Xiaoyu is a PhD candidate in the Department of English’s Literature and Criticism program, with a focus on intersectional and global literature. She assists with the Big Ideas certificate program, in which students work closely with faculty to gain a deeper understanding of the modern world and to learn to communicate more effectively across all disciplines. Xiaoyu participates in various cultural events and communicates with other international students to understand and to help with their needs. She is a Haven Project volunteer and is currently working as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University. At both IUP and Duquesne, Xiaoyu’s work involves collaboration with a diverse mix of students and staff, with the intention of promoting equal opportunities for student learning. We thank you, Xiaoyu!

Amanda is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology, where she teaches classes in African studies and in applied, cultural, and environmental anthropology. She codirects the Sustainability Studies program and is a faculty member in the Pan-African Studies program. She has conducted research over the past two decades in Eritrea and Ethiopia on rural development, forced migration, and refugee policy. She believes that anthropology provides a set of tools and perspectives that are valuable for all majors preparing for work and life in a diverse and dynamic world, and her classes often focus on providing opportunities for students to learn anthropology through hands-on, community-based research. She participates regularly in the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative, a federally funded program that supports student collaboration with community organizations to conduct research in the interest of sustainable development in our Appalachian region. We thank you, Amanda!

EVENTS OF NOTE THIS WEEK
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