Miami University's international studies department (ITS) will be celebrating 50 years this weekend with events headlined by New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Nicholas Kristof.
In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize in both 1990 and 2006, Kristof was also named one of America's Best Leaders in 2007 by the U.S. News and World Report and Harvard University's Center for Public Leadership.
Kristof's lecture, which will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday in Hall Auditorium, will primarily focus on his newest book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which released Sept. 8.
Kristof's book, co-authored by his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, focuses on the issues of the oppression of women in the developing world. This book primarily tackles these issues in China and Africa. The title is drawn from the Chinese saying, "Women hold up half the sky."
Melanie Ziegler, acting director of ITS, said she hopes the lecture will have a profound impact on those in attendance.
"I feel that Kristof's lecture will bring about a new level of awareness of how important women can be in improving a country's economic status by building from the bottom up," Zeigler said. "By investing a small amount of money in women's needs, a country's economy can be impacted in a very positive way."
Ziegler said she attributes the importance of the event to more than just the content of the lecture.
"The timing of all this is fascinating," Ziegler said. "The fact that an interesting book dealing with a subject pertinent to international studies was released at the time of our anniversary is great."
The idea to bring Kristof to Miami University came from Jeanne Hey, interim dean of the Miami University Middletown Campus.
"This is a capstone event for the international studies program," Hey said. "He (Kristof) is a major American voice in international affairs."
Hey said she believes the lecture will not only have an impact on the student population, but also on the university itself.
"I feel that this lecture will gain visibility for Miami because of Kristof's notoriety," Hey said. "I hope students will benefit from the engaging intellectual conversations brought on by Kristof."
In addition to celebrating 50 years as a department, the ITS program has become one of the oldest interdisciplinary programs in international affairs in the country. The program has amassed 16,000 alumni worldwide.
Many Miami students are exhibiting interest in the commemoration, particularly in the lecture itself.
"I am definitely willing to go see Kristof speak, since he is a big name in the field," said Miami junior Michael Henkin. "His books are filled with useful suggestions on how to improve the treatment of women worldwide and thus improve upon the economies of the individual countries."
Kristof's lecture is free and open to the public. The Grayson Kirk Lecture Series and the ITS program are sponsoring the event.
This weekend will also offer two career panel discussions with Miami alumni, an ITS family soccer game and a barbecue with alumni and current students.
