WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 25, 2015) —Daniel Bryan, a renowned global educator, executive director of the Pachaysana Institute, and an instructor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) in Ecuador, will present two public lectures and a public workshop at Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) between March 2 and 6.
The events and workshop, which all are free and open to the public, are part of the J. Robert Maxwell ’43 Visiting Scholar Series.
“We were lucky to get Mr. Bryan here this semester, during the college’s Integrated Semester on Latin America,” said Kathleen McEvoy, Ph.D., associate professor of English at W&J, and coordinator of Maxwell Series events. “He will be able to provide a highly personal and timely account of modern Latin American culture, politics, and economics.”
Bryan’s first lecture, “A Balancing Act: Comparing Local Realities and Global Interests Between the Ecuadorian Rainforest and the Marcellus Shale Region,” is March 2 at 7 p.m. in Room 100 of the Dieter-Porter Life Sciences Building.
On March 4, Bryan will present “Rehearsing Change: Finding, Telling, and Transforming the Development Story,” at 7 p.m., also in Dieter-Porter 100. He will wrap up his visit on March 6, with a public workshop entitled “Rehearsing Change: Performing Arts and Development,” at 4 p.m. in Yost Auditorium of the Burnett Center.
The lectures and workshop will provide discussion and insight into international issues including community and economic development, fair trade and education, as well as an exploration of biodiversity in the Amazon, and a comparison of the natural gas industry in Ecuador and Pennsylvania.
“The Monday lecture will focus on issues Bryan has witnessed pertaining to the development of the Ecuadorian Amazon, and he hopes to get a high level of audience participation to draw parallels between what is happening in Ecuador and what is happening with the Marcellus Shale right here in Washington County,” McEvoy said. His Wednesday and Friday sessions will be on the myriad ways one can tell the story of a region’s development, and this also promises to be relevant to local issues.”
Born and raised in the United States, Bryan’s education and experiences have given him a global perspective on a variety of issues. Bryan received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tulsa, and a second master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
He then served in the Peace Corps, traveling to Ecuador to develop educational initiatives. Here he founded the Quito Eterno Foundation, an internationally-renowned program that educates tourists about the Ecuadorian identity through theatrical workshops. He also founded the Pachaysana Institute, a non-profit organization which connects local communities with foreigners to facilitate cross-cultural education and community development. Through Pachaysana and USFQ, Bryan developed a study abroad program, “Rehearsing Change: Empowering Locally, Educating Globally,” which integrates students with an Amazonian community, teaching sustainable community projects, social change, and global citizenship.
In addition to his work with the Pachaysana Institute, Bryan also is an adjunct professor of theater at USFQ.
Endowed in 2010, the J. Robert Maxwell ’43 Visiting Scholar Series was created to provide the Washington & Jefferson College community, including students, faculty, staff and interested citizens, access to a wider array of viewpoints, opinions and practices from distinguished and influential leaders.
“The Maxwell Series allows us to bring highly qualified scholars to campus to share their knowledge and experiences with our students and our community,” McEvoy said.
Throughout Maxwell’s life, he was an ardent servant of W&J. He was president of the General Alumni Association and of the Allegheny County Alumni Association, service for which he received the W&J Award of Merit in 1958. He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1965 and served as an active member until he was appointed a Trustee Emeritus in 1985. Maxwell was chairman of numerous board committees, and through his many years of service, provided leadership and guidance with great wisdom and delightful good humor.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work.
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