"CNR students can study anywhere in the world. In the past ten years, my students have studied in Spain (Alicante and Granada), France (Tours and Paris), Switzerland (Geneva), United Kingdom (London and Belfast), Republic of Ireland (Cork), Republic of  South Africa (Cape Town), Mexico and Semester at Sea (U. of Pittsburgh)." Dr. Anne McKernan Associate Professor of History School of Arts & Sciences The College of New Rochelle

Dr. McKernan, tell us a little about your academic background and your current research interests.

I am Associate Professor of History and Director of the International Studies Program. My academic background spans the gamut from the small liberal arts college to the huge ‘Big Ten’ university. My B.A. in History is from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. Later I took a few graduate courses at Columbia University before settling on the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for both my M.A. and Ph.D. in History. At the UM I developed a research interest in early industrialization (protoindustry) and deindustrialization in the context of pre-Famine Ireland. The Center for European Studies awarded me its pre-Dissertation Grant to develop my project in Ireland. This opportunity developed into a two-year research project on site in London, Dublin and Belfast, Northern Ireland, underwritten by several fellowships including a Fulbright and British university bursary. So, from 1982-1984 I lived in Belfast where I was a Research Associate in Economic and Social History at The Queens University of Belfast, and a member of the Institute of Irish Studies.

I have a long-standing interest in Human Rights education that led to a $124,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education (Title VI) to the School of Arts and Sciences for the project entitled “Human Rights as a Catalyst”. As grant co-director, I oversaw a faculty committee of eleven from disciplines across the curriculum revise or create fourteen courses with a human rights lens or focus. In conjunction with the project, a CNR junior and I participated in the first International Human Rights Exchange program in Cape Town, South Africa. As a supporter of experience-based education, I have collaborated to develop a study/travel course on Contemporary Issues in Native American Society and worked with the political party Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition (NIWC) in Belfast during the 1998 Peace Process.

What do you teach here at CNR?

I teach both survey and upper division topical courses that focus on Europe, Africa and the World, either separately or as they interact/ed across time. For example, last year I taught the “Medieval History” survey with Medieval Spain as the historical center of a Europe whose indigenous peoples and settlers were in the process of becoming Europeans. In these centuries Spain became the site of a rich culture created by the interaction of Romans, Goths and Arabs. Survey courses that I teach regularly include Africa the Continent, Reformation and Renaissance, The Rise of Europe, Modern Britain and Twentieth-century Global Issues. Courses with a topical approach include Divided Societies: South Africa and Northern Ireland, Women in the Revolutionary Tradition (French, Russian and Chinese revolutions), Ireland’s British Problem, Nationalism and The Immigrant Experience. In addition to these history courses, I participate in the First-Year Program teaching a section of INS 101 The Self in Context: Women, College and Society. As a member of the Social Science Division, I also teach the Junior Reading Seminar and the Senior Research Seminar, courses that majors need to prepare them for the Senior Thesis, some of which I mentor.

Why do you think that CNR is a good College for young women?

Every young woman at this college is taken seriously and presented with opportunities that will help her develop her potentialities. She will enhance the knowledge base and skills she brings with her and develop new competencies and skills necessary for professional women. As importantly, she will find “herself,” explore and evaluate those values she takes for granted and emerge as an educated woman with confidence in herself, respect for others and a willingness to participate with others in creating better human spaces.

For young women who expect to interact with the world community, CNR offers regular visits to UN briefings on “hot” topics. For example, last year a member of the UNHCR recently returned from the Sudan briefed us on Darfur, and in December the Palestinian Observer to the UN will update us on progress toward creating the state of Palestine. In addition to access to UN services, students have easy access to the headquarters of such organizations as Human Rights Watch, Safe Horizon, Amnesty International, Human Rights First and Breakthrough, where they can intern.

You direct the International Studies Program here at the College. Tell us about that program.

The International Studies Program is an interdisciplinary course of study that offers students the opportunity to build their knowledge and understanding of the global community. It is designed for women interested in careers in government, public service, international business, journalism and language education to name a few. Based on a core knowledge of Political Science, Economics and History (12 credits), the major requires at least 30 credits, competency in a Modern Foreign Language and a capstone project to be divided between a primary field of concentration and a secondary field; a major selects these fields from Business/Economics, History and Political Science. The International Studies Program sponsors a student chapter of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), provides travel grants for students doing internships with an international organization and provides visits to the United Nations for briefings every semester as well as other off-campus opportunities.

Is it possible for students to major in this area?

International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers both the major and minor.  

What students are attracted to international studies?

Recently I’ve noticed a wider spectrum of students who choose to major or minor in International Studies. Until two or three years ago, the typical major who declared International Studies in her first two semesters was a student with international experience; she was either an international student or born abroad. American-born majors usually found the program in their junior year; International Studies was not one of the traditional majors that incoming students sought out, that is until about two years ago. Since then the program has attracted larger numbers of both U.S.-educated and international students so that the program is booming.

What has brought about that shift in American students being interested in International Studies?

There are probably several factors that account for the change, one of them, that some highly motivated American high school students see themselves as global players; they understand that their destinies are connected with those of other nations and they want to make a difference.

Where have your students studied overseas?

CNR students can study anywhere in the world. In the past ten years, my students have studied in Spain (Alicante and Granada), France (Tours and Paris), Switzerland (Geneva), United Kingdom (London and Belfast), Republic of Ireland (Cork), Republic of  South Africa (Cape Town), Mexico and Semester at Sea (U. of Pittsburgh).

What are some of your graduates doing today?

Graduates keep in touch; I count on them to serve on career panels and as mentors to current students. Their experience ranges widely. Losira Okelo is a Programme Director for I*EARN, a network of International Education, Cindy Bastien intends to do international medicine and was accepted into Upstate Medical School (NY), where she started the M.D. program this fall. Maya Georgieva completed her M.A. at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs last spring and is a consultant at the UN (UNDP); she also does work in international education. Jacqueline Maxwell, who for years worked for the International Y and developed the position as liaison to the United Nations, completed her M.A. at NYU and currently manages 22 projects with budgets totaling $2 million for the City of New York. Some program alums have worked in the Sister City Program for the Japanese government, in various international businesses, and at a school of music in Beijing, China.

Other graduates pursue an advanced degree. Six students who come to mind have graduate degrees from Columbia, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Iona, George Washington University, and Upstate Medical School. Our students, I am happy to say, have done very well after they finished their undergraduate work here at The College of New Rochelle.