NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University faculty and students will be featured as presenters, musicians, moderators and conference planners at the upcoming May 24-25 Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars Annual Conference. Music Education Professor Dr. Sharon Joy serves as the chairperson of the conference and president-elect of the organization. Dr. Jason Powell, Dr. Marcia Hardy, Dr. Ronnie Abukhlaf, Dr. Vianka Miranda and Dr. Elizabeth Prejean have served on the conference planning committee.
Phi Beta Delta recognizes scholarship achievement in international education. Its annual conference showcases the research of international and domestic scholars on a variety of topics related to international collaboration, international education, and cultural awareness. This year’s theme, “Moving Forward: The Future of Collaboration in Our Diverse World,” will highlight presentations that promote diversity and global awareness. The keynote address “Messaging Strategies to Foster Belonging” will be given by Christina Pope, a senior network director of Welcoming America. Welcoming America is a non-profit organization that works with over 200 local communities and groups to help provide inclusive, welcoming environments for immigrants.
School of Business faculty Miranda, Prejean, Dr. Weiwen Liao, Carmella Parker and Dr. Marcia Hardy will present papers at this online conference and Powell will chair the poster session. Joy will chair the conference.
A Virtual International Music Concert will be streamed to conference participants late Monday afternoon, May 24. This concert will include performances from faculty and students, showcasing music representative of their international cultures. Music from China, Japan, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Italy and Hungary will be included. NSU student Romulo Enrique “Kike” Osorio of Colombia will present a music video “Un Verano en Nueva York” that features NSU international students and alumni. The concert finale will be a video of a past performance of “Colombia Tierra Querida” by the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, conducted by NSU graduate student alumnus Jolie Gonzales Masmela. This piece will also include NSU student dancers Jose Arrieta and Vilma Castro.
Aura Hernandez Canedo, a current international graduate student in music, will host the concert and introduce the NSU orchestra.
“It has been an honor coordinate this exciting concert of international performers,” Joy, concert organizer, said. “I know that all viewers will be touched by the transcendent power of music to bring us together while highlighting the varied tastes of our international cultures.”
The Northwestern State University Eta Mu chapter of Phi Beta Delta has paid the chapter registration for the conference, allowing access to all of those in the NSU community. Anyone interested in attending the online conference, can email Hardy, president of the Eta Mu chapter at hardym@nsula.edu For additional information about the conference contact Joy at joys@nsula.edu.
