Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Political Science Professor Invited to Present on American Democracy in Hong Kong
Shawn Erik Schooley, assistant professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts, will visit the University of Hong Kong in November to deliver a paper on the "The Art of Democracy: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Scholars to Engage Communities." His research is part of the College of Liberal Arts Civic Engagement Initiative.
The Art of Democracy project was created by the Montgomery Director of Elections, and it brings together local artists to create paintings of their choosing at the polls on Election Day. The paintings are used to create community, inform the public, and educate primary and secondary school children about the democratic process.
"I have not been to Hong Kong before but I will be there the entire month of November, and I feel it is an honor, privilege, and fantastic opportunity to work with the international community and to educate others about American democracy and Auburn's civic engagement outreach efforts; especially, in an Administrative District, Hong Kong, in communist China," Schooley said.
Schooley's trip to Hong Kong falls directly in-line with Auburn University President Jay Gogue's Strategic Plan. Recently Gogue stated the importance of this kind of outreach in an announcement about the visit of Chinese Ambassador Wenzhong Zhou to Auburn where Gogue said that international education and involvement are paramount for our faculty and students.
Schooley will also present on the work of CLA's Community and Civic Engagement Initiative, which since 2006 has identified engaged scholars, created a civic engagement committee, and held two summer civic engagement academies. For more information on the initiative, visit www.auburn.edu/cce.