Jiayi Zhou, a graduate student in Gallaudet's Masters of International Development Program and a citizen of China, talked about her experiences pursuing higher education in the United States, and how it made her realize how much she could accomplish as a deaf person, at the EducationUSA Forum supported by the U.S. Department of State, held June 22 to 24 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Zhou was a panelist at the forum with four other international students from Europe and Eurasia who are enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Zhou told the audience that she applied to Gallaudet after a group of deaf study abroad students from the University visited her school for deaf students in China. Prior to that day, Zhou had no knowledge of Gallaudet's existence, and she was shocked at the confidence the deaf students possessed in comparison to her fellow students. She applied to Gallaudet, and after being accepted, entered the English Language Institute to learn American Sign Language and English. Along with acquiring new language skills, she learned about American culture. Zhou says that the experience of being a student in the United States helped her become more assertive and curious about the world around her. She went on to complete an undergraduate degree in graphic design at Gallaudet before deciding to pursue a master's degree. (Source: http://tinyurl.com/5vyxrey)

Several International Development students attended the launching of Saving Lives at Birth: A Grand Challenge for Development, an initiative between USAID, Norway, Canada and the Gates Foundation, to seek innovative prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant women and newborns in rural, low-resource settings. Hilary Clinton, Melinda Gates, the Director of USAID and representatives from collaborating Development organizations presented.

Gallaudet's International Development Program, Center for International Programs and Services, and Gallaudet Study Tours wins Award for one of the top ten Innovative Programs in U.S. Higher Education from the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy.

"The Higher Education Task Force selected 10 programs at U.S. colleges and universities that serve as outstanding examples of how to engage many more Americans in citizen diplomacy and address the major global challenges of the 21st century."

International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration

Current students and recent graduates of the International Development Program attended an event to honor International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the U.S. International Council on Disabilities in downtown D.C. They met others passionate about advancing human rights for people with disabilities around the world and saw keynote remarks by Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and Ambassador Luis Gallegos of Ecuador. The students and alumni, who were accompanied by IDP Director Amy Wilson (second row, left), joined more than 120 USICD members and friends at the event.

First Lady Michelle Obama Welcomes Chinese Diplomats to the United States

Mrs. Obama spoke to more than a thousand students from Howard University, students from Gallaudet's International Development Program, and Washington-area schools, as well as members of the U.S. State Department and visitors about the importance of building relationships with their peers in China and creating a mutual understanding around the world.

Professor, Dr. Khadijat 'Kubby' Rashid, appointed White House Fellow, Class of 2010-2011

The International Development students will miss Dr. Rashid's insights into Economic Development and Micropolitics as this 2010-2011 academic year the White House and Inspector General Peggy Gustafson at the Small Business Administration have appointed her to work with them. She is one of 13 outstanding men and women appointed to serve as White House Fellows and is the first deaf person to be named a White House Fellow. Dr. Rashid is pictured here with some of her favorite ID students.

'Making it Work' internship takes student to the U.N.

Nicar Bocalan helped to organize a panel at United Nations Headquarters during the 3rd Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Read more about his internship with Handicap International here.

The Department of State's Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, Judy Heumann, hosts panel discussions recognizing the International Day of Disabilities 2010

 International Development student, Mary Dakim, was one of several ID students who attended the meeting and spoke with Advisor Heumann at the end of the day. Issues during the day included discussions on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, challenging violence against women and girls with disabilities: Overcoming the Barriers to Dignity and Equality, and HIV/AIDS and disability: How Can We Take a More Inclusive Approach?