On The Cover

 

Six superheroes from “The 99,” the comic book series created by TC alumnus Naif Al-Mutawa (see story www.tc.edu/news/ 7033), in a classroom at the College. Part of a larger group from different cultures who embody universal virtues and protect the world from violence, the six are (standing, from left) Jabbar the Powerful, from Saudi Arabia; Hadya the Guide, from Pakistan, via the United Kingdom; Noora the Light, from the United Arab Emirates, who can create realistic holograms, see the good and evil inside of people, and levitate; and (seated, from left) Kabeera the Great , from China, trained as an acrobat and dancer in Shanghai before her gem gave her the power of flight; Darr the Afflicter, from the USA, who can manipulate nerve endings to prevent pain; and Musawwira the Organizer, from Ghana, whose power of pattern recognition allows her to make order out of chaos and organize almost anything.

 

It was clear from the get-go that trying to capture all the international activities of Teachers College in a single issue of this magazine was an impossibility—that nearly every interview or conversation would unearth yet another person doing important things in yet another fascinating part of the world. In the end, we set our sights on, at best, giving readers a sense of the breadth, richness and history of that work.

 

Inevitably, we have left out many people and places. The pages that follow tend to focus on the work of programs, centers and departments rather than that of individuals, and on faculty more than students. We apologize for the many glaring omissions. However, the good news is that modern technology has allowed us to make some amends. Our coverage of TC’s international focus extends beyond the magazine you hold in your hands to the Web at www.tc.edu/tctoday, where you will find:

 

Videotaped interviews with faculty members Sharon Lynn Kagan, Lambros Comitas, Margaret Crocco, William Gaudelli and Xiaodong Lin about their international work.

 

Additional videotaped interviews with TC students Gerard Alolod, Guillermo Marini and Sophia Yu.

 

An interview with psychologist Morton Deutsch and peace educator Betty Reardon

 

The full transcripts of interviews with the four TC Trustees—Antonia Grumbach, Jan Krukowski, Abby O’Neill and Bill Rueckert—who are featured in our “Friends of the College” story in this print issue. The four serve on TC’s new international advisory committee.

 

The full videotaped interview with Portia Williams, TC’s Director of International Affairs, a print excerpt of which appears in this magazine.

 

We could go on—and sometime soon, we will again. For now, enjoy the wide world of Teachers College.

 

—The Editors

 

TC Today, the magazine of Teachers College, is produced by the office of Development and External Affairs at Teachers College, Columbia University.

 

Vice President of Development and External Affairs

 

Suzanne M. Murphy

 

(Ed.M., Organization & Leadership, 1999; M.A., Organizational Psychology, 1996)

TC Today Staff

 

Executive Director of External Affairs, Joe Levine

 

Director of Media Relations, Patricia Lamiell

 

Director, Office of the TC Web, Paul Acquaro, (M.A., Instructional Technology, 2004)

 

Associate Director of Publications, Lisa A. Farmer

 

Senior Writer, Victor Inzunza

 

Administrative Assistant, Kalena Rosario

 

Editorial Assistants: Natalie Hadad, Elise Martingale

 

Art Direction, Deirdre Reznik (M.A., Applied Linguistics, 2004)

 

Contributing Editor, Jonathan Sapers

 

TC Today, Spring 2009

 

Vol. 33, No. 2

 

Copyright 2009 by Teachers College, Columbia University

 

TC Today is published twice per year by Teachers College, Columbia University. Articles may be reprinted with the permission of the Office of External Affairs.

 

Please send alumni class notes, letters to the editor,

 

address changes and other correspondence to:

 

TC Today

 

Office of External Affairs