Inside This Issue: A Night To Remember

JORDAN JOURNEYSthe Official Newsletter of the MSC Leland T. andJessie W. Jordan Institute for International AwarenessFall 2012Inside this issue:A Note From Our Chair2Collection Invites Passerby 2Former Member Feature3From Our Members3Where Are They Now?4Program Highlights5History of the Institute6“This is an organization thatmakes a difference.It makes us better Aggiesand better people.Its international reachchanges students’perspectives forever.”—Melissa Crews ‘14Chair, 2012-2013Our Staff:Diego Garcia, DirectorCarol Galjour, AssistantAustin Goddard, Student WorkerContact Us:ji-development@msc.tamu.edu979-845-8770A Night To RememberInstitute’s 25th Anniversary Calls for Celebratory GalaJoined by relatives of theJordan family, the LelandT. and Jessie W. JordanInstitute for InternationalAwareness commemoratedits 25th year on Nov. 8 witha gala in the MSC Bethancourt Ballroom.Emceeing the eveningwere Melissa Crews andRyan Trantham, chair andvice chair of the Institute,respectively.Some of the university’sfinest graced the internationally-themed ballroom,including President Loftin;Lieutenant General JosephWeber, vice president forstudent affairs; Luke Altendorf, director of the MSC;and Tyler Stewart, president and CEO of the MSC .Speaking first was former Jordan Fellow Matthew Davis, who gave apresentation on his research travels in the UnitedKingdom. He was followedIN APPRECIATION— Keynote speaker Dr. Joshua Siepel wasawarded a plaque to honor his contributions to the Jordan Institute.by keynote speaker Dr.Joshua Siepel, initiator ofthe Institute’s internationalservice programs (ISP).A brief ceremonyawarding Affandi Salleh,the Institute’s country director for the Internshipand Living Abroad Programin Singapore, followed.Salleh has served in the capacity for 10 years.The latter part of theevening was devoted to inducting the Institute’s newest Research Fellows andinternational service program participants to Belize,Honduras and the Dominican Republic.Reveille Club Contributes 500 to L.T. JordanFunds to Benefit International Service Programltjordan.tamu.eduThe Reveille Club ofHouston contributed 500to the Jordan Institute toassist with funding needsfor the International ServiceProgram, one of the Institute’s newest programs.The International ServiceProgram is a serviceoriented initiative allowingAggie students to live overseas four to eight weeksduring the summer in theirchoice of the DominicanRepublic, Honduras or Belize. Students attending theprogram gain hands-on international experience inthe areas of marine conservation, health and agriculture. All projects completedby students are on a volunteer basis and directly benefit the inhabitants of ruralsettings.The 500 gift will be applied toward travel expenses, program costs andprogram advertising andseminars.Established in 1982, theReveille Club of Houstonhas a motto of “Aggies doing business with Aggies.”The organization’s missionContinued on page 4

2Jordan Journeys/Fall 2012Words From Our ChairBlessing. Opportunity. Challenge. Motivation. Humility. Perspective. Growth. These are just afew things the MSC Leland T. and Jessie W. Jordan Institute for International Awareness has givenme over the past year and what I strive to give back every single day. I am proud to say that as theISP Belize/Honduras Dominican Republic Co-Director last year, an ILAP Spain 2012 participant,and now Chair, I have received these gifts and many more.I joined the Jordan Institute as a way to get involved in the Memorial Student Center and findmy niche at Texas A&M. I was looking for an organization in which I could give back and serve myuniversity. As an international studies major, I have had a long-standing passion for internationalawareness and travel, and the Jordan Institute seemed a perfect fit.As a director, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Jordan’s vision of sending Aggies abroad come alive. As a participant in the ILAP Spain program, I was able to intern with an NGO focused in international aidand development, and I experienced the Spanish and European culture.This year I am the Chair for the Jordan Institute and cannot think of the words appropriate todescribe what an honor and privilege it has been. I understand exactly what Jessie Jordan’s goalwas in establishing the Institute, and I have the upmost desire and passion to share it with others. Icould see early on this was an organization that made a difference; it made you a better Aggie and abetter person. I saw that its international reach changed students’ perspectives forever.I have three simple values for the Jordan Institute and its members: excellence, accountabilityMelissa Crews ‘14andinvolvement. My personal focus is in developing our on-campus and travel abroad programs soChair, 2012-2013that we strive for excellence in all areas. It is my vision to instill a greater sense of cultural preparation and pre-departure preparation so that our participants can hit the ground running as soon as the plane lands. I also envision agreater sense of involvement from our program participants and members derived from a sense of passion for the Institute.The most rewarding part of being Chair are day-to-day moments. Moments like looking out on a crowded room filled with ourmembers anxious to start our meetings and programs, leading an exec meeting with the best team of students I could ever have, walking into our office with a staff that goes above and beyond to be as supportive and encouraging as possible, seeing the joy and excitement on someone’s face after they have done an interview for a travel abroad program, and answering the question, “So what’s thestory behind those big, brown doors?” Sharing the Jordan Institute with others, and being able to share it with such incredible people,is my reward and I thank God every day for it.Collection Invites PasserbyThe Jordan InstituteCollection exploresculture through theuniversal languageof artNOT YOUR USUAL LAMP — One ofthe most unique and ornate itemsof the Collection, this lamp ismade from a camel’s bladder.Following the rededication of the Memorial Student Center on April 21,2012, the Leland T. andJessie W. Jordan Collectionopened to visitors at theend of May, welcomingmore than 1,000 viewers inits first week. With eyecatching window pieces,the Collection continues toinvite passerby inside. Itshundreds of items are asurvey of the world in artifact form.The Jordan Collectionrealizes the Jordan Institute’s goal of providing exposure to other culturesthrough the universal language of art.Additionally, since almost all of the objects wereobtained during Mr. Jordan’s career with the GulfOil Company and the Kuwait Oil Company, the Collection provides a distinctandcompreh ensiveglimpse into his life.Articles displayed in theJordan Collection includejewelry, porcelain, silverwork, paintings, rugs, andvarious pieces of furniturefrom Africa, the MiddleEast, South American,Europe and Asia.The Jordan’s received anumber of pieces in theircollection from heads ofstate and diplomats duringtheir annual travels.Among the most significant and valuable piecesare a writing desk given toMrs. Jordan by PresidentJuan Vicente Gomez ofVenezuela; a camel bladderlamp given to the Jordan’sby Sheikh Ahmad al-Jabiral-Sabah; a stand given toMrs. Jordan by the President of Syria; and an inkstand used by King GeorgeIII of England.WRITE ON — This 20th centurywriting desk was given to Mrs.Jordan by President Gomez ofVenezuela on a business trip.Several items in the collection, including a crown pin,a diamond trimmed vanitycase, a red scarf and twinhandkerchiefs, were givento Mrs. Jordan from QueenElizabeth II of England. Thetwo developed a close relationship over decades ofvisits. The red scarf wasgiven to Mrs. Jordan toContinued on page 4

