Faculty members visit Eastern Europe during faculty seminar
By Stephen O'Hara | October 22, 2009The University of Richmond promotes its undergraduate study abroad programs, but the lesser-known Faculty Seminar program provides the same opportunity to faculty members. Ten faculty members -- led by Uliana Gabara, dean of International Education -- traveled to Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan last May for 2.5 weeks and toured cities, museums and universities during the 15th Faculty Seminar. Gabara said the goal of the seminar, started in 1989, was for faculty members to visit and learn about a country, see how it appeared through different interdisciplinary prisms and either apply their research to their classes or develop new courses. "Faculty need the experience of learning something completely new," Gabara said. This idea appealed to Dan Roberts, associate professor of liberal arts and history, and the host of the radio program, "A Moment in Time." Roberts, who went on the most recent seminar and the faculty trip in 2001, said the program had given him the opportunity to prepare for future radio programs. "Whenever I go somewhere, I also go with an idea of experiencing the flavor of the international experience, experiencing the international culture," Roberts said.
