The People
To prepare his students for the future, FDU-Vancouver Campus Provost Ian Haslam has put together a team that is as diverse as the student body. “We have staff,” he says, “from Canada, Ireland, England, Japan, the United States, China, South Africa and Russia. The faculty come to us from the Czech Republic, Iran, England, Canada and China.”
Born and raised in England, Haslam is today a Canadian citizen who has decades of experience in academic leadership. He most recently worked in Los Angeles, Calif., where he was dean of health sciences and athletics at El Camino College. He previously held administrative leadership positions at Eastern Michigan University and at the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Asked why he joined the new venture, Haslam says, “This is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a world-class university and also build something that could be a model for global learning and for all of higher education.”
Eduard Babulak, a Canadian citizen and professional engineer, is a visiting professor of information technology. He comes to the University from Cyprus, where he was full professor and head of the department of management information systems at the American University of Cyprus. Babulak, who has extensive experience teaching international students, has lived and worked in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Austria and Slovakia. He also speaks 14 languages.
“I feel privileged that I’m here at the formation of this new campus,” he says. “I am inspired by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s commitment to academic quality and excellence.”
Babulak, who is teaching precalculus, calculus and information technology, says he is eager to nourish the skills of the students. “These young people are learning to work together as a team while also manifesting their unique identities. I feel their energy and momentum. They will be great ambassadors for our mission.”
Adjunct faculty include people like Susanne Green, who is originally from Canada but who formerly was the assistant director for the Center for Policy and Economic Development at the University of Texas at El Paso. Then there’s Touss Sepehr, an Iranian who holds Canadian citizenship and permanent European Union residency. He most recently worked with OPEC and is teaching political science. Ming Wang, born in China, has taught in the United Kingdom and Singapore and will teach business courses at FDU-Vancouver.
The support staff also boasts international credentials. For example, Associate Director of Admissions Wei Kang hails from China and recently was working in the United States. David O’Reilly, business manager and learning resources and support specialist, is a Canadian citizen who has worked in Japan. Admissions counselor Junko Poley is originally from Japan, and administrative assistant Natalia Kharitonova is from Russia. Lynda Kuit, assistant to the campus provost, was born in South Africa and educated in South Africa and The Netherlands.
“It’s a fantastic group,” says Haslam. “We’ve created a diversity that is as rich as you’re going to find. Our faculty and staff have a wide variety of experiences and represent many different cultures. Their diversity and their commitment to the students will provide an incredible learning experience.”
Myung Jun (MJ) Choi, Hiram Cabrera
Ortiz and Javier Torres were on hand
to celebrate the opening of the Steve
McCurry exhibit on campus.
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For a print copy of FDU Magazine, featuring this and other stories, contact Rebecca Maxon, editor,
201-692-7024 or maxon@fdu.edu.