International humanitarian Alison Thompson, along with Fulbright foreign language teaching assistants, Bahia Braktia from Algeria and Ayumi Yamamoto from Japan, made presentations. Maria Cristina Santana, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Studies Program, moderated the forum.

The event, which was organized by the 麻豆原创 Global Perspectives Office, was the sixth annual forum on Women and Leadership: A Global Perspective. More than 100 people heard how each of these women has grown as a leader through service to others.聽聽

Yamamoto attributed her growth as a teacher and leader to a trip to Cambodia, where she saw many children who did not have the access or the ability to attend school. In Japan, where she was an English teacher, Yamamoto felt her students did not seem to care about their education. When she shared the story about Cambodia with her Japanese students, however, Yamamoto said she saw a change in them and their study habits. It was that point that she realized how a teacher鈥檚 rich experiences could broaden students鈥� horizons.

Braktia described her experience with breaking down barriers for herself and others like her as a testament to leadership. She suggested that despite women鈥檚 active role in achieving Algeria鈥檚 independence half a century ago, they are often regarded as 鈥渢oo fragile to take care of themselves.鈥�

After initially encountering resistance from certain family members who doubted her ability to succeed as a teacher in her third language, English, Braktia described how circumstances have changed, including a request from her brother to help a friend with her own Fulbright application. At that moment, Braktia said, she realized that her journey was inspiring others to take the initiative.

Unlike Yamamoto and Braktia, who both mentioned that they did not consider themselves leaders until they saw the effects they were having on others, Thompson suggested that being a leader sometimes requires simply stepping up when no one else does.

鈥淚t鈥檚 being in the wrong place at the right time,鈥� she said, as she reflected on helping treat wounds and provide relief at ground zero in New York City on September 11, 2001. Thompson stressed that anyone can take that first step, suggesting that 鈥測ou don鈥檛 need a master鈥檚 degree to hand out water or hold someone鈥檚 hand.鈥�

Drawing parallels between her aid work at the World Trade Center, in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami, and in Haiti after that country suffered an earthquake in 2010, Thompson marveled that 鈥減eople find themselves when they volunteer.鈥� She mentioned in her book, 鈥淭he Third Wave,鈥� that 鈥渟aving lives used to be the turf of superheroes and comic strip characters, but now we know that anyone can do it.鈥�

Thompson said the key to reaching out is to start small and do what makes sense. She urged the audience to put their thoughts into action, and action into improvement.

鈥淒are to reinvent the world,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause the future, more than ever, needs your help.鈥�

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners included Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay Garner, 麻豆原创 Student Government Association, 麻豆原创 Women鈥檚 Studies Program, 麻豆原创 Center for Success of Women Faculty, 麻豆原创 Burnett Honors College, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, 麻豆原创 LIFE, 麻豆原创 Book Festival 2013 in Association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.

Presentations will be given by international humanitarian Alison Thompson and two Fulbright foreign language teaching assistants, Bahia Braktia from Algeria and Ayumi Yamamoto from Japan. The forum will be moderated by Maria Cristina Santana, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Studies Program.

Thompson鈥檚 international volunteer work earned her the Order of Australia, the highest civilian medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II of England. Her documentary film, The Third Wave, focuses on her experience volunteering in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami. It premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival in New York and was shown at at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

Braktia and Yamamoto are teaching Arabic and Japanese, respectively, this year at 麻豆原创. Both host periodic cultural events that help students learn more about language and culture outside the United States.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners of this forum include Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay Garner, 麻豆原创 Student Government Association, 麻豆原创 Women’s Studies Program, 麻豆原创 Women’s Research Center, 麻豆原创 Burnett Honors College, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, 麻豆原创 Political Science Department, 麻豆原创 LIFE, 麻豆原创 Book Festival 2013 in Association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.

The presentations are part of the office鈥檚 mission to sharpen 麻豆原创鈥檚 international focus. Global Perspectives recently celebrated 10 years of advancing global initiatives at the university and is entering its second decade with a robust programming schedule.

Each event connects to the office鈥檚 annual theme for 2012-2013, 鈥淭he Changing Face of Freedom in Today鈥檚 Turbulent Times.鈥� The theme is a natural development from last year鈥檚: 鈥淧eople Power, Politics and Global Change.鈥�

Kicking off the season are two speakers who soften serious observations about political crises with a bit of humor. Doug McMarlin and Jason Recher will share their experiences as conservative political strategists and former White House aides. Drawing from their inside look at how the White House handles national and global crises, the duo will discuss lessons for political leaders.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 聽4, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the 麻豆原创 Student Union.

This semester鈥檚 other highlights, which are free and open to the public, include:

For a full list of upcoming events or to learn more about the Global Perspectives Office, visit .