February 13, 2008

Purdue, Ivy Tech experts to discuss immigration issues

The forum, which is sponsored by Purdue's College of Liberal Arts and Ivy Tech's School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will be at 6 p.m. in Room 1333 of Ivy Hall at Ivy Tech's Lafayette Campus, 3101 S. Creasy Lane.

"We would like to contribute to the ongoing public discussion about immigration and the social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of this phenomenon," said Adriela Fernandez, associate dean for academic programs in Purdue's College of Liberal Arts. "We see a real need in the area for education and information on all aspects of the immigration issue." 

The speakers and their topics are:

* Susan Curtis, Purdue professor of history and associate dean of interdisciplinary programs and engagement in the College of Liberal Arts, will moderate.

* Fernandez will talk about the economic and social aspects of recent immigration to the area.

* James McCann, Purdue professor of political science, will talk about the political impact of immigration to Indiana in the last three decades.

* David C. Berry, chair of School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will provide a historical context for the different waves of immigration in the state.

* Ivan Hernandez, director of admissions at Ivy Tech's Lafayette campus, will address immigration's impact on education, specifically on resources and needs.

A question-and-answer session will follow the panel presentation.

The Purdue and Ivy Tech collaboration also will feature a film series on immigration later this year, as well as theater performances featuring students from Purdue, Ivy Tech and local high schools. Details will be announced when these events are scheduled.

Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts are in the planning process to create a Latino and Latin American Studies program at Purdue. The college is home to 11 departments and 14 interdisciplinary programs.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Adriela Fernandez, (765) 494-7603, afernan@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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