A New Year Begins at GIAL

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Here at the start of 2017, we wanted to highlight three of the great things that are happening in World Arts in Dallas and beyond.
  • A new president at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL). The cross-cultural training school where I teach is getting ready to welcome a new president. Dr. David Ross, GIAL's founding president, is moving out of the role next month. Dr. Doug Tiffen, who has been GIAL's Academic Dean, will become the president. We're excited to see GIAL (and the Center for Excellence in World Arts) continue to grow and thrive under Dr. Tiffen's leadership. For more information about this change, see the latest GIAL Insider newsletter.
  • World Arts Ph.D. program approved! One of my primary assignments when I came to GIAL's Center for Excellence in World Arts in 2015 was to develop a proposal for a doctoral program in World Arts--GIAL's first doctoral program in any department. After spending quite a bit of time in background reading and research last year, I worked with my colleagues to develop an initial proposal for a Ph.D. in World Arts. That proposal was then approved by the school's Academic Affairs committee, the Academic Dean, and just last week was approved by the Board. We're quite pleased with the very positive feedback we've had from everyone who has looked at the concept. But the work is not finished! In fact, the real work is just beginning, as we now work through the official paperwork for accreditation, and then begin designing the doctoral-level courses. We're still 1-2 years away from our first intake of students--but we already have people all over the world who are eager to join us when we open our doctoral doors. Thank you for your prayers as we dig into this work.
  • Symposium on Worship, at Duke Divinity School (March 24-25, 2017). I'm honored to be one of the presenters at Duke Divinity School's symposium, "What Is the Right Kind of Worship Music If . . . " Five other scholars and I will present different perspectives on current issues in Christian worship music. I'll be speaking about how to encourage vigorous indigenous music and arts. Thanks for your prayers as I work hard to prepare this important presentation. And if you're able to be at Duke for that weekend, you'll be very welcome! See this flyer for more details.
Thank you as always for your prayers, for me and the whole family. In future blog updates, we'll let you know about my teaching responsibilities this semester, and about what Joyce and the kids are up to at UME Preparatory Academy.

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