Global Education at Spelman Book Project

We are pleased to share with you that Spelman College’s Gordon-Zeto Center for Global Education is publishing a book entitled Spelman Going Global!: Cross-Cultural Reflections of Students, Alumnae, Faculty and Staff, edited by Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde, vice provost for global education and  professor of international studies at Spelman College and Dr. Krishna Bista, professor of higher education at Morgan State University, Maryland, and the founding editor of the Journal of International Students. This book will be published by the Society of Transnational Academic Researchers Scholars Network in partnership with the Journal of International Students and Open Journals in Education.

We anticipate publishing about 30 essays. All submissions will be peer reviewed by four faculty members outside of Spelman College who would be joining the editorial team for the publication process. All reviewers and editorial assistants will be acknowledged in the book.

Eligibility

Current international faculty/staff or domestic faculty/staff who have led students abroad. Foreign-born faculty/staff or U.S born faculty/staff who have previously lived in another country or are currently living in the United States are eligible to submit their essays and stories. Alumnae and current Spelman students who have studied abroad as well as current or alumnae international students.

All essays must be submitted online by Sept. 30, 2021, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Submit Your Essay

Essay Requirements

A story or essay of 1000-1,500 words; Typed in 12-pt size, Times Roman font; Double spaced; 1-inch margins on all sides; Includes page numbers. We accept Microsoft Word files only. Please note, we do not need citation or references for these essays. Related pictures may be submitted along with the essay.

Essay Categories/Types

• Study Abroad Experience - This includes experience by alumnae and current students as well as current international and domestic Spelman faculty/staff who have led students abroad.
• International Experience - This refers to experience by foreign born alumnae and current students as well as foreign born faculty/staff living experience in the U.S or outside their country of birth and U.S. born faculty/staff who have previously lived outside of the United States.

Essay Writing Suggestions

Share a story: Focus on moments, encounters and experiences that shaped your journey as a student, alumna, faculty or staff member. Tell a story that no one else could tell. Your story can be about friendship, service, freedom, discrimination, injustice, activism, belonging, family, courage, resilience, citizenship, academics, spirituality, parenthood, discovery, inclusion, self-discovery, growth, etc.

Write about real events: Write your true journey as an international faculty/staff member, exchange faculty member, student, alumna, or a faculty/staff member who has led students abroad.

Describe how you changed: Wrap up the essay by sharing what you learned from the experience, how it has changed your beliefs, perspectives or identity, or what the story means to you now as you look back on the events and how it has shaped you.

Be personal: Tell a story from your own life, not an opinion piece or commentary about an issue. Write using words and phrases that are natural for you. Read your story aloud several times, and simplify it so it captures the story as you experienced it.

Tell your challenges and lessons. Flavor your writing with idioms and figures of speech from your language. Paint the picture. Be concrete about what you have seen in your travels, academic encounters, woes and wows!

Essay Writing Template

Anticipated Publication Date

May 30, 2022

For more information, please contact Dr. ‘Dimeji Togunde at dtogunde@Spelman.edu.

Submit Your Essay