Contact: Robbie Ward
Participants in the Fulbright Scholars Program from more than two dozen countries are at Mississippi State for three weeks to learn more about United States culture, language, politics, and legal systems.
For the third year, the university is assisting the cultural exchange participants in becoming better acclimated to life in this country. The 2008 group comes from Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, and the Middle East.
The 40 scholars also are expanding their knowledge of Mississippi and Southern culture and food, among other things, before dispersing to other universities around the country. Most are pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.
In addition to daily English-as-a-second-language classes, they will attend several special presentations led by MSU faculty members. These include:
--Emeriti professors Nancy and Guy Hargrove of the English and music departments, respectively, discussing Mississippi writers and culture, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Thursday [July 24], in Mitchell Memorial Library's John Grisham Room;
--Associate professor Sylvia Byrd of the food science, nutrition and health promotion department, sharing her expertise in American food shopping, cooking and consumption during a 2-4 p.m. presentation Tuesday [the 29th] in 104 Moore Hall; and
--Director Marty Wiseman of the Stennis Institute of Government, leading a 2-4 p.m., Aug. 5 program, also in the library's Grisham Room, on the upcoming presidential election.
Interested reporters are welcome to attend any or all of the listed programs.
For more information, contact Pam Sullivan in the Office of the Graduate School at 662-325-7394 or pps9@grad.msstate.edu. Also, her cell phone number is 228-990-1850.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.