With almost 2,000 alumni living in 90 countries outside the United States, from Canada to Cameroon, and a current student body representing 160 countries, diversity and internationalization are not new concepts at Baruch College. For years, the College has recruited worldwide on the undergraduate and graduate levels and offered specialized programs for partners abroad through the Zicklin School of Business (especially through the Weissman Center for International Business), the School of Public Affairs, and the Division of Continuing and Professional Studies. However, not willing to rest on this strong reputation, Baruch is now moving ahead on redefining what it means to be global.
In January 2011, Jeffrey Peck, dean of the Mildred and George Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, was named to the new additional position of vice provost for global strategies. Building on the substantive strengths of the College’s existing international initiatives, he has created more collaboration among the various stakeholders in global activities and initiated new global efforts, primarily developing new relationships with international universities and organizations. Additionally, in consort with Dr. Ben Corpus, vice president for enrollment management and dean of student affairs, and Ann Clarkson, associate dean of continuing and professional studies, Peck has been encouraging international student recruitment.
The College’s vibrant Study Abroad Office, under the leadership of Dr. Richard Mitten, continues to find new ways to foster global student citizenship, including the Baruch’s first-ever study abroad program to Cuba in January 2012 and first-ever sustainability-focused study abroad program to Costa Rica in January 2013.
A new global studies minor in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences complements the Global Studies Certificate already existent in the Weissman Center for International Business. Peck hopes more curricular change focusing on global issues will be coming.
Peck, Zicklin School Interim Dean Myung-Soo Lee, School of Public Affairs Dean David Birdsell, and Clarkson are currently pursuing unique partnerships with institutions in Brazil and Turkey. Last spring, for example, Peck and Corpus visited Brazil as part of the Institute of International Education’s international partnership programs to investigate new opportunities for faculty and student exchanges. Baruch was one of only 18 U.S. colleges and universities chosen to participate. Nine Baruch administrators also visited Turkey, surveying the academic landscape for possible collaborations. In Istanbul, they discovered a lively group of Baruch alumni who have now formed a Baruch Istanbul alumni club. A similar group in Hong Kong, a city Corpus visited last spring for student recruitment, has also formed. These contacts will create opportunities for more student and faculty exchanges as well as spread the Baruch name around the world.
“Globalization in all of its manifestations contributes to a richer and more connected intellectual and public life at Baruch College,” says Peck.
—Diane Harrigan
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Around the World with Baruch Alumni
Eighty thousand of Baruch’s alumni may live within 25 miles of the campus, but in fact, the sun never sets on the alumni community. According to our fall 2012 records, alumni reside in 90 countries, including:
[columns sid=”Countries” width=”1/2″ autocols=”2″ last=”true”]Antigua
Argentina
Australia
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belize
Cameroon
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Ghana
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Kenya
Lithuania
Malawi
Malaysia
Mexico
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Paraguay
Poland
Qatar
Senegal
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand
Togo
Vietnam
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