semester.

Through “Fulbright Visiting Specialists: Direct Access to the Islamic World,” BGSU will host Hamadi Reddisi, a member of the faculty of law and political science at the University of Tunis, Tunisia. He will be on campus from March 20-April 4. During this time he will also engage in community outreach across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, including visits to Bowling Green High School, the Wood County District Public Library and the Wood County Senior Center.

Bowling Green is among the first group of American colleges and universities to be awarded a grant to host a Fulbright Visiting Specialist. The goal of these cultural ambassadors is to expand current understanding of Islamic societies and cultures both in and out of the classroom. The program is supporting 25 grants for visits by scholars and other professionals from the Middle East and other Muslim countries. It is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the state department and administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Reddisi will help enrich BGSU’s international programs and courses across the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Technology and Continuing and Extended Education. The first week of his visit coincides with BGSU Communications Week (March 22-26).

During the second week of his visit, he will be available for return class visits or individual meetings with faculty and students.

He will focus many of his talks and discussions on democracy and understanding cultures and nations, in keeping with one component of the Academic Plan.

The author of numerous books and articles on religion and politics in the Middle East, Reddisi has extensive experience lecturing in Europe, Africa and the United States.

An interdisciplinary faculty team of Fulbright Scholar “alumni” has been instrumental in bringing the Fulbright Visiting Specialist to campus. Its members include Laura Lengel, communication studies, who was the principal grant writer for the program and a former Fulbright Scholar in Tunisia; Kristie Foell, director of international studies and a former Fulbright Scholar in Berlin and Vienna; Bruce Edwards, associate dean for distance education and international programs, Continuing and Extended Education, and a former Fulbright scholar in Kenya, and Salim Elwazani, visual communication and technology education, a former Fulbright scholar in Bahrain. Other committee members are Catherine Cassara, journalism, and Candace Archer, political science.

To arrange a class or organization meeting with Reddisi, call Lengel at 2-7653.