Ghana Campus Director, Visiting Faculty on National Stages
July 10, 2019
The past weekend was a notable one for Webster University Ghana Campus.
Campus Director Christa Sanders was invited to speak on a panel at the 2019 Ghana Diaspora Celebration & Homecoming Summit in Accra – a laudable annual initiative under the auspices of Diaspora Affairs and the Office of the President. This three-day event was the lynchpin in a year-long lineup of programs across the country as part of the Year of Return.
Themed "Recognizing Diasporan Contributions Towards Nation Building," the July 5 event and panel – which featured African diasporans who have lived in Ghana for extended periods of time – opened dialogue around why many choose to move to West Africa and the impact their work has on the nation and other diasporans worldwide.
“The Year of Return not only provides a unique opportunity for members of the Diaspora to connect, but it also opens doors towards future investments in the country, "Sanders explained. "The year creates room for platforms of intellectual discussion as well as helps build a better framework towards addressing problems that impact the continent, working, ultimately, towards a common goal of a Ghana beyond aid."
On Saturday, Eric Rhiney – chair of the Management Department in Webster's George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology, and currently a lecturer at the Ghana Campus this summer – also graced the platform at the 3rd Annual Women in PR Summit in Accra.
Speaking on the importance of developing and applying emotional intelligence especially in leadership, Rhiney referenced empathy at work while stating, “There is no way you can get people on your side if you can’t put yourself in their shoes.”
Upcoming Events
Other events planned this month include:
- Online Open House to give potential students outside of the capital city and in other African countries the opportunity to learn why this Fall is a great time to enroll at Webster University;
- Public Lecture on the topic of “The Year of Return in the Age of Globalization: Revisiting the Impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade”
- A masterclass exploring political cartooning as a medium for free speech, led by visiting International Relations faculty from the Webster Leiden campus, Nives Rumenjak.
The masterclass will include contributions from renowned Ghanaian political cartoonist Bright Ackwerh and additional contributions from Media Communications faculty member Kobina Ankomah Graham.