Brown to receive Woodyard International Educator Award

LAWRENCE — Professor Christopher Brown is the 2016 recipient of the George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award, which recognizes faculty on the Lawrence campus who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in strengthening the University of Kansas’ international programming.

The presentation will be at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Malott Room in the Kansas Union.

Brown joined the KU faculty in 2001 and has joint appointments in the Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science and the Environmental Studies Program, where he serves as director.

The award, coordinated by the Office of International Programs, was endowed by the late George Woodyard, the first dean of international studies, and his wife Eleanor. It focuses on work in such areas as curriculum development, study abroad programs, relationships with international partner institutions and collaboration with international colleagues in significant research and publications. The award includes a $1,000 stipend.

“Professor Brown’s deep commitment to international education is evident in nearly everything he does. His teaching and research on Latin America have created numerous opportunities for students, and his interest in interdisciplinary and transnational issues has led him to build community with many colleagues who work on other parts of the world. He is a true internationalist,” said Megan Greene, director of faculty programs.

Brown’s nominators point to his innovative service-learning study abroad program to El Salvador, the international courses he has developed, including the first-year course series “The Global Environment,” and his contributions to classes and projects across the campus as examples of his commitment to international education. His research activities in Latin America have enabled students in environmental studies and geography to pursue projects in the field and has led to official exchange agreements with the State University of Campinas and Brazil’s federal agricultural research agency Embrapa.

One of his nominators wrote, “Professor Chris Brown is a passionate researcher and teacher, with a very sophisticated understanding of Brazilian and Latin American environmental politics and economics, as well as biology, geography and the theory of place. He is truly committed to international education.”

Past recipients of the award, formerly known as the Provost's Award for Leadership in International Education, are: Megan Greene, history (2014); Jon Havener, visual art (2013); Erik Herron, political science (2012); Raj Bhala, law (2011); Peter Herlihy, geography, (2010); Elizabeth Kuznesof, history, (2009); Ed Canda, social welfare, (2008); Bill Tsutsui, history (2007); John Head, law (2006); Anita Herzfeld, Latin American studies (2005); Marsha Haufler, art history (2004); Garth Myers, geography and African-American studies, and Robert Timm, ecology and evolutionary biology (2003); Melissa Birch, business, and Diane Fourny, French and European studies (2002); Judith McCrea, art and design (2001); Leo Villalon, political science and African and African-American studies (2000); Tom Mulinazzi, civil, environmental and architectural engineering, and Charles Stansifer, history (1999).

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