Drew McDaniel,
Interim Director of the Center for International Studies
It is an unseasonably warm November day, in the 70 degree temperature range, even though it is so late in the season that most leaves have already fallen. In a few days we will begin winding down the academic quarter with final exams. It is the kind of day that I think of when I recall other fall seasons at Ohio University.
This fall has a particular meaning for quite a few International Studies students and faculty: It marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of Communication and Development Studies program. As it happens, I was among the group of persons who drafted the proposal for creation of Comm Dev, and so you can see why this fall puts me in a reflective frame of mind. Twenty years ago we thought the program would attract perhaps a half-dozen persons annually, and that it would be a small highly specialized degree. Instead, this program has consistently admitted twice our projected number of new students each year and turned away many, many applicants. A great number of the graduates have gone on to successful careers in development and academe, validating the study option.
The change of season also brings other transitions. I would like to offer thanks and appreciation to Jennifer Cochran who has edited this publication since she joined the Center for International Studies in 2002. In December she will leave her job in Yamada House, and we wish her well. As a Master’s degree graduate of the Center she brought an understanding of student perspectives and a high degree of professionalism. Her kind and gentle manner will be missed. Jennifer, our doors are always open to you in Yamada House.