3Jordan Journeys/Fall 2012From Our Members What is your favoritepiece in the JordanCollection?“I love the wood carvedtables and stools in thecenter of the room. Thecarving is beautiful and intricate.”—Claire Casey ‘15“I like the camel bladderlamp shade. It is superunique and it shows howmuch the Jordan’s wereappreciated because it issuch an intricate gift.”—Arlean Dawes ‘15“I like the writing desk because of the story behind it.It is proof that extraordinary things are waiting everywhere for those who arewilling to work.”—Alexandra Summers ‘15“I love the from the Pope.It’s special to me since I’mCatholic.”—Nia Johnson ‘15“I think the hookah is interesting because it is a representation of the diversity ofthe lands the Jordan’s visited.”—Austin Mendenhall ‘15“The trip you areabout to take is goingto impact your lifemore than yourealize.”—Caleb Hobart ‘08A Conversation With Caleb Hobart on His ILAP China ExperienceTell us a little aboutyourself.Howdy! I am the proudestmember of the Fightin’Texas Aggie Class of2008! I studied financeand after completing thelargest capital allocation inhistory of 30 billion afterthree and a half years atTeacher Retirement Systemof Texas, I have transitioned to a managementconsulting opportunity servicing NGO clients in Bangalore, India.What was one of yourfavorite things you didwhile abroad in China?Hands down it was eatingand drinking with Chinesein local contexts. You learneverything from how a professional to a friend interacts with you and you receive such a unique snapshot of the culture. Eatingand drinking will establishlong-term relationships.What did you gain bygoing abroad throughour ILAP program?I obtained a close look atthe Ministry of Educationof the Peoples Republic ofthe China, gaining insightinto how a Communistcountry operates their education system. Educationis where change begins,and I met the people spearheading that change inChina. It was absolutelyfabulous!What are some interesting things youlearned about Chineseculture and society?I had no idea of the value ofdrinking baijiu or whitewhiskey. Since my travelswith ILAP, I have participated in US-China conferences across the world con-cerning topic specific matters ranging from venturecapital, real estate, privateequity and start-up culture . The Chinese counterparts at each of these placesknew the culture of drinking baijiu. China has taughtme the importance of knowing how to give a toast toget things done.What would you stilllike to experience or seeor China?I would love to tour more ofthe large scale infrastructure projects. These are historic in scope and the holistic impact they have on society will provide incredibleinsight to the complexity ofState level decisions andhow they impact local municipalities in an emergingcountry. Additionally, someof their clean energy projects are world class in quality and scale. Clean energyis a fascinating topic and isone place where I thinkChina could demonstratereal global leadership.How has your opinionof Chinese culture andsociety changed sinceyou’ve seen it firsthand?China has only grown inlove within my heart. Theyare a fascinating mystery inthe way they operate as aculture and society! Themain thing that haschanged is my understanding of economic zoning inChina.If you could create a“guidebook” based offof your experienceswhile in China, what aresome tourist tips andtricks that would youlist?The only tip I would have isCaleb Hobart ‘08 traveled withthe Jordan Institute’s ILAP program to China, where he gainedinsight into the Chinese educational system through obtaininga close look at the Ministry ofEducation of the Peoples Republic of China.to memorize one MichaelJackson song for karaokeand be ready to perform itwith a couple of snazzydance moves. It will behelpful to your professionalrelationships, your sociallife, and of course will be agreat memory. Be bold inasking questions and don’tfear making any culturalmistakes. It is important togrow in self-awareness andit is helpful to look f

A Night To Remember Institute’s 25th Anniversary Calls for Celebratory Gala IN APPRECIATION— Keynote speaker Dr. Joshua Siepel was awarded a plaque to honor his contributions to the Jordan Inst