HOUSTON (Mar. 9, 2007) ---  North Harris College is one of 57 U.S. colleges and universities selected to host a Fulbright Visiting Specialist from one of the world’s many Muslim communities during academic year 2006–2007.  The Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World, an initiative sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, helps U.S. higher education institutions and communities enrich their understanding of Islamic civilization and culture, and social, political and economic developments in the Muslim world. Beginning Mar. 24 through 30, Dr. A. Al Dirbiji, will spend one week on the campus of Lone Star College-North Harris, part of the Lone Star College System. Dr. Dirbiji will also be participating in the 4th Annual International Education Conference Global Changes: Political, Philosophical, Physical at Cy-Fair College on Friday, April 20.
 
Since the program’s launch in January of 2004, more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities have been selected to develop campus- and community-based programs for three- to six-week visits by specialists from countries with a significant Muslim population in the Middle East, South Asia and selected countries in East Asia, Africa, and Europe. The program helps to address today’s global challenges as the Fulbright Visiting Specialists help U.S. institutions to enrich campus and community understanding of those who live in Muslim countries and to challenge prevailing stereotypes about Islamic societies and cultures.

While in the United States, the Fulbright Visiting Specialists promote mutual understanding by engaging institutions and communities in dialogue and educational opportunities through the development of courses, programs, exchange activities and relationships. The Fulbright Visiting Specialists present lectures or short courses, team-teach with American colleagues or assist in program and curriculum development in colleges and universities, and speak to community groups, service clubs, and religious and school groups.

The institutions selected to host the Visiting Specialists during academic year 2006-2007 span the farthest corners of the United States and include varied types of institutions. They include:

Arkansas Tech University, Russellville. AR
Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL
Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, IA
Cal Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Cascadia Community College, Bothel, WA
Central College, Pella, IA
Central Florida Community College, Ocala, FL
Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR Clark University, Worcester, MAColumbia University, New York, NY
Community College of Aurora, Aurora, CO
Doane College, Crete, NE UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Dakota State University, Madison, SD
Earlham College, Richmond, IN
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Felician College, Lodi, NJ
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Meyers, FL
Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA
Jackson State University, Jackson, MS Jacksonville State
Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Manchester, CT Mary Baldwin College, Stauton, VA Mississippi
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Monmouth University, West Long Beach, NJ
Mt. Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA
N. Harris Montgomery CC District, Woodlands, TX
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Metropolitana, San Juan, PR
Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
University for Women, Columbus, MS
Salem State College, Salem, MA
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, PA
Simmons College, Boston, MA
Southeast Community College, Beatrice, NE
Southern Maine Community College, Portland, ME
Voorhees College, Denmark, SC
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
University of Evansville, Evansville, IN
University, Jacksonville, AL Manchester Community College,
University of La Verne, CA
University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
University of Texas, Arlington, Arlington, TX
Whittier College, Whittier, CA
William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL
Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA
Yale University, New Haven, CT

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since the establishment of the Program, 45,400 Fulbright Visiting Scholars have conducted research or taught in U.S. universities and more than 43,600 Fulbright U.S. Scholars have engaged in similar activities abroad. Currently, the Fulbright Program operates in over 150 countries worldwide in order to promote “mutual understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world.” The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), which is a division of the Institute of International Education (IIE), on behalf of the United States Department of State.

For more information about Dr. Dirbiji’s speaking schedule on campus, call Erin DeSouza, NHC’s international program manager at 281.618.5606 or e-mail edesouza@lonestar.edu.

North Harris College is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. Online registration for summer 2007 began Mar. 6. On-site registration starts Mar. 26. For general information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit northharris.lonestar.edu.

NHMCCD, among the five largest and fastest growing community colleges in Texas, comprises, North Harris College, Kingwood College, Tomball College, Montgomery College, Cy-Fair College, six satellite centers, and The University Center.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03/09/2007
Calendar listing: through Mar. 22

For media inquiries please contact:

CeCe.Sutphen@lonestar.edu
281.618-5425 desk
281.618-7105 fax
281.639-6381 cell