US Embassy in Zimbabwe celebrates one of its – and our – own
Former student body president Londoni takes Lynn with him wherever he goes (this was taken last year while he was interning with UNICEF in Washington, DC).
The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe just posted a story about former Lynn student (and student body president) Bernard Londoni. Bernard, who graduated in May from Lynn, was highlighted on the embassy’s Web site for his transformation “From Refugee to Political Activist.”
Bernard, who wound up at the embassy in Zimbabwe after fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo, is now at George Mason University working on his master’s and Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies.
In a nod to his alma mater, Bernard said in this interview that at Lynn he “quickly realized that the opportunity to diversify was of paramount importance. In a very individualized, innovative and international campus, I had the privilege to expand my horizons.”
As anyone who knows him will tell you, Bernard’s one to watch. He’s going places. Though he says he has no distinct destination in mind, he does have a purpose (one many of us heard him mention during his time here). He wants to help his home country, continent and its people.
“There is failed leadership in the DRC and in most Sub-Saharan countries,” he says in the story. “I am convinced that the destiny of our continent is in our hands.”
Watch out world.
Little LU: Cut it Out
Okay, so there are not enough Little LU bobbleheads to go to every single Lynn fan, but there is always the Little LU paper doll cut out version.
I loved paper dolls as a little girl, almost as much as I liked my “in the flesh” dolls. So, when you see all these cool travel photos of Little LU, now he can travel – very compactly – with you, too (word has it, he was last seen in Asia!). So, just cut and paste (literally!) Little LU and away you go.
Civility an art lost on Rep. Wilson, Kanye West, Serena Williams – but not Lynn
When I heard that all freshmen were required to read the book, Choosing Civility, I thought it a rather interesting choice – but interesting in a good way. Civility almost sounds like an “old-fashioned” word, one you don’t often hear these days. But it is something we either take for granted or we notice the absence of it.
I’m part way through P.M. Forni’s book (all employees having received this very “civil” gift at the Welcome Back Breakfast), and it really does make you aware of just how many ways there are to “be nice;” how your behavior or misbehavior can affect someone either very positively or negatively. In these times of ever-growing advanced technology, the idea of being civil to your fellow man may seem simplistic, but it also seems like a lost art.
Reading the book I found myself having those “ah hah” moments: like a form of listening or non-listening he calls “disregard and proceed” – otherwise known as “it’s all about me;” or channeling your “inner designated driver” otherwise known as think before you speak, and so many other nuggets I’m sure I have yet to uncover.
“The decline of civility is a social phenomenon that is being discussed now with the frequency and intensity that was not there 10 years ago,” said Forni.
And it’s no wonder. Just recently, we witnessed 3 very public civility offenses: Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst to Obama; Kanye West’s rude interruption of Taylor Swift, and Serena Williams’ temper tantrum. What great fodder for classroom discussion using our own increasingly non-civil world around us as perfect examples.
If I can quote from another blog on the subject (don’t know the etiquette on that one, so I will anyway), “Somewhere, Miss Manners is going into conniptions. It’s been a tough week for civility in America,” said Sun-Sentinel blogger Mike Mayo.
During our 2nd annual Civility Week starting today, let’s get back to basics – basic human kindness, that is. I heard that Forni is coming to campus March 16, and I do look forward to hearing what he has to say.
So, what does civility mean to you? Or what is your most “uncivil” pet peeve?
Bookstore bestseller a shocker
Unscientific as it may be, I was at the bookstore and (me being me) asked what they sold the most of besides books. Their guess: sweatshirts!
Yes, despite our tropical location it’s the cold weather gear that wins. Go figure. (Only the latest proof, possibly, that I am easily amused AND ask too many questions!)
Making our mark in the Chronicle of Higher Education
For the first time in recent history, Lynn University is running ads with The Chronicle of Higher Education… ads I thought you might like to see. They nicely capture some of the things that makes Lynn so distinctive, not to mention some of the nice things our friends have been saying about us recently.
Why the Chronicle? Well, says our marketing director Carol Herz, the Chronicle is academe’s grey lady — a weekly publication that can safely claim to be on the table of every chancellor, president, dean and vice president at the country’s community colleges, public universities and, last but certainly not least, private colleges and universities. In short, it’s required reading for educators at the college level – as well as all those freshly minted PhDs on the job market (if you ever handle a copy, you’ll see what I mean. The classifieds section has got to be the envy of print publishing, whatever the industry!)
Ad that appeared in the Chronicle's annual "Diversity" issue.
Being within their pages puts us in good company. And it allows us to tell the adminstrators, professors and others who may be eyeing Lynn from afar, just what we’re all about.
"Making Our Mark" ad appearing now.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Lynn’s been in the Chron recently. The Washington,DC-based publication has written about “the voice of Lynn” (Joe Carey, in the College of International Communication), talked to our president and CIO Chris Boniforti for a piece on “When Generations Collide,” and ran several letters from our adminstrators and cabinet members, among other things.
But the only rival to our ad series in total impressions? Dr. Ted Curtis. Mr. Sports Management, as I like to call him (with apologies to the “Other Mr. SM”, Dr. Chad Barr), has been featured several times in the last three years in the Chronicle. This past March, it was his Yankees J-Term class that caught their attention. Before that, it was the sports management Final Four class.
But that’s enough about that. What I want to know is, what do you think of the ads?
