This program shares the educational expertise of members of the Webster University community as that community responds to a world in crises. As this program began during the coronavirus pandemic, this podcast has connected the University's campuses in nine different countries, and various locations throughout the United States and shared experiences during the move to remote operations and lockdown. Much of the program has been devoted to telling the stories of how students, faculty, staff and administrators are coping with the pandemic. However, the program has also broadened its reach to discuss race, racism, police brutality, human rights, and international relations as other events have dictated.
Rick Rockwell/Webster University
The Webster World Report podcast takes a look back at the past 61 weeks of the pandemic in this edition, that includes selected interviews recorded since March of 2020. These were the interviews that proved to be the most popular with the program’s global audience. The themes include: views of the pandemic from Uzbekistan; a nursing faculty member and a nursing student reflect on their experiences in the pandemic; and Webster’s international relations experts discuss the pandemic’s effects on global politics and diplomacy. This is the 22nd episode of the Webster World Report podcast, a monthly magazine program linking Webster University’s global operations during this time of various crises. The news segment of the program covers highlights from Webster University’s 102nd Commencement Ceremony, along with other important news from the previous month. Interviews include: Malika Baratova, Public Relations Executive, Webster University Tashkent; Maggie Dankert, Deputy Director Webster University Tashkent; Prof. Jody Spiess, Nursing faculty member, main campus; Nursing student Charlie Johnson, College of Arts & Sciences; Prof. Kelly-Kate Pease, international relations, College of Arts & Sciences; and Prof. Jozef Batora, Webster Vienna Private University. Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Tara Graves, announcer.The graphic is from the U.S. federal government and is in the public domain.
The Webster World Report podcast marks its one-year anniversary with a program centered on the pandemic experience of Webster University’s alumni and students. On this 21st episode of the program, alumna Elizabeth Bland, a staff educator at Missouri Baptist Hospital recounts her experience as a nurse on the frontlines, supporting patients with COVID-19 and supporting hospital staff in how they cope with the coronavirus pandemic. This is the concluding part of a series of discussions with Bland. (She is a graduate of the award-winning Masters of Science in Nursing program at Webster.) The program also concludes its two-part interview with student Yatina Katunga from Zimbabwe who is working on her graduate degree in information technology management. This discussion focuses on the issues facing women in tech fields. The Webster World Report is a monthly magazine program linking Webster University’s global operations during this time of various crises. The news segment of the program covers the latest collaboration between Webster University and the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) among other stories that feature various areas of Webster’s global network.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The graphic is from a government agency in California and is in the public domain.
On the 20th episode of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during a time of crises, the program features an in-depth discussion of how the university community has coped with the coronavirus pandemic, and the program also features the views of a graduate student about opportunities in STEM fields. The program includes the second part of a wide-ranging discussion with Webster’s President Julian Z. Schuster. Graduate student Yatina Katunga from Zimbabwe also gives her views about opportunities for women in technology. The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the recent Sixth Annual Webster University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference, among a variety of other university news items.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The graphic is from the state of Ohio and is in the public domain.
Webster World Report No. 19, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during a time of crises, features a program that goes back to themes covered during the podcast’s origins: how the community is coping with the coronavirus pandemic and the view of medical professionals about the public health threat. The program features the first part of an in-depth interview with Webster’s President Julian Z. Schuster and the program also features the first part of an interview with alumna Elizabeth Bland, a nurse and staff educator at Missouri Baptist Hospital. The news segment of the program include excerpts from the university’s Spring Convocation among a variety of other items.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The graphic is from the Department of Defense and is in the public domain.
