News

Cheyney University Bids Farwell to Turkish Fulbright Program Specialist — Dr. Esma Durugönül

June 14, 2010

By Professor Norma George
Faculty Contributing Writer

For seven weeks this spring, beginning on March 11, Cheyney University hosted Fulbright Program Specialist, Dr. Esma Durugönül, a sociologist from Akdeniz University in Antalya on the Western Mediterranean coast of Turkey.

A specialist in areas such as the Reislamization of Turkey and a researcher on Turks of African origin, subjects on which she has published and lectured widely, Dr. Durugönül guest lectured in wide a variety of courses, infusing Middle Eastern content and an Islamic perspective into the curriculum. She also gave presentations to campus groups and organizations such as the Muslim Students Association, the Students of All Nations, the United Nations Association, and the Keystone Honors Academy.

Dr. Durugönül was prominently featured during the University’s International Festival which took place during April 19-23. This annual event showcasing performances, lectures, film screenings, exhibitions and cuisine from a variety of cultures worldwide, has been hosted by the Office of International Programs since 2005.

The activities are geared towards exposing the campus community to other cultures, and are in keeping with the University’s vision to “…Prepare students to work in a global and pluralistic society.”

This year’s festival theme was Middle Eastern culture, and Turkish culture in particular. Dr. Durugönül’s presentation “A Taste of Turkey,” gave the audience a virtual tour of her homeland. The presentation began with a video of President Obama addressing the Turkish parliament to show the importance of the ties between the two countries.

Next, the audience was transported through Turkey via scenes highlighting its history, geography, culture and contemporary society. Then she shared a video of musical performances from Turkey’s most prominent contemporary musicians played while guests tasted Turkish treats like baklava.

On the following day, a presentation by the band, The Middle East Ensemble, gave students an opportunity to dance along with Dr. Durugönül to live Middle Eastern music featuring traditional instruments, and many turned up on Thursday for her eye-opening presentation on Afro-Turks.

The festival ended on Friday with a screening of the award-winning film: “I Saw the Sun,” which revealed the plight of the Kurds, and left everyone reaching for tissues.

After participating in a presentation by Dr. Durugönül, Student, Dominique Daniels, who has been accepted at Bacheshehir University in Istanbul, Turkey for the fall semester exclaimed, “Dr. D held an awesome discussion about homosexuality in Turkey today . It was so interesting. … it was refreshing to listen to something different. … thank you for bringing Dr. D to Cheyney University. Meeting her is an experience that I will never forget…”

Dr. Durugönül came to the University as a result of a successful proposal submitted by Cheyney University’s Fulbright Campus Representative, Professor Norma George, to the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), through Fulbright’s Visiting Specialist Program: Direct Access to the Muslim World.

CIES is well known for administering the Fulbright exchange programs through which faculty and professionals from the U.S. and countries around the world conduct advanced research and lecture at each other’s institutions .

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.”

As she returned to Turkey, Dr. Durugonul summed up her feelings by saying, “I left a part of my heart at Cheyney. All have contributed in innumerable and different ways to making my stay at Cheyney unforgettable. It has been a wonderful experience, and I am so glad I could come and share with you and be part of the Cheyney Community.”