CIVIC
invites you to a reception in honor of
NCIV Gold Star Guest
Professor Carroll Ray Harrison

Professor Harrison is one of 18
"Gold Star" visitors who have been invited to return to the U.S. as part of the State Department's IVLP 70th anniversary and
NCIV's 50th anniversary. 

Professor Harrison is the co-founder of the first university on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University (BICU), where he currently works as Director of University Extensions and Research.  He has shown a lifelong dedication to educating and improving the lives of inhabitants in the South Autonomous Region of Nicaragua, a historically neglected region along the Atlantic coastline, and traditionally inhabited by Nicaraguans of African descent and indigenous populations. 

As Vice-President of BICU in 1998, Professor Harrison participated in an IVLP project on "Curriculum Development and the Administration of Universities.”  This trip brought him to Iowa City where he had several meetings at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College.  He was particularly impressed by the role and scope of the U.S. community college system and envisioned how such a system might impact the economically depressed ethnic communities in Nicaragua by providing accessible higher education opportunities and empowering disadvantaged communities.

In 2001, as a direct result of his IVLP experience, Professor Harrison launched a sustainable community college project for the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, founded university extension programs and developed a new academic program – the first of its kind – in Marine Biology at BICU.  Presently, there are eight extension programs, each one focusing its studies on and responding to the needs of the unique characteristics of each community.  The programs Professor Harrison created are some of the most successful of those run by the university and have changed the lives of countless young students in underserved communities throughout the region. 

Please join us in welcoming Professor Harrison back to Iowa City
at a reception being held in his honor!

Monday, August 29, 2011
Kirkwood Room
515 Kirkwood Avenue
Iowa City, Iowa

Fee:  Free for current CIVIC Members
$25.00 for guests

Wine and hors d'oeuvres provided.