On Webster World Report No. 18, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features an interview with Webster University’s Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. The interviews covers a wide variety of topics including goals for 2021 and lessons learned from 2020, and with a spotlight on one of the chancellor’s important global projects: bringing more attention to violence and discrimination aimed at women. She discusses her work with the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), its next global summit on Feb. 11, and the ARDN Red Card Project. The program also features an interview with Polina Flenova, a student studying at Webster University Geneva: she discusses how she as a Russian is learning to be a global citizen. The news segment of the program features an excerpt from the confirmation hearing of Gen. Lloyd Austin, a Webster alumnus and the new Secretary of Defense, along with a variety of other highlights from the past six weeks.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The graphic is from the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) and is used with permission.
On Webster World Report No. 17, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features an interview with Webster University Alumni Association President Alexandria McCuien about diversity issues in the technology sector (the second of two parts) and also an in-depth discussion with Beijing Site Representative Candice Zhao about Webster’s operations in China. The program’s news segment also features an excerpt from the latest Webster Speaks webinar series on diversity and equity issues, along with an excerpt from the Webster Writers Series, sponsored by the English Department, this time highlighting African American poets.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The photo is from Webster University China and is copyright Webster University.
On the sixteenth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features in-depth discussions with faculty experts and a student about how they see the presidential election in the United States and what they think of the aftermath. This special hour-long version of the program features a panel discussion with Prof. Gwyneth Williams and Prof. Bill Hall analyzing the election and giving a forecast of what is likely ahead. The program also includes an interview with Suggs Scholar Tekoa Bell. The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the recent Webster Speaks program entitled “My Journey Toward Becoming an Anti-Racist,” which included Rob Good, a facilitator in the Witnessing Whiteness program and Hannah Verity, the director of global program development at Webster University, and more.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The photo is from ShutterStock using a Webster University license; acquired with permission.
Program #15 of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, features a deep dive into the philosophy of teaching. The program includes Julie Smith of the School of Communications discussing her new book: “Wake ‘Em Up: Supercharge Your Classroom Engagement.” The program also features the second part of an in-depth discussion with Associate Vice President Michelle Loyet, the director of the Online Learning Center (OLC) on the philosophical approaches to creating and teaching online courses, a topic that has gained even more importance during the pandemic. The news segment of the program includes: excerpts from a panel on U.S. politics that featured Prof. Gwyneth Williams; coverage of the School of Communications’ conference on health communications; highlights from the “Webster Speaks” video series on race and equity issues from October; and more.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.Jessica Battle is seen in the photo. The photo is by Webster University Manager of Photographic Services Inocencio Boc and is the copyrighted material of Webster University.
The 14th edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, features a discussion among two of the University’s experts on political science, analyzing the state of the presidential election in the U.S. Topics covered in the discussion included: the condition of democracy in the U.S.; the role of race and racism in U.S. political discourse; and a historical perspective of elections during crisis periods. Expert guests include: Professors Bill Hall and Gwyneth Williams. The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the Women of the Diaspora Global Virtual Summit that featured both Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and Director of the Geneva Campus Clementina Acedo. The news segment also features highlights from the “Webster Speaks” video series.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Tara Graves, announcer.The photo illustrating this podcast is from the Commission on Presidential Debates and is in the public domain.
The 13th edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, includes a panel of international relations experts from three different continents, all of whom are professors in the Webster worldwide system. This expert panel discusses how the pandemic is changing the global order. Other topics included how U.S. international relations have changed during the Trump administration and the role of the United Nations in examinations of police brutality. The international relations professors include: Kelly-Kate Pease from the main campus in Webster Groves, MO; Robin Ramcharan from Webster University Thailand; and Jozef Batora from Webster Private University Vienna. The program also features the perspectives of Erika Gavilanes, an international student from Ecuador studying in the U.S. The news segment of the program features highlights from the opening Convocation of the Fall Semester, and excerpts from the new “Webster Speaks” series, discussing racial issues in the media, and how Black athletes cope with racism in the U.S.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The photo illustrating this podcast is from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is in the public domain.
