Webster World Report

The Webster World Report podcast takes a look back at the past 61 weeks of the pandemic in this edition, that includes selected interviews recorded since March of 2020. These were the interviews that proved to be the most popular with the program’s global audience. The themes include: views of the pandemic from Uzbekistan; a nursing faculty member and a nursing student reflect on their experiences in the pandemic; and Webster’s international relations experts discuss the pandemic’s effects on global politics and diplomacy. This is the 22nd episode of the Webster World Report podcast, a monthly magazine program linking Webster University’s global operations during this time of various crises. The news segment of the program covers highlights from Webster University’s 102nd Commencement Ceremony, including a short excerpt from Jackie Joyner-Kersee's Commencement Address, along with other important news from the previous month. Interviews include: Malika Baratova, Public Relations Executive, Webster University Tashkent; Maggie Dankert, Deputy Director Webster University Tashkent; Prof. Jody Spiess, Nursing faculty member, main campus; Nursing student Charlie Johnson, College of Arts & Sciences; Prof. Kelly-Kate Pease, international relations, College of Arts & Sciences; and Prof. Jozef Batora, Webster Vienna Private University.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Tara Graves, announcer.

The graphic is from the U.S. federal government and is in the public domain.

The Webster World Report podcast marks its one-year anniversary with a program centered on the pandemic experience of Webster University’s alumni and students. On this 21st episode of the program, alumna Elizabeth Bland, a staff educator at Missouri Baptist Hospital recounts her experience as a nurse on the frontlines, supporting patients with COVID-19 and supporting hospital staff in how they cope with the coronavirus pandemic.  This is the concluding part of a series of discussions with Bland. (She is a graduate of the award-winning Masters of Science in Nursing program at Webster.) The program also concludes its two-part interview with student Yatina Katunga from Zimbabwe who is working on her graduate degree in information technology management. This discussion focuses on the issues facing women in tech fields. The Webster World Report is a monthly magazine program linking Webster University’s global operations during this time of various crises. The news segment of the program covers the latest collaboration between Webster University and the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) among other stories that feature various areas of Webster’s global network.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The graphic is from a government agency in California and is in the public domain.

On the 20th episode of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during a time of crises, the program features an in-depth discussion of how the university community has coped with the coronavirus pandemic, and the program also features the views of a graduate student about opportunities in STEM fields. The program includes the second part of a wide-ranging discussion with Webster’s President Julian Z. Schuster. Graduate student Yatina Katunga from Zimbabwe also gives her views about opportunities for women in technology.  The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the recent Sixth Annual Webster University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference, among a variety of other university news items.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

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Webster World Report No. 19, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during a time of crises, features a program that goes back to themes covered during the podcast’s origins: how the community is coping with the coronavirus pandemic and the view of medical professionals about the public health threat. The program features the first part of an in-depth interview with Webster’s President Julian Z. Schuster and the program also features the first part of an interview with alumna Elizabeth Bland, a nurse and staff educator at Missouri Baptist Hospital. The news segment of the program include excerpts from the university’s Spring Convocation among a variety of other items.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The graphic is from the Department of Defense and is in the public domain.

On Webster World Report No. 18, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features an interview with Webster University’s Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. The interviews covers a wide variety of topics including goals for 2021 and lessons learned from 2020, and with a spotlight on one of the chancellor’s important global projects: bringing more attention to violence and discrimination aimed at women. She discusses her work with the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), its next global summit on Feb. 11, and the ARDN Red Card Project. The program also features an interview with Polina Flenova, a student studying at Webster University Geneva: she discusses how she as a Russian is learning to be a global citizen. The news segment of the program features an excerpt from the confirmation hearing of Gