Scholar-in-Residence

Akrem Rabhi is BCC’s International Scholar-in-Residence for 2008-09

We are honored to welcome our 7th annual international scholar-in-residence, Akrem Rabhi. Akrem is from the city of Cite Elkhadra, located in the province of Tunis in Tunisia. As part of his one-year residency, Akrem will teach, tutor, and contribute to developing the Arabic Language curriculum in the World Languages Program. In addition to Arabic, Akrem is fluent in English, French, and German. His residency is sponsored by the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program and Institution for International Education, and the U.S. Department of State.

Akrem earned a Bachelor Degree in English Linguistics from the Higher Institute of Languages in Tunis, Cite Ilkhadra. Akrem is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in English Language and Linguistics. In addition to his teaching assistantship, as part of the Fulbright program, Akrem will take BCC courses in American Studies. He is interested in languages, arts and literature, and American and British Studies. Akrem enjoys many sports, but football (soccer) has been a part of his life since childhood and was a long-time member of his home town team. He also enjoys music, dance, and cinema, especially documentary film.

The scholar-in-residence will be involved in many campus and community events that further cultural exchange, awareness and understanding. They include: facilitating conversation groups, participating in student Learning Communities through Multicultural Services, tutoring Arabic, giving campus-wide presentations on the culture and history of Tunisia, and contributing to the development of BBC's global education initiative.

Our international scholars bring valued cultural expertise and perspectives that strengthen our campus' global awareness and understanding, contributing to our efforts to sustain diverse, inclusive teaching and learning environments. Please introduce yourself, and make him feel welcome. Akrem is available to meet with classes, work with faculty, and participate in campus life. You can reach him at akrem.rabhi@bellevuecollege.edu, A245F, or via the Center


International Scholar-in-Residence for 2007-2008

In Fall 2007, BCC welcomed its 6th annual international scholar, Lucia Zuppa. Lucia, who is from San Luis, Argentina, holds a degree in English instruction from Argentina's Instituto de Formación Docenta Contínua and a diploma in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from Asociación Argentina de Docentes de Español. She is a teacher of English and Spanish in Argentina, and her residency is sponsored by the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program.

Lucia taught Spanish as part of her one-year residency at BCC. In addition, she took courses in American Studies and her areas of interests: Latin American culture in the U.S., British and American literature and writing, and discourse analysis. She also participated in campus and community events, held conversation groups, met with students, and contributed to the development of BBC's global teaching and learning initiatives.

 Lucia Zuppa Photo

Scholar-in-Residence for 2006-2007

Fahad Al-Balushi In September 2006, BCC welcomed its fifth international scholar-in-residence. Fahad Al-Balushi is a teacher of English from Oman. A graduate of Sultan Qaboos University, he comes to BCC as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant and will offer students a full-year’s program in Arabic language and culture. Not only is this a first-time course offering for the college, it is the first time the U.S. Fulbright Program has included community colleges in this award category.

Diane Douglas, executive director of BCC’s Center for Liberal Arts, comments: “BCC is very proud to be breaking ground with this Fulbright award. We believe that knowledge of world languages and cultures has never been more important to our students. Cultural pluralism and globalization are critical topics in defining a strong liberal arts education today. This opportunity represents a vital step in our efforts to enhance international studies at the college.”

In addition to teaching his own courses, Mr. Al-Balushi intends to study information technology and international relations at BCC. This course work will further his goal to pursue a master’s degree and research in applied linguistics and eventually become a professor of English at an Omani university. Fahad Al-Balushi can be reached at 425.564.2743 or falbalus@bcc.ctc.edu.

Mr. Al-Balushi was recently featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education in an article titled: The Challenge of Teaching Arabic. To read the entire article, please click on the following link: The Challenge of Teaching Arabic.

Scholar-in-Residence for Spring 2006

Dr. Ahmed Radi Dr. Ahmed Radi is Professor of English at Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. Dr. Radi has written three books: Re-Reading Joyce (2002), Aesthetics and Politics in Virginia Wolf's To the Lighthouse (2002) and Ephemeral Fragments (1998), a volume of poetry. Since 1992, he has served on the editorial board of Signs and currently serves on the organizing committee for the creation of a multidisciplinary Center of Research on Marrakech at his home university. At BCC, Dr. Radi will teach and offer guest lectures across campus and in the community on diverse topics related to Islamic and Moroccan society and culture. He will also aid faculty in enhancing BCC's curriculum on Islam. If you are interested in inviting Dr. Radi to do a lecture at a school, college or university or civic organization, please contact the Center for Liberal Arts at 425.564.2550 or ddouglas@bcc.ctc.edu. Dr. Radi can be contacted at 425.564.2702 or via email: aradi@bcc.ctc.edu. To read Dr. Radi's complete Curriculum Vitae, please click here.

2006 International Scholar Shares His Writing

Although he was only in Bellevue for a brief six-week period, Dr. Ahmed Radi, Professor of English at Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco and BCC’s 4th annual international scholar had a great impact on the BCC campus and the community. Dr. Radi keynoted a national symposium on globalizing the curriculum co-sponsored by the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education at Evergreen State College and the Center for Liberal Arts. He visited numerous classes, met with student groups, visited area arts organizations and provided outreach lectures at Seattle Central Community College and Seattle Public Library. He also helped BCC plan next steps in its goals to boost offerings in Middle East history and language and expand its own classes and programs in international studies.

At the same time, Dr. Radi pursued his own scholarship as a writer and poet. He returned home with many new English language texts that will be useful to his own teaching. He wrote poetry and developed plans for his fourth book, a "carnet de route", a road notebook, entitled My Trip to America.

Please visit the following links for samples of Dr. Radi’s writings:

Ephemeral Fragments Gazing Back
Changing Times, Mobile Landscapes Le Pacha
2 British in Marrakech

In 2005, for the second consecutive year, BCC was awarded a grant from the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars of the U.S. Fulbright Program to host an international scholar-in-residence as a guest instructor during the 2004-05 academic year. The college is very proud of this prestigious award and the opportunity it provides to diversify and internationalize the Dr. Eduardo Gomes curriculum.

2005's Fulbright scholar-in-residence is Dr. Eduardo Gomes, Associate Professor of Political Science, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dr. Gomes received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1998. His focus of study is comparative political economies, interest politics and contemporary political theory. At BCC, he will focus on helping enhance the college’s curriculum in Latin American studies by collaborating with faculty to design new courses and web resources. He will also teach classes, provide seminars for faculty and staff and conduct outreach lectures in the community.

Dr. Gomes’ appointment at BCC will run from January through October 2005. Any college or university, school or civic organization interested in a guest lecture or additional information about the scholar-in-residence program should contact the Center for Liberal Arts at ddouglas@bcc.ctc.edu or 425.564.2550.

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