Basic HTML Version
Page 5
Campus Review
July 16, 2012
Atlanta-Based Consular Corps Joins Former President in Plains for a Weekend
John Parkerson Meets President Carter
by John Shiffert, University Relations
plan. One of the goals of the strategic
plan, which includes values like, inclu-
siveness, ethics and integrity, and commu-
nity engagement, states, “Engender a spir-
it of openness, understanding, collabora-
tion, and mutual respect throughout the
University.”
The interfaith Campus Challenge initia-
tive is led by the White House and is sup-
ported by the Department of Education
John E. Parkerson, Jr., director of the
Office of International Programs at
Clayton State University, wears a lot of
hats in his role as one of metro Atlanta’s
foremost proponents on international rela-
tions. Thus, it seems only fitting that
Parkerson recently had a chance to meet
the Georgian best-known for international
relations – former President Jimmy
Carter.
Parkerson, who is also Honorary Consul
for Hungary for the southeastern United
States, and president of World Trade
Center Atlanta, was one of a dozen mem-
bers of the Atlanta-based consular corps
invited to spend the June 16, June 17
weekend with former President and Mrs.
Carter in Plains, Ga. As Honorary Consul
of Hungary, Parkerson also serves on The
Carter Center's Board of Councilors.
“We toured the President's boyhood home
and farm, as well as his high school,”
reports Parkerson. “Saturday evening, we
enjoyed a private home dinner with the
Carters, at which we enjoyed a wide-rang-
ing `dinner table discussion’ of world
affairs, including efforts to combat dis-
ease and human rights.”
It was inevitable that the latter subject
would come up, since Carter had just fin-
ished preparing a New York Times op-ed
(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/opi
nion/americas-shameful-human-rights-
record.html?_r=2) on the subject.
Sunday morning, the consular corps were
guests at President Carter's Sunday school
class, in which he taught the biblical les-
sons of selfless giving and prayer.
“It was an experience I will never forget,”
says Parkerson.
and the Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS).
Last year, more than 400 campuses
responded to President Obama's Interfaith
and Community Service Campus
Challenge. Launched in March 2011, this
challenge calls for campuses to advance
interfaith service and interfaith engage-
ment over the course of one year. The July
9 meetings celebrated the accomplish-
ments of the Challenge, gained useful
information
about
organizing
interfaith/community service at individual
institutions, and provided the opportunity
to network and learn from others along
with key leaders from President Obama’s
administration. The convening also pro-
vided an opportunity for attendees to
share best practice to inspire other institu-
tions that may want to get involved in this
effort.
involved in the project) are now in gradu-
ate school pursuing their careers in ecolo-
gy and related fields.”
There are currently six Clayton State
SEEDS chapter members working on the
project, one of whom, Japhia Jacobo, is a
Clayton State biology alumnus from
McDonough, Ga., and also Boudell’s
Masters student at the University of
Alabama-Birmingham, where she is
studying soil characteristics and mycor-
rhizae fungi. Jacobo also trained some of
the students working on the Jesters Creek
project in soil techniques.
Generally, Boudell has an interesting and
diverse group of students working on the
project.
Kiley Mitchell is from Burley, Id., and is
a student at Oregon State University in the
fisheries and wildlife program. She is a
transient student this summer at Clayton
State. Mitchell is a soil science intern
studying soil nutrients.
Joe Mikula is from McDonough, and is a
biology major at Clayton State. He is a
new SEEDS member and research student
studying plant communities.
Charli Mattice is from Jackson, Ga., and
is a biology major at Clayton State. She's
President and Mrs. Carter with John Parkerson
Round Table, cont’d, from p. 1
SEEDS, cont’d, from p. 2
SEEDS, cont’d. p. 8