C A M E O S

A Recipe For Success

Since its beginning in 1994, Creighton University's Lithuanian Exchange(s) Program has offered students and faculty from Lithuania and the United States the chance to expand and share their knowledge with each other. It has also helped to energize and enrich both the Omaha Lithuanian-American Community (OLAC) and Omaha itself.

The program traces its origins to OLAC's approaching Creighton University in the spring of 1993 with a request to start an exchange with an institution of higher education in Lithuania. As luck (fate?) would have it, the Department of Political Science had just hired a new professor whose specialty was Lithuanian politics! While not due to arrive at Creighton until August of 1993, Professor Terry D. Clark quickly agreed to visit with officials at Vilnius University that summer. The rest is history!

In the fall of 1994, Creighton sent five students to study for a semester each at Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus. In exchange, five students from each of these universities studied at Creighton for a semester. Since then, over 30 Creighton students have studied in Lithuanian and 20 Lithuanian students have taken courses at Creighton.

Among the majors represented are accounting, atmospheric science, biology, business, chemistry, classics, economics, english, environmental science, history, marketing, mathematics, modern languages, philosophy, physics, psychology, sociology, and theology. Opportunities thus far available to Creighton students in Lithuania are summer study abroad, semester abroad, and internship abroad.

The most important element of the program however, has been the faculty exchange. Thus far nine Creighton faculty members have taught at Lithuanian universities, and five Lithuanian faculty have taught at Creighton. Father Michael J. Proterra, SJ, Dean of Creighton's College of Arts and Sciences, from the very beginning directed that Creighton would place first priority on faculty development.

In particular, the Dean was intent that Creighton faculty members have an opportunity to be challenged by a rich culture engaged in a rapid and dynamic transition. Even more importantly, in the Jesuit tradition, he insisted that Creighton give something of value to its Lithuanian partners in return. From that, a set of exciting, targeted initiatives were developed. At Vilnius University, Creighton faculty works to help establish religious studies and social sciences. Both disciplines were banned during the Soviet occupation. Creighton's involvement means that the university will be leaving its imprint on future scholars in these disciplines for generations to come.

Even more exciting has been the opportunity afforded by Creighton's newest exchange partner. During the summer of 1997, Creighton signed an exchange agreement with a second Lithuanian university, Щauliai University (located in Omaha's sister city). This in turn helped launch a project to build an American Studies program with he new partner. Given Щauliai University's primary mission of training primary and secondary school teachers, Creighton will be helping to form the image Lithuanians have of America for the century to come!

Dr. Terry Clark, professor of Political Science at Creighton University. Photo: Ausrele Sakalaite

Professor Clark has been providing much of the energy to keep the program going at Creighton University. Dr. Clark reads Lithuanian; which, he studied while a graduate student at the University of Illinois under the then endowed chair of Baltic Studies (later to be Rector of Vytautas Magnus), Dr. Bronius Vað«lis. He has spent a moth or more in Lithuania each year since 1990. In 1996, his wife Marnie and their daughter Jessica spent six months living in Щauliai -- thanks to an IREX research grant.

There are many other key players as well at Creighton University without whom the program could not have taken its current shape. Among them are: Dr. David Higginson, Director of International Programs; Dr. Kathryn Thomas, College Director for Internationalization Efforts; Dr. Mike Lawler and Dr. Rusty Reno, Department of Theology; Dr. Roger Aikin, Department of Fine and Performing Arts; and Dr. Byran LeBeau, Department of History.

The most critical element has been the OLAC. None of Creighton's success in initiating and developing its Lithuanian Exchange(s) Program would have been possible without the strong support of the OLAC. Community members have supported the exchange program in countless tangible ways -- from opening their homes to organizing special events to providing entertainment and transportation. OLAC and Creighton look forward to many years together helping to rebuild Lithuanian higher education and enrich the greater Omaha area!

****CAMEOS highlights people who are in your community and have made a difference in other peopleÒ³ lives by their Lithuanian-American spirit, work, or accomplishments. If you know someone who you would like to introduce to BRIDGES readers, please send your manuscript, with or without pictures, to the BRIDGES editor, c/o Rasa Ardys-Juð«, 1212 Mohegan Road, Manasquan, NJ 08736