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Taking Boise State to the World and Bringing the World to Boise

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June, 2017

Photo of Dean Corey Cook

]In the last Public Interest, we talked about our commitment to Idaho and how our students and faculty were making a difference from Boise to Washington, DC. In this issue, we’ll show you how our impact extends beyond national borders.

Whether working in China, appearing on BBC World Service, or bringing international experience to Boise State students, the School of Public Service is connected to the world. We’ve also been examining how Boise, a center for refugee relocation, is being transformed by new arrivals.

And we’re bringing thought leaders and difference-makers from across disciplines and the political spectrum to Boise State to share their knowledge and experience with our students.

It’s been said that no one is an island. And now more than ever we understand how events across the globe can affect us here in Idaho. Fortunately, we also have great opportunities to make a positive difference. Thanks for joining us as we work in the public interest.

Sincerely,
Corey Cook
Dean, School of Public Service
Boise State University

 

School of Public Service Welcomes Steven Feldstein

Photo of Steven Feldstein

The Frank Church Institute has named Steven Feldstein the Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs. Feldstein will also teach in the School of Public Service’s Global Studies program. Feldstein comes to Boise State from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. At the State Department, Feldstein was the senior official responsible for overseeing U.S. Democracy and human rights policy for Africa, international labor affairs and international religious freedom.

Feldstein is keenly aware of Senator Church’s legacy and is eager to advance Church’s values. “Senator Church’s legacy of public service, and his strong commitment to peace, intelligence transparency, civil rights, and conservation is more relevant than ever in these politically charged times,” says Feldstein.

 

 

Public Policy Phd Student Discusses Pitfalls of Doing Business in China

Skyline in Shanghai, China

“We are entering a third phase of Sino-U.S. economic relations, one that brings a new agenda loaded with new questions: Should China still be considered a non-market economy under the WTO? Are the assumptions of trade we made in phase two still valid for today’s China, now a superpower? Can U.S. firms and U.S. policymakers compete with the top-down, blended statist-capitalist approach that Beijing has taken with so much apparent success?”

Jack Marr, Public Policy and Administration PhD candidate and Clinical Associate Professor of International Business at Boise State University, writes for Real Clear World about the challenges and opportunities of doing business in China during a new phase of the Sino-U.S. Relationship. Marr, who is fluent in Mandarin, has served as an advisor to the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, McKinsey & Co., the Economist Intelligence Unit, and many others on China related issues.

Read About Jack Marr’s Experiences in China in Real Clear World

 

Blue Review Explores How Boise Became an ‘improbable Sanctuary’ for Refugees

Burmese Karen woman dancing

One out of every 16 has been forced across an international border in flight from persecution and war. Thirteen thousand arrived as “displaced persons” with refugee status. Hailing from the Balkans, the Congo, the Himalayas, the Tigris-Euphrates, and the Horn of Africa, crossing oceans of suspicion and misunderstanding, they reach Idaho’s capital city at a pace of about 800 people a year.

School of Public Service professor Todd Shallat writes how the City of Trees has defied stereotypes to become an “improbable sanctuary” for refugees.

A free subscription to the Blue Review brings works of popular scholarship to your inbox every Monday.
Read “Improbable Sanctuary” in the Blue Review, Our Journal of Popular Scholarship

 

Investigate Boise Research Series Releases “Half the World: Refugees Transform the City of Trees”

Book cover for Half the World

Boise State’s School of Public Service and Urban Studies programs announce the publication of Half the World: Refugees Transform the City of Trees. Part of the Investigate Boise Research Series, the new book takes measure of the global refugee crisis with stories from a city transformed.

George Prentice, News Editor of The Boise Weekly, writes that the stories are, “Magnificent. The stories inspire equal parts joy and heartbreak. They are essential reading, and are now as much a part of Idaho’s history as any other chronicle.”

You are invited to a book signing and celebration at 7 pm on Thursday, June 8 at Rediscovered Books, 180 N 8th St, Boise.

Read About the Investigate Boise Research Series on Our Website

 

Boise State Political Science Professor Appears on BBC World Service

Photo of Jaclyn Kettler

Boise State Political Science professor Jaclyn Ketter was recently interviewed on BBC World Service discussing various subjects, including President Trump’s first 100 days.

Listen to the BBC Interview on Boise State Public Radio (Kettler Appears in Hours 3 and 4) 

 

2017 Frank Church Conference to Focus on Immigration and Refugees

Refugees in crowd

The 34th Frank Church Conference will explore immigration and refugee issues. The conference will take place in late October. More details coming soon!

Check the Frank Church Institute Website for Details as They Become Available