July 2023 – Journalism, Technology & Democracy

The Scholars pose for a group selfie at Busboys & Poets restaurant in Washington, D.C.

The End of SUSI 2023: Celebrating Freedom, Diversity and Friendship

Eighteen scholars of journalism, communication and the media, researchers and journalists from eighteen different countries entered the Cronkite School of Journalism, at Arizona State University in Phoenix on June 4, 2023. It was a hot day in Phoenix and the…

The scholars sit around a conference-style table as they debrief their experience

You Know What’s Beautiful? A Real Conversation

One of the greatest experiences I will treasure from the 2023 SUSI program are deep meaningful conversations. The ability to sit back and talk about life, love, goals and dreams. The ability to articulate our deepest fears, desires and at…

The entrance lobby and sign with the name of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Visiting the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most exquisite, explicit and accurate museums about Black history & culture. Standing in line to visit this huge brown building evoked all kinds of expectations. “This will be…

A white heart is outlined in the blue California sky

L.A.: The SUSI Bridge Between Phoenix and Washington

July 8, 2023, the 18 SUSI musketeers are having their last morning in downtown Los Angeles (L.A.). Everyone is finishing packing and getting ready to depart for Washington, D.C., which will take all day. After four weeks in Phoenix, Arizona and with…

A group of scholars observe a tour guide pointing out architectural details in an ornate Art Deco-era building

Teaching Communication in the 21st Century

Teaching communication in the 21st century requires changing our minds, our budgets and of course our universities. Students aspire to be successful in the labor market for the next 40 years with new knowledge and skills. A step in that…

Three scholars sit at a dining table overlooking the coast

And Then the Magic Happened…

Nothing can be usual when you are in the city of dreams. For us, it was surely an unusual day in Los Angeles when we started to explore America’s westward expansion. It was a day of stories unfolding — stories…

Diversity and contrast in LA

On our first full day in Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the country, on the 5th of July, we had a free day to explore its famous landmarks and diverse areas. Most of the scholars decided to…

A shot of the desert from a plane window behind the wing

From 41 degrees Celsius to 21, and Celebrating Independence Day

On July 4, the SUSI ’23 Scholars headed West. Early in the morning at 7 a.m. the Scholars began their travels to Los Angeles, California. It was a short flight from Phoenix to LA. From the window of the plane,…

Phoenix: Oh, what a time!

I have a confession to make. I struggled quite a bit in putting together this blog post. I struggled, not because I did not have anything to write about. Rather, it was because there were several ideas running through my…

View of a small city park with a mural by Indigenous artists depicting Mother Earth in the desert

Saying Goodbye to Phoenix: A Hot City with Cool Charms

As the sun sets on our time in Phoenix, today marks the last free day for SUSI scholars to savor the city’s delights. Amidst the hustle and bustle, scholars find themselves occupied with packing their belongings, carefully arranging every item…

Month: July 2023