Everett M. Rogers – A Life worth Celebrating!

Last week friends and colleagues of Everett M. Rogers (1931-2004) gathered at Ohio University to celebrate the life and work of this distinguished scholar, author, researcher, teacher and mentor under the theme “Celebrating the Scholarship and Mentorship of Everett M. Rogers.

There were several sessions for reflection and time and time again the phrase “he was a great mentor” surfaced. What also emerged during the three days of the conference was that Rogers lived what he taught.  The things he passed on to other made a significant impact because he was unpretentious, and lived with dignity and integrity.

All those who knew him personally talked about the fact that he was confident in his own success and therefore had no problems sharing the lime light with others. According to one participant “he always treated you as his equal”. This attitude was among the many things that made him both special and memorable.

Rogers, who at one point taught at Ohio State University gained prominence for his Diffusion of Innovations theory which seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures. This theoretical frame is still popular today as it was when the theory first came to light. Scholars at the conference pointed out that the theory has great utility hence its use in almost every discipline. Rogers authored 30 books which were also translated into 15 languages – and more than 500 articles that helped to shape and influence the field of communication, sociology, marketing and political science.

At the end of the conference on what would have been Roger’s 80th birthday, we heard stories about Rogers the avid gardener who would plant a garden where ever he stayed around the world. After his scholarship gardening was his next great love. A passion he developed from his childhood days growing up in Carrol, Iowa, on a farm.

In a fitting tribute to this remarkable man, friends and colleagues were each given a pod and a seed to plant anywhere they wish in memory of a man who is often quoted as saying about his mentorship ” I like to plant little acorns and watch them grow into trees.”

Today these acorns are mentors themselves who are committed to Rogers’ dream of making the world a better place by living with integrity and advancing knowledge through practice and the sharing.

Salute to Everett Rogers and his little acorns. The conference was edifying but learning about Rogers made me want to be a better person and scholar!

Reflections on International Women’s Day

March 08, 2011 marked the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. A century later this observance is marked the world over with reflections, speeches and special events including a customary speech by the UN Secretary-General.

Since the event was first observed in 1911 the conditions of women have improved significantly in some places and marginally in others. Women in most countries have earned the right to votes and on the surface it appears as though women have made significant advances in education politics and governance, business, science and industry.

However statistics obtained from the UN Report titled “The World’s Women 2010: Trends and Statistics”, indicate that while there has been some progress there also remains a lot to be accomplished before women can achieve parity with men in the areas of education, business and politics.

Figures from the report show that in the area of education women continue to be persistently disadvantaged since they account for two thirds of the world’s 774 million adult illiterates – a proportion that is unchanged over the past two decades. Gender differences in tertiary education also persists with women predominant in the fields of education, health and welfare, social sciences, humanities and art, while they remain severely underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering.

The lack of a gender balance is also obvious in decision-making positions in Government. Women continue to be underrepresented in national parliaments occupying on average only 17% of parliamentary seats. Some other startling figures show that of the 150 elected Heads of States in the world only 7 are women. In the private sector, while there are some 500 large corporations across the world there are only 13 women Chief Executive Officers.

Reflecting on 100 years of the women’s movement in light of these statistics would be reason enough to ask “What has changed?”, “What are we celebrating?” I put these questions to women from Asia and Latin America respectively. (Listen to podcast below)

In response to the questions I would argue that while progress has been slow, some strides have been made. If we think back to the suffrage movement and to a time and place when women could not work, attend school or even run for office then we do have something to celebrate, even if it’s a small victory!

Reflections on International Women’s Day by Rashmi  (India) and Lilly Ann (Columbia) http://aleste.podbean.com/mf/web/rzbxw9/Women_s_Day_Podcast2.mp3

The Road to Athens – Kosia’s Story!

This week’s person of interest is Kosia Oshiro, a PhD student at Ohio University. Journey with her as she shares her life, her travels and her deep passion for indigenous issues.

Kosia\'s Journey

Life in Athens!

Today, I begin a new series looking at life in Athens from the perspective of ordinary people. At first glance one can’t help but notice the diversity that’s all around us.

Like you, I am curious to know who is sitting beside me in the cafe and who is the woman walking down the street or the guy reading in the park!

There are as many stories as there are people. So, I believe that this journey could prove to be a very informative and richly interesting one. I hope you join me on this journey!

Athens At Dusk

Celebrating Diversity

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

Photo of the Day

Black History Month – 35 Years Later

The month of February is widely celebrated as Black History Month in the United States of America and Canada.  Here in the USA celebrations started in 1976 and continue to be celebrated annually.    In many ways it’s  a time of remembrance and a time of honouring.  It’s a powerful affirmation of hope and the struggle for justice and equality that characterizes all human existence.

What ever one feels about setting aside an entire month to celebrate a group of people, there is something to be said for honoring the contributions and legacy of  Peoples that have helped to make the United States, the rich cultural, and economic icon  it is today.    This is true for African-Americans and for every other group that has worked tirelessly, overcoming struggles in one form or another and yet daring to believe in the American dream.  

The questions of equality, dignity, justice and fairness that characterised discourses in America in 1976 are still questions that we struggle with today in the USA and in countries across the world.   In its broader context these questions are really about  how  we create a just society so that all people regardless of race, creed, class sexual orientation, religious and political persuasions may have the same rights and benefits.    Re. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, whose birthday we celebrated a few weeks ago, asked these very questions.  However, he went further to articulate a vision for America in his speech “I Have a Dream.”  This speech in many ways symbolizes the central feature of a just  society. 

Thirty five years later,  this is what I hope Black History Month represents.  While the emphasis might be on the contributions of African-Americans, it should really be seen as a concerted attempt by all Americans to live out their hope, dreams and full humanity in an environment that  does not determine a person’s worth based on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and political and religious persuasion.  Afterall it was Dr. King who so eloquently reminded us that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”