Center for International Studies Reorganizes
Contact: Dwight Woodward, (740) 593-1842
Editors: Photos are available on the Web at:
ATHENS, Ohio (November 20, 2000) -- Ohio University Associate Provost for International Programs and Director of the Center for International Studies Josep Rota has reorganized the center's staff to reflect the increasing importance of the center to the university's overall mission.
"The reorganization strengthens our staff and reflects the growing importance of international studies at the university and around the world," Rota said. "The changes in duties will allow our staff to better serve students and faculty at the center."
Elizabeth Clodfelter has been named assistant director of the center. Clodfelter began working at Ohio University in 1998 as coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies degree program and coordinator of the center's outreach program. She earned a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in Latin American Studies at Indiana University. She has studied in Mexico and the United Kingdom and worked in Spain, Honduras and Belize.
Catherine Cutcher began work in August as the assistant director for the National Resource Centers of the African Studies and Southeast Asian Studies programs. Cutcher previously served as a graduate assistant in the African Studies program and as the on-site director of a study abroad program in Swaziland. She completed a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology at Kalamazoo College and a master's degree in international affairs at Ohio University. She has previously worked in Kenya and last year served as a VISTA volunteer with Rural Action, a nonprofit community development organization based in southeastern Ohio.
Ismail Elmahdi has joined the center as a technology specialist for the African Studies program and is developing an online master's program in African Studies. A native of Sudan and a doctoral student in the College of Education, Elmahdi completed a bachelor's degree in crop science at Zagazig University, Egypt, a master's degree in crop science at Gezira University, Sudan, and a master's degree in international affairs at Ohio University. He has extensive experience as a development agent in the Sudan.
Cathy Huber began work in August as assistant director of the Office of Education Abroad. Huber previously worked at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, as a study abroad adviser and program coordinator. She is completing a master's degree at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vt. Huber completed bachelor's degrees in international business and German at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Polly Sandenburgh has been appointed director of outreach and coordinator of undergraduate studies. Sandenburgh has worked at the center since 1998 as the academic administrative coordinator for the Master of Arts in International Affairs program. She previously worked in the College of Education as a teacher associate for the Institute for Democracy in Education. Prior to her employment with Ohio University, she was a primary teacher in the Federal Hocking Local School District. Sandenburgh earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in
international affairs at Ohio University.
Dwight Woodward has been appointed assistant director for communication and graduate programming at the center. Woodward had served as national media liaison and senior writer at the university's News Services and Periodicals Office since 1992. Prior to that, he worked as a reporter and editor for newspapers and a reporter for The Associated Press. Woodward completed a bachelor's degree in international studies, including Chinese language study at the Mandarin Institute, Taipei, Taiwan,
and a dual master's program in journalism and international affairs, all at Ohio University.
