ICAR Welcome Dinner: Celebration, Reflection and Community

In September 11, 2010, ICAR marked this notable anniversary by holding its annual Welcome Dinner, inviting another intake of hopeful conflict resolvers to join its growing community.

The evening commenced with a welcome from Professor Mark Goodale, followed by a humorous introduction of the ICAR faculty and staff by Professor Rich Rubenstein. Dr. Rubenstein delighted the crowd by revealing the faculty’s darkest secrets, which are far too scandalous for re-print.  Before dinner, Professor Karina Korostelina took a moment to welcome this year’s visiting scholars. 

After enjoying a delicious catered meal, the attendees were treated to “Stories from the Field,” moderated by Professor Susan Hirsch.  Professor Patricia Maulden spoke of the challenges and rewards of her travels to Liberia with ICAR students, and Professor Thomas Flores gave everyone an insight into ICAR faculty’s trip through China this past summer, visiting four cities in eight days.  After an open invitation for more stories and comments from Dr. Hirsch, ICAR Director, Dr. Andrea Bartoli amused the audience with anecdotes about mis-spoken English expressions and chance meetings. 

This annual dinner has also historically been the time for announcing student and faculty awards.  This years recipients were as follows: the Brenda Rubenstein Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Sarah Rose-Jensen; the Mary Lynn Boland Award for Outstanding Student Service was awarded to James Moon; the John Burton Scholarship was awarded to Tetsushi Ogata; the James H. Laue Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Michael Rupert; the Alumni Scholarship was awarded to Edward Thompson; and the Faculty Scholarship for this year was awarded to Lori-Ann Stephensen.  Following these awards, the creation of a new scholarship fund in the name of late Professor Wallace Warfield was also announced.  This scholarship will be awarded for practice in the field, and donations to this fund are currently being accepted.

With scholarships awarded and dinner eaten, Dr. Bartoli bade attendees a good night, and a new year at ICAR began.