Cheyney University Formalizes Plans with Rwanda’s Institut Polytechnique de Byumba on 20th Anniversary of Genocide in Rwanda.
Two Media Opportunities: One in Cheyney, PA; One in Center City Philadelphia
WHEN/WHERE: Thursday April 17, 2014 at Biddle Hall, Cheyney University, Cheyney, PA
· Discussion 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
· MOU signing & photo op -- 2:30 pm
Set in the President’s Conference Room on the Cheyney University campus, the historic event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the horrific 2004 genocide in Rwanda in which 800,000 men, women, and children perished in the Rwandan genocide, perhaps as many as three quarters of the Tutsi population, and the murder of thousands of Hutu who opposed the killing campaign and the forces directing it.
WHO: Representatives from the Institut Polytechnique de Byumba (IPB), including Rector Dr. Abbe′ Nyombayire, Vice Rector, IPB; Professor Shyaka Anastase, Chief Executive Officer, President of the Rwanda Governance Board and IPB Board Chair; Rwanda Ambassador and IPB Professor Mathilde Mutankabana, all of whom are credited with helping to build and develop democratic governance in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Cheyney University representatives including President Michelle R. Howard-Vital; Sheilah Vance, Esq., Chief of Staff; Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs; Dr. Gedeon Mudacumura, Director of Master in Public Administration Program; Dr. Steven G. Hughes, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of Aquaculture Research and Education Center (AREC) and Dr. Beth Jo (BJ) Mullaney, Leslie Pinkney Hill Library.
Other parties include applied bioscientist Charles Satish Smith, of Epcot Crenshaw, and attorney Wendell Holland, former chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and Treasurer of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), both of whom have previously worked on infrastructure programs in Africa.
WHAT: A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by representatives of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Institut Polytechnique de Byumba (IPB) to finalize plans for the Second International Conference on Democratic Governance. Hosted by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), the Conference sponsors include Rutgers University, Penn State and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Mudacumura will serve as co-chair of the Conference which is expected to attract over 200 attendees from all over the world. The Conference opens on June 25 2014 in Tigali, Rwanda.
· Dialogue between Rwanda’s Institut Polytechnique de Byumba (IPB) and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The dialogue will help both teams determine how to proceed in providing an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students in both institutions to collaborate with exchanges related to Cheyney’s aquaculture program. Plans are being developed for Cheyney’s aquaponic facility prototype to be replicated for a large scale operation in Rwanda and will enhance production of fish and vegetables on a scale to provide nutrition for many people in Africa.
· IPB and Cheyney University will discuss plans to offer an online Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program at IPB. This program is the first MPA to be offered in Rwanda. Dr. Gedeon Mudacumura, Director of the Master in Public Administration program at Cheyney University, and native of Rwanda, will oversee the online program.
WHEN/WHERE: Thursday April 17, 2014 at 6 pm - Cheyney University Center City (CUCC), 701 Market Street, Atrium Level, Philadelphia, PA
· After the signing on Cheyney University’s campus, the Rwanda Delegation and Dr. Gedeon Mudacumura will travel to CUCC where the Rwandan guests will speak to Mudacumura’s MPA class –6:00 pm.
· Following dinner, they will be available to talk to the media.
FACILITATORS:
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney, Pennsylvania. A liberal arts university, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania hosts signature programs such as the Keystone Honors Academy, the Call Me Mister teaching program, the Aquaculture Research and Teaching Laboratory and the accredited Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program. Recognized as the oldest institution for higher learning for African Americans, Cheyney University has been educating students for more than 175 years. The University offers baccalaureate and graduate degree programs at two locations, Cheyney and Philadelphia, PA – Center City. For more information, please visit the website at
http://www.cheyney.edu. Institut Polytechnique de Byumba (IPB), Byumba, Rwanda. The private institution of higher education officially opened on January 26, 2006 and was granted permission to start the faculty of education in May 2013. The I.P.B mission is to offer Polytechnic higher education, fundamental scientific and applied Research, and multiple services to the community.
For more information on this and other Cheyney University events, please contact Gwen Owens, Director of Public Relations, 610-399-2121 or via email at gowens@cheyney.edu. Press coverage at the event is welcome.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, April 16th 2014 at 4:21PM
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