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Edison
State President Dr. Doreen Larson and Reformed
University Rector Helis Barraza sign an
agreement to support Spanish
language instruction and cultural awareness opportunities for students.
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Edison State Forms
Partnership Abroad
Edison State Community College President Dr. Doreen Larson and Board of
Trustees Chairman Tom Milligan recently traveled to Barranquilla,
Colombia, in South America to visit the Reformed University
(Corporacion Universitaria Reformada or CUR) to further discuss
partnership opportunities.
It was during this visit that President Larson and Rector Helis Barraza
signed an Agreement for Spanish Language Instruction and Related
Cultural and Faculty Exchange.
“Our partnership with CUR will use the technological expertise of the
CUR Language Institute to connect these students, both from the USA and
Colombia,” said President Larson. “The students will not only share
academic content but, I feel, they will be able to motivate and
encourage each other to achieve their educational goals and understand
the worldwide benefits of higher education.”
This signed agreement will provide online Spanish language instruction
from faculty at CUR to students enrolled in Edison State Spanish
courses. The agreement also supports opportunities for students to
visit CUR for advanced Spanish language immersion studies and cultural
awareness experiences.
While visiting South America, President Larson and Chairman Milligan
co-taught a three-hour Economics seminar at CUR, participated in a
campus tour, and took part in other activities. President Larson was
also given the opportunity to provide the keynote commencement speech
for the university in Spanish.
“When I looked out at the CUR graduating class of 2018, it was as if I
was looking at Edison State graduates. The ages of the graduates ranged
from 17 to 65, and I found out that many of them were first-generation
college students, like many students at Edison State.”
Discussions of partnership opportunities began earlier this summer when
Rector Barraza and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Milciades Pua
visited Edison State. While on campus, CUR leaders met with President
Larson and members of Edison State’s leadership team to explore joint
coursework options.
The partnership was initiated through Chairman Milligan’s involvement
and leadership in the Presbytery of the Miami Valley’s Colombia Mission
Partnership and Presbyterian World Mission’s Colombia Mission Network.
“It has been my great pleasure and honor to be able to be a catalyst to
bring Edison State and the Reformed University together,” said Chairman
Milligan. “There are some real synergies here that start with our need
at Edison State to shore up our Spanish language instruction, but that
can go well beyond that for both institutions.”
Now in its fifth decade of service, Edison State Community College is
committed to providing higher education and advanced training
opportunities for the people of the greater Miami Valley. Edison State
is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is recognized with
the highest order attainable by the Ohio Board of Regents. With
campuses in Piqua, Greenville, Troy, and Eaton, Edison State provides a
Personal Experience and Rewarding Education. Visit us online at
www.edisonohio.edu.
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