Two ‘Amazing’ Women Share Six Degrees of Separation
As Lynn gets set to formally recognize Disability Awareness Month for the first time, it reminds me of the awareness and exposure I had to a person with a disability (although I don’t think we used that word back then) at a very early age. My cousin Judy was born with a disease that made her bones extremely brittle – so any slight fall produced a broken bone. I have memories of her in a cast or a wheelchair more often than not. Today she is an amazing, independent young woman who has become a shining example of someone who has excelled against all odds. Earning an MA in rehabilitation counseling and as the director of the Initiative for Women with Disabilities at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, she is a true champion of disabilities. But of course she’ll always be my little cousin.
Cousin Judy
Lynn freshman – live at The Dubliner tomorrow
Lynn freshman and communication major – Makayla Duvall (a name that certainly has a pop star ring to it) – will be taking the stage at Mizner Park’s The Dubliner tomorrow night, Sept. 30 at 9:30 p.m. The aspiring singer / songwriter will be performing her debut single “Moving On” – listen to it now on her MySpace page – and other pop-rock cover songs by Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Maroone 5, Taylor Swift and Kings of Leon.
A 2009 graduate of Boca Raton High School, Makayla has already been in the spotlight with an appearance on So You Want to be a Pop Star?. And like many aspiring artists today, she’s also tried American Idol. Makayla auditioned for Season 8 of American Idol in Jacksonville, Fla. last year. Singing “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige, Makayla was in the top 50 out of 15,000 people who auditioned.
“I didn’t see Paula, Randy and Simon,” said Makayla. “I auditioned for the executive producers who said I had a great voice, good stage presence and a good look, but I wasn’t unique enough for the show.”
In case you can’t make it to The Dubliner tomorrow, Makayla will be performing at other local venues like Hurricanes in Delray Beach and the Wishing Well in Boca Raton in the coming months.
Lynn MBA is world class
The Ritter Building – full-time home of the College of Business and Management – at Lynn.
The September 14, 2009 edition of Business Week confirms that Lynn University is on to something.
See, here at Lynn we say we’re “international” a lot. And with good reason. Our curriculum? Internationally focused. Our student body? Uniquely rich with international students. And our efforts to send students abroad to see the world first hand? Uncommonly successful.
But did you know that many of Lynn’s graduate programs are also structured after an international model? They are. Not only can you specialize in international business, but the most ambitious students in the MBA program, for example, can also complete the degree in one-year – an accelerated timeline more common in Europe than North America (where two-year programs are the norm).
And this approach to MBA education is now becoming the preferred approach for many students. In that recent Business Week story titled “B School: The view at the gate,” the magazine reported that one-year MBA programs are now the preferred option abroad. The story reported on findings from an annual survey by QS World MBA Tour, which polled some 4,000 MBA applicants from 35 countries about their program and career preferences. For the first time ever, applicants expressed greater interest in the one-year MBA than the two-year programs.
Of the survey respondents, the story said, 44 percent preferred a one-year program. Forty-three (43) percent still prefer the two-year option. The switch was the “first in the survey’s 11-year history,” Alison Damast reports.
Having studied in the Lynn MBA program myself, I’ve been asked about it by several off-campus students – not to mention my banker wife, who is now enrolled. While I enjoyed the pace of the program (among many other things), I’ve also warned several that doing it full speed isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a rip the band-aid off, type, maybe it is! Apparently, the world is full of those types right now.
Check us out… on Facebook
Have you ever wanted to know what life is really like on campus? Or had questions about admissions deadlines or SAT scores? If yes, you might have called Lynn’s admissions office, but there is another way to poke around Lynn University – and ask questions. The answer is Facebook.
The university currently maintains seven pages with exclusive video content, photo albums and event listings including: Alumni, Athletics, the School of Aeronautics, Study Abroad, the Career Center, Admissions and the main Lynn University page.
 Lynn's main Facebook page |
 Admissions Facebook page |
Today, Lynn’s main page is managed by a team in marketing consisting of a graduate student, two student photographers, a student videographer and both members of the Lynn PR office – who also happen to be Knight Writer bloggers – Jason and me. As of today, “Lynn University” has more than 1,500 fans, 21 videos posted and more than 60 photo albums that feature photos taken at recent campus events.
Although marketing had a hand in creating the other pages – individuals in each department have taken over securing and posting their own content, not to mention responding to wall posts.
The Admissions page, for example, recently added a “meet the counselors” note and a photo album of prospective High School students. Plus, rumor has it that Juan Camilo Tamayo, director of undergraduate admissions, will be featured in a video, requesting – and personally responding to – questions from prospective students right on the Admissions Facebook page. Fan them to find out what real prospective students want to know.
MyLynn is Really YourLynn …
If you recall, I mentioned in a previous post that one of the reasons we put Knight Writer on the home page of myLynn was so we had a place to share our progress on the myLynn rebuild as well as a place for you to give feedback, ideas and input.
We are currently in what we call the “Discovery Phase.” That simply means that we are gathering, hunting, looking for and trying to find out what the needs are of our different audiences (that means you!) in a variety of ways. Our Web team is all about usability and functionality, but being communication types, Jason and I are all about talking, discussing, face-to-facing (not really a word, but who cares).
So, we are inviting you – students, faculty, staff; individuals, committees, groups, departments – to give us your needs, thoughts and ideas. Here are some ways you can do that:
• Write back and comment here on Knight Writer.
• E-mail us at news@lynn.edu.
• Call or e-mail us and invite us to one of your regular meetings.
• If you don’t contact us, we may be contacting you to invite you to an informal discussion over lunch.
When we say we want myLynn to be yourLynn, we mean it. So, weigh in now … tell us what you think … what you want … what you need. We want you to want us!