On Monday, November 28, representatives from the National Office of Sigma Iota Rho–the Honor Society for International Studies–visited Fordham University. Dr. Frank Plantan, President of Sigma Iota Rho (SIR), and Mark Castillo, Senior Liaison Officer, presented the Chapter Spotlight Award during a luncheon on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus.
“The Chapter Spotlight Award is given to the chapter that best exemplifies passion for, engagement with, and academic excellence in international studies. As Sigma Iota Rho was founded to foster and promote these pillars of learning, we are proud to feature those chapters which are models of our vibrant community of over 5,000 members and 160 chapters.”
“Fordham University’s Beta Mu Chapter has garnered Sigma Iota Rho’s attention for its noteworthy growth in activity since its rebirth some three years ago. Participation in Beta Mu has nearly tripled in this time. Also of note is the accomplishments of its members. They have won internships ranging from Senatorial offices, humanitarian organizations (Human Rights Watch, Peace Corps, among others), and Global Outreach projects that have enabled them to positively affect international communities. Their promotion of social awareness of international affairs is further demonstrated by support of Sigma Iota Rho’s Journal of International Relations. The chapter was represented in the print edition of the 2016 Journal by Luke Zaro, whose article, “Ottoman Orientalism: A Guiding Principle of Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East,” passed a rigorous double-blind peer review. Congratulations to Beta Mu!”
The stated purpose of SIR is ” to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs.”
During the luncheon, Dr. Plantan delivered a lecture on opportunities and challenges in the internship and job search for students of international studies. He emphasized the importance of taking initiative, aiming high early, and thinking broadly about the definition of a global opportunity.
Fordham University’s Beta Mu Chapter will begin recruiting 2016/2017 inductees to Sigma Iota Rho shortly.
