Christianity and Homelessness [Research Stories]

–This post is written by UHP student Hunter Scott, who received a SURE Award for sociological research.
Over the summer, I interviewed ten men and one woman who considered themselves to be experiencing homelessness, and who also self-identified as Christian. I was interested in how the two usually separately studied experiences of extreme poverty and faith interacted.  Limited previous work in the field of Sociology (my major) had shown that homeless individuals often kept a strong private faith, which they utilized as a tool of resilience and inspiration to overcome addictions, unemployment, and an education. However, those studies also showed that they avoided organized religion and congregations, fearing shame from the members of their churches due to their housing status. I hypothesized that a Christian faith would lead someone experiencing homelessness to develop a structural view of their own position in society. Then, they might naturally begin to utilize their faith to understand the inequalities and contradictions inherent in the housing, education, employment, and law enforcement systems we live with, and even draw inspiration to fight back through advocacy and fellowship.  This I drew from the Black Liberation Theology of James H. Cone and the Latin American Liberation Theology of Gustavo Guitierrez. Continue reading “Christianity and Homelessness [Research Stories]”

Appointments: Now in Two Delicious Flavors!

This year we’re skipping the traditional walk-in hours for the first two weeks of the semester, and instead using a new option for appointments!
Starting right this very moment, you have the option of booking a 15 minute OR a 30 minute appointment with either Liz or Catherine!
Please note that 15 minutes is the default booking time, so if you want a 30 minute appointment, you have to select it! (You’ll see the dropdown menu for it after you select your start time.)
If you’re still looking for drop-ins, come to express advising hours, every Wednesday from 5-7pm in Foggy Bottom to see Liz and some SPA!
Head over and make your appointment now!
Remember, always take note of where you made your appointment!  You don’t want to show up at the Mt. Vernon Campus if Liz or Catherine is waiting for you in Foggy Bottom!

What's the Deal with the Dual Campus?

This year, the UHP is spearheading the Dual Campus Model.  What does that mean?
We’re in two places!  We have offices on the Mt. Vernon Campus AND in Foggy Bottom.  Find us at Ames Suite 101 (MVC) or 714 21st Street NW (FoBo).

We tried this approach first.
Just like Dr. Manhattan, we’re in two places!

But not at the same time! (At least not individually.)  For now, you can find Catherine at MVC on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and in Foggy Bottom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Liz will be at MVC on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and in Foggy Bottom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Don’t worry, it’s easily navigable when making an appointment.)
Dr. Lizhuttan
It turned out that photoshopping them blue didn’t actually give them the power to be in two places at once. So, not just like Dr. Manhattan afterall.

Honors faculty live with us now!  Well, they still have homes that they go to (we’re pretty sure), but their offices are now in the same place as staff.  We know, we know: we’re already working on getting a reality-style sitcom deal with pretty much every major network so people can enjoy our dynamic.  We’ll let you know about that too.
We’re hoping for some excellent guest stars.

Whats Up Alum? – Scott McDonald


LtCol Scott McDonald ‘95 graduated from the University Honors Program with a major in International Relations. An Armor Officer, Scott has also completed Marine Corps Attaché tours in Canberra, Australia and Taipei, Taiwan. He is currently a Regional Engagement Planner with III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. His article, “Phase Zero: How China Exploits It, Why the United States Does Not,” was published in the Summer 2012
Naval War College Review.
Few titles have as immediate a response as “Marine.”  In most minds the image conjured does not equate to that evoked by “Honors Program,” yet the association is more apt than most think.
When classmates heard that I had decided to join the Marine Corps, many were curious as to why a hopeful political theorist would take a detour from academia to enter such a profession. In truth, when I signed a contract committing myself to four years of active duty, I did not think I was embarking on a professional career, I was, however, following my interest in political theory to its logical end. Continue reading “Whats Up Alum? – Scott McDonald”

Need a Work-Study Job? Tutor DC Elementary Students!

Looking for a work-study or volunteer position for the fall semester or year?
Want to meet some of the most interesting kids in the District?
Love to read?
Check out this great opportunity as a reading tutor as part of DC Reads.
Three out of four public elementary school students in DC perform at or below basic levels in reading and math.  All GW students are  invited to be a part of the solution by joining DC Reads to tutor elementary school students, to help them succeed in the classroom and beyond!
This is a semester or year-long commitment available to volunteers and to those who are eligible for Federal Work-Study.  Applications are due on Friday, Sept. 7th (priority) or Friday, Sept. 21st (final).
The UHP’s own Preston Whitt worked as a tutor his freshman year:

This was an amazing way to get to know parts of the District I would otherwise never have experienced.  The kids are wonderful (and even the ones who try your patience are hilarious).  I highly recommend volunteering or working for DC Reads, especially to incoming freshman.  It will really shape your four years in a great, unique way.

More information about the program and the application process can be found here.

