Professor visits Ethiopia, develops generation of journalists
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 01/30/2007
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Being a professor is a difficult job in itself. Teaching in a third world country, however, is an experience that many do not have.
Glenn Sparks, professor of communication, has had this opportunity many times. Sparks gives his time to help teach and consult at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and recently returned from his latest trip in early January.
Sparks became involved in the program by chance; the professor who was supposed to go was ill and someone mentioned Sparks' name to the people in charge of the program.
"They actually moved the date of the program to accommodate my schedule because I was originally supposed to go during finals week," he said.
Sparks has been to Ethiopia three times since his original trip. While there, he consults with the Norwegian government. He works specifically with the journalism program and also lectures for graduate students.
Howard Sypher, head of the Department of Communication, said Sparks is involved in interesting and important work. "This is an opportunity to influence a generation of new journalists in a part of the world that is really important to U.S. interests," he said.
After four visits to the third world country, Sparks still finds it hard to adjust.
"Water is a problem; I have to use bottled water to brush my teeth," he said. "The first few times I visited, I got sick from the water."
Safety is another concern when visiting Ethiopia. During Sparks' recent visit, he encountered a safety scare. Ethiopia is involved in a war with Somalia and on Dec. 27 there was a warning issued to Americans traveling in the capital. Sparks was scheduled to leave on Dec. 31 and had to be careful while going back.
During his previous visit on May 12, 2006, there was a bombing at the market in Addis Ababa. Sparks was considering visiting the market that day, but decided against it because he had a lot of work to do and had enough time to visit the market later in the week.
"Friday, May 12, 2006 is a day I will never forget," he said.
Sparks said the work he accomplished has been beneficial for future journalists in the program, as well as for the university in Addis Ababa. He is considering another trip but it depends on the civil situation in Ethiopia, he said.
The work that he is doing is respected by his colleagues at Purdue and at Addis Ababa University.
"I think it's really exciting that Glenn Sparks is at the center of an international effort to develop a new generation of journalists in Ethiopia," Sypher said. "This is exactly the kind of thing that Purdue faculty should be involved with. It's critically important that we engage audiences in Indiana and internationally and I think this will have long-term benefits for Purdue."