Penn Museum Welcomes International Students

Zabeth Teelucksingh, GPA Administrative Director -- I was recently invited by Prema Deshmukh, Manager of Outreach at the Penn Museum to attend the 2011 International Student & Scholars Welcome Reception. I was joined by my illustrious friend Claire Babanoury, head of French Language Studies at Wharton’s Lauder Institute.

The event was held in several of the Museum’s rooms. Maps, Egyptian Mummies and antiquities formed a perfect backdrop to the myriad of nationalities that were present that evening. In one corner, a map of the world was placed upside down with pins  positioned to represent the home countries of the student body. Many pins were clustered around Western Europe, China & South East Asia, India and the Central American Basin.

Students were welcomed by a receiving line of dignitaries from the region’s Universities & Colleges and later by Mayor Nutter in the spectacular Rotunda of the Museum. In addition, several Universities provided entertainment such as African Drumming and Thai Dancing. In addition to students, I met Nancy Gilboy, President & CEO of International Visitors Council, Elizabeth Scofield, Director of LaSalle University’s MBA program, Labaron Palmer, Assistant Director, the Middle East Center at UPenn and a Delegation from Turkey including the Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourist Office.

The spirit was one of excitement, anticipation and optimism emanating from a plethora of global bright young minds all starting a new academic year in a vast cross-section of disciplines. This was “Global Philadelphia” in action and I was delighted to be a part if it.

Zabeth Teelucksingh can be reached at zabeth.teelucksingh@globalphiladelphia.org.

Photos courtesy of Harvey Feng, University of Pennsylvania.