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

Human rights are ultimately grounded in human nature.  Most of us by nature want community, we want rights, and we want to stand up for the rights of the members of our community. 

That may be why the College of Arts & Sciences’ Year of International Human Rights has been such a success.  Because our community is now the world, most of us find ourselves promoting universal rights of the sort documented in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was the recent 60th anniversary of this document which inspired our theme for this academic year.

How we individually build this global community depends largely upon our abilities and upon the circumstances life has handed us, as is illustrated by the current issue of Global Thinking.

Yossi Mekelberg, director of international relations at Webster’s London campus, has a compelling background and a clear perspective on the modern world. Service as an Israeli soldier in his country’s 1982 war with Lebanon was the turning point in Yossi’s life. At that juncture, his plans to study electronic engineering gave way to a passion for international affairs and an academic career. Webster’s College of Arts & Sciences is richer for it. Read our Q&A with him in this issue.

We are also richer for the presence of Dr. Stacy Henning, who has been leading our Counseling program for almost a year now. Stacy directs this complex program – 2,000 students in 30 locations across three countries – with seeming ease. Her story describes a major coup, namely, an exclusive arrangement with the National Guard to provide their chaplains with the M.A. degree in Counseling. Mental health, of course, is a necessary building block for community.  

English alumna Laurie Melnik has chosen the arts as her means of building community. As a former adjunct faculty member in the departments of English and Communications and in her new position as a high school theatre instructor, Laurie uses theater to effect social change. She works not only with college-age students, but with children, homeless youths, and formerly incarcerated women. Laurie’s story is truly an inspiration for the rest of us to seek out our talents and use them for the betterment of others.

Finally, we tell you about Walter Smith, a graduate student in our Nurse Anesthesia program. Walter took his particular gifts in nursing and challenged himself to learn more so he could serve the larger community as a nurse anesthetist.

The best global thinking, in short, includes the commitment to community building that is found in these stories.  We in the Arts & Sciences are pleased to participate in this community with you.

Sincerely,

David Carl Wilson