The twelfth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, remembers the legacy of the Ferguson protests, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis on this program. The program also discusses equity issues at Webster University and the philosophy of online education during the pandemic. The program includes in-depth discussions with: Webster’s Chief Diversity Officer Vincent C. Flewellen; Alumni Association President Alexandria McCuien; and Associate Vice President for Online Education Michelle Loyet. The news segment of the program features excerpts from the new “Webster Speaks” series on Ferguson and the effects of racism on mental health. The news segment also features an excerpt from the University’s video statement regarding support for international students.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.The photo illustrating this podcast is from the Ferguson protests of 2014 and is made available via a Creative Commons license from Wikipedia via user LoavesOfBread: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ferguson_Day_6,_Picture_12.png Transcript available here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-08-07-2020-transcript.pdf
The eleventh edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, this time highlights student voices. The program includes in-depth discussions with: undergraduate psychology major Larry Hearn of the Association of African American Collegians; undergraduate speech communications major Vincent Fedorko, founder and president of the Webster University Conservatives; and undergraduate international human rights major Mimiw Seagrave of Webster University Leiden, who is currently in Thailand. The students discussed their views on racism, police brutality, and human rights during our pandemic times. The news segment of the program features an excerpt from the new “Webster Speaks” series. Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Patrick Giblin, announcer. The photo illustrating this podcast is of Minnesota State Police in riot gear in Minneapolis in late May from the Russian government and is in the public domain.The transcript for this program is available here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-07-10-2020-transcript.pdf
The tenth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, features a panel-style discussion this week with two of Webster’s international relations faculty about the effects of the pandemic on the global scene. This panel discussion includes: Prof. Kelly-Kate Pease from the main campus in Webster Groves; and Prof. Franco Algieri from Webster University Vienna Private University. Topics range from the current state of diplomacy, police brutality, and human rights in the U.S. in the wake of the George Floyd protests. The news segment of the program features short audio with: Director Christa Sanders of Webster University Ghana about the Black Lives Matter signs; Dr. Mjiba Frehiwot of the University of Ghana who is also a visiting professor at Webster University Ghana discussing Juneteenth; and Prof. Amanda Kracen of the Psychology Department on the main campus discussing stress relief during the pandemic. Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.The transcript of this podcast can be found here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-06-26-2020-transcript.pdf
The ninth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations, features in-depth interviews this week from Accra and St. Louis to discuss racism, race and its relation to the coronavirus pandemic. The program also deals with various reactions to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man in Minneapolis by police. This program includes interviews with: Christa Sanders, director of Webster University Ghana; and Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper, an adjunct professor for the School of Education. The news segment of the program features an excerpt from the podcasting project on global citizenship produced by Webster University’s Leiden campus and the excerpt features Prof. Nives Rumenjak, Chair of the International Relations program in Leiden. The Leiden podcast project was produced by Adam Frick-Verdine.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.The photo accompanying this podcast is from the Office of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota and is in the public domain.
