Welcome to Global Thinking, the newsletter of the College of Arts and Sciences at Webster University.

Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keiller says that PowdermilkBiscuits give “the strength to get up and do what needs to be done.” Reading this issue of Global Thinking should have the same effect—let’s call it the Powdermilk Biscuit issue.

The two faculty members and student profiled in this issue have shown an amazing willingness to use their individual gifts to better the world. Dan Hellinger, a professor of political science at Webster for 30 years, has emerged as an expert in Latin American, particularly Venezuelan, politics. His upcoming 600-page textbook and his popularity as a political commentator are evidence of the knowledge he brings to his field.

Another faculty member, adjunct Molly VanDuser, has an amazing story. Molly gave up her counseling practice and comfortable home in New York State to move to North Carolina and help troops deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. We salute her for her selflessness.

Freshman student Brijhette Farmer overcame early hardship and even took the difficult step of moving from her home into a Boys Hope Girls Hope house in the suburbs to pursue her passion for learning. The German and pre-architecture major composes music in her spare time and recently won a state award for a musical competition. Her courage in following her dreams is inspiring.

We also profile a new graduate degree program, the MA in International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO). Offered at our Leiden and London campuses, the INGO program gives students theoretical knowledge as well as practical managerial skills. Graduates should be able to go out into the world and make vital contributions in the INGO arena.

Now more than ever, we global citizens need the strength to go out and do what needs to be done. The examples in this issue of Global Thinking will certainly offer food for thought.

Sincerely,

David Carl Wilson, Dean