New Global Partner: Universidad de Concepción

During the week leading up to Easter 2019, a St. Thomas delegation met with colleagues at the Universidad de Concepción in Chile to build a new university-wide partnership, enhance our academic programs, and create student opportunities. The University of St. Thomas, School of Education, began collaborating with Universidad de Concepción last year to help provide teaching practicums in the Minnetonka Public School District, ISD #276.

St. Thomas Senior International Officer, Dr. Tim Lewis, organized the exploratory meetings in Chile this April to help build more opportunities for St. Thomas Students in South America.

School of Education

It was Dean, Dr. Kathlene Campbell’s, inaugural visit to Chile. Dean Campbell met with Universidad de Concepción administration and faculty to explore expansion of the partnership that her school spearheaded through their teaching practicums.

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean, Dr. Yohuru Williams, along with Associate Dean, Dr. Mark Stansbury-O’Donnell worked to identify the potential for a South American version of the popular Rome Empower program. Dr. Dan Tight, Chair of Modern and Classical Languages, met with individuals and discussed opportunities for Spanish language students as well as partnerships for the new Latin Studies program.

School of Engineering

Dr. Camille George, Associate Dean, met with the Dean of Engineering and faculty members in the Engineering fields of Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Materials, and Informatics to discuss potential for partnerships.

School of Law

Cristina Calderón, Director of Global Outreach, explored partnerships by meeting with faculty from the Legal and Social Sciences departments as well as the Director of the Universidad de Concepción European Studies Program.

“International partnerships such as these are crucial to St. Thomas in its role preparing students for the highly interconnected world we live in. There is no better way to appreciate another culture than to immerse oneself in it. Concepción offers a beautiful coastal setting with a modern and diverse university.” Said Lewis. Deans from Universidad de Concepción plan to visit St. Thomas again next fall.