The eighth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations, features in-depth interviews from Bangkok, Tashkent and Columbia, South Carolina. This program includes interviews with: Prof. Robin Ramcharan from Webster’s Bangkok, Thailand location; the second part of the program’s conversation with Maggie Dankert, the assistant director of Webster University Tashkent; and an interview with Sherriel Byrd, the director of Webster University’s Columbia, South Carolina location. The news segment of the program features excerpts of speeches by Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and President Julian Z. Schuster, along with short interview with adjunct faculty member Prof. Betsy Brandt about the virtual final project in her online dance techniques course.Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.The transcript for this program is available here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-05-29-2020-transcript.pdf
On the seventh edition of the Webster World Report, our weekly discussion to link Webster University’s global operations, we hear in-depth interviews from Tashkent and St. Louis. This program features an interview with nursing student Charlie Johnson of Webster’s College of Arts and Sciences who works on the front lines in the pandemic with patients suffering from COVID-19. The program also features interviews with Dean Anton (Tony) Wallner of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Maggie Dankert, the assistant director of Webster University Tashkent. The news segment of the program features Dr. Nicole Miller-Struttmann discussing her new bee census project called ShutterBee, and the program also features a short excerpt from the virtual Commencement speech given by Dr. Vladimir Ivkovic of Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.The transcript for this program is available here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-05-15-2020-transcript.pdf
On the sixth edition of the Webster World Report, our weekly discussion to link Webster University’s global operations, we hear in-depth interviews from Vietnam, the Netherlands and St. Louis, Missouri, USA. This program features an interview with Vietnamese photojournalism student Phuong Bui of Webster’s School of Communications who spent 23-days in quarantine after returning home to deal with the pandemic there rather than staying on the Webster Groves campus. The program also features interviews with Jean Paul van Marissing, director of Webster University Leiden and Erica Ellard, the director of the Academic Resource Center. The news segment of the program features Jian Gong, Web Services Analyst in San Antonio, discussing her protective mask-making project with the group she formed, the San Antonio Chinese Alliance Face Masks Group.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.You can find a transcript of this program here: http://www.webster.edu/documents/webster-world-report/webster-world-report-05-08-2020-transcript.pdf
On the fifth edition of the Webster World Report, our weekly discussion to link Webster University’s global operations, we hear voices from Athens, San Antonio and St. Louis. This program features interviews from campuses and locations in: Athens, Greece; Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, USA; and St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Interview subjects include: the second part of our interview with Director Ruben Molina at Randolph Air Force Base; an interview with Laura Herring, a member of Webster’s Board of Trustees; and Dr. Sousana Michailidis, vice rector of Webster University Athens. The news segment of the program features Prof. Bill Barrett of the School of Communications and Prof. Gordana Pesakovic of Webster University Tashkent.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.
On the fourth special edition of the Webster World Report, our weekly discussion to link Webster University’s global operation, we hear voices from Africa, Europe and the United States. This program features interviews from campuses and locations in: Vienna, Austria; Accra, Ghana; and at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Interview subjects include: Prof. Franco Algieri, chair of the international relations department at Webster Private University Vienna; the second part of our interview with Awoyaa Mensah, director of marketing and corporate partnerships at Webster University Ghana; and Director Ruben Molina at Randolph Air Force Base. The news segment features Eli Tetteh, success coach at Webster University Ghana in Accra.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.
This program is the third edition of the Webster World Report, a special program linking Webster University’s global operations during the pandemic crisis. This program features views from locations in: China; Accra, Ghana; and the main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA. Interview subjects include: Rick Foristel, director of Webster University’s operations in China; Prof. Janice Palmer, chair of the Nursing Department in Webster Groves; and Awoyaa Mensah, director of marketing and corporate partnerships at Webster University Ghana. The news segment features Laurel Hayes, an adjunct instructor on the Webster Groves campus discussing her daily virtual online meditation sessions for those in the community to join.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.
The Webster World Report returns this week with another special look into how Webster University’s global system is coping with the coronavirus pandemic. This program features views from campuses in: Geneva, Switzerland; Thailand; and the main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA. Interview subjects include: Clementina Acedo, director of Webster University Geneva; Prof. Jenny Broeder of the Nursing Department in Webster Groves; and Ryan Guffey, rector of Webster University Thailand. The news segment features Coach Matt Saitz of Webster University Athletics.Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.
This is the debut podcast of the Webster World Report, a podcast to link the international operations of Webster University, which is working remotely and globally at all nine campuses throughout the world. This program features views from locations and campuses in: Vienna, Austria; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; the Washington, DC region of the U.S.; and the main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, USA. Interview subjects include: Earl McCoy, regional recruiting coordinator; Engy Kassem, of the Webster Privacy and Information Security team; Prof. Jody Spiess who specializes in public health and nursing; and Malika Baratova, public relations executive for the Webster operations in Uzbekistan. Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Jim Singer, announcer/engineer; Tierra Gray, newscaster.
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