The pages of this book paint a portrait of thirteen scholars and their
lifelong professional accomplishments in and contributions to teaching,
service, and research in global international education around the
world. Their extraordinary work contributed extensively to the
development, direction and growth of the global education movement in
the United States initiated by James M. Becker as Director of School
Services for the Foreign Policy Association, New York City, in the
1960s. These scholars were honored with the Distinguished Global Scholar
Award presented by the International Assembly of the National Council
for the Social Studies, the largest professional organization for social
studies educators in the United States. Their narratives comprise an
intriguing mosaic of backgrounds, scholarship, and contexts from which
their extraordinary work blossomed in building bridges--not walls--among
peoples and nations.
The publication is intended to honor the professional achievements in
global international education of these scholars who have devoted their
professional lives to creating a better world through their work. More
importantly, this book exposes globally-minded individuals, educators,
scholars, administrators, and policymakers around the world to
empowering role models from Africa, Europe, and the United States and
opportunity to learn about the multitude of professional activities,
teachings, partnerships, exchange programs and research in which they
might engage to promote a deeper understanding about the cultural,
geographic, economic, social, and technological interconnectedness of
the world and its people---the very purpose of global education.