Fulbright Scholar Program Internship Fall 2012 at the Institute of International Education

Fulbright Scholar Program Internship Fall 2012
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is currently seeking students for four internship opportunities in the Washington, DC area for the Fulbright Scholar Program Division.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered by the Institute of International Education’s Department of Scholar Exchanges, which houses the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). IIE is a collaborating agency of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and administers the Fulbright Scholar Program.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is the flagship international exchange program of the U.S. Department of State. It provides grants to U.S. scholars and professionals to teach or conduct research abroad and brings visiting scholars to the United States to conduct research or teach.
Please visit: www.iie.org/cies – to learn more about Fulbright Scholar programs, and www.iie.org – for other programs administered by the Institute of International Education.
IIE’s CIES Internship Program:
IIE’s Department of Scholar Exchanges is supported by various units, including Outreach, Events, Program, Specialist and Global. Each unit’s work is closely linked to other units, so coordination, communication, and collaboration are key. IIE offers internships to undergraduate and graduate students in the spring, summer and fall. Interns who seek exposure to the field of international education and develop valuable workplace skills are encouraged to apply for internships with any of the units described below. Interns will have the opportunity to observe processes, learn policies and gain hands-on experience in international educational exchange management through the mentorship of IIE staff. At the close of the internship, interns are required to give a presentation to the staff. The presentation offers the intern an opportunity for public speaking as well as to reflect on their internship experience.
IIE also encourages interns to take advantage of the following professional development opportunities:
IIE Brown Bags: Brown bags provide interns with the opportunity to hear about other programs at IIE, network with IIE colleagues in other divisions and learn more about career opportunities at IIE.
DC Networking: Interns are also encouraged to take advantage of networking opportunities in DC by attending lectures at think tanks, briefings on Capitol Hill or other unique-to-DC events.
Outreach Unit:
The department’s Outreach Unit is responsible for advertising Fulbright programs and directing the recruitment process for all US scholar programs. Unit staff members serve as liaisons to campus contacts and plan national visibility, advocacy, and media relations efforts for the Scholar Program in collaboration with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Outreach Unit also develops and produces all print and electronic publications and program-related web sites and coordinates research and program assessment activities to effectively communicate the short- and long-term impact of the scholar programs.
Events Team:
The Events Team organizes meetings and conferences for the department throughout the year. Event Team staff members coordinate with all units to provide support with event registration, travel arrangements, program agendas, and vendor relations. Throughout the spring and summer, the Events Team supports CIES Regional Program Units, as well as the Fulbright Student Program, to coordinate Pre-Departure Orientation sessions for U.S. Fulbright Scholars and Students going abroad during the upcoming academic year.
Programs Unit – Regional Programs and Program Operations:
Regional program staff work with U.S. and Visiting Scholar programs in East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Hemisphere (Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean). They administer scholar caseloads, recruit U.S. scholars to apply for grants, manage reviews of applications, update the U.S. awards catalog, process grant payment requests, monitor visiting scholar immigration compliance and affiliations at U.S. institutions, and provide policy and procedural guidance to scholars during grants. Program Operations staff handle centralized internal program management, ensure quality assurance and maintain staff training manuals and procedures tools.
Global Initiatives Unit:
The Global Initiatives Unit administers global Fulbright programs including the International Educator Administrators Program, the Scholar-in-Residence program, the Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program, and the Occasional Lecturing Fund. The unit also administers the Fulbright Specialist Program, a short-term grant program for U.S. academics and professionals to collaborate with professional counterparts at overseas universities and education-focused institutions on curriculum and faculty development, institutional planning and a variety of other activities.
Intern Activities:
Intern assignments vary and may include: assist with peer review, pre-departure orientation and grant administration processes; prepare reports; create and update spreadsheets; develop and maintain tools to track affiliations, grants, grant payments, final reports and required scholar documents; conduct research and analysis; process form letters; file; organize materials including historical program information and financial data and assure accuracy of scholar records. Interns may be involved in U.S. scholar recruitment activities, such as: conduct web and other research on U.S. higher education academic programs in designated fields and specializations, research list serve contacts, update lists of contacts at U.S. colleges and universities, send messages about available U.S. Fulbright scholar award opportunities in targeted disciplines and world areas and prepare custom email lists from databases.
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS
• Undergraduate or Graduate student currently pursuing a degree;
• An interest in international relations, exchanges and education;
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to write for various audiences;
• Ability to work independently and as part of team; ability to interact with high level professionals and with all levels of staff;
• Computer knowledge including Word and Excel; HTML knowledge a plus;
NB: Unfortunately, we are unable to host interns on J-1 Visas.
All interns are required to possess knowledge of computer systems prior to the commencement of the internship. We also encourage interns to propose solutions or offer ideas relevant to managing a high volume program with competing priorities and deadlines. IIE will provide the intern the opportunity to discuss and share knowledge with staff across the Institute. Since this internship will allow the intern to interact directly with IIE staff and partner organizations, it is necessary that the intern possess a professional and mature attitude. Please note that this is an unpaid internship; however a modest transportation stipend is provided at the end of the semester to all interns.
Candidates MUST be students at an accredited college or university, and MUST receive academic credit for the internship or an internship MUST be a requirement of their degree program. Please note that before the start of your internship, we will require a letter from your university, stating that you will receive academic credit for the internship.
Candidates may apply for one or all of the programs with the submission or one application (please specify your preferences). All applications MUST include the following items(please upload or attach resume and cover letter as one PDF or Word document):
• Cover letter stating your interest and qualifications for the specific internship
• Current resume

How to apply

Please use the on-line application system at the following link: www.iie.org/careers (Requisition # 434).