Drawn to Columbia: Medellin Prof. Ana-María Suárez, Dean Terry Hynes and a student during Spring Break 2005.
Gained in translation
During spring break last year, Dean Terry Hynes and public relations Assistant Prof. Juan-Carlos Molleda traveled to an exotic location accompanied by machinegun-toting, motorcycle-riding guards.
The armed escort led their car from Colombia’s Cordova Airport to the Universidad de Medellin, where Hynes delivered a presentation about public relations to 200 people. “She introduced the speech in Spanish,” Molleda said. “We practiced it.”
During their five-day stay, Hynes and Molleda participated in the celebration of the Medellin College of Communications’ 10th anniversary. The city, he said, loses its fear factor “once you’re in it.”
Dean Luis-Mariano González and Prof. Ana-María Suárez returned the visit last month. They attended the College’s annual student awards banquet and toured Weimer Hall. Suárez also presented “The Perceived Communication Needs of Productive Organizations in Colombia” to faculty members and students. Molleda and Assistant Prof. Belio Martinez translated.
–Boaz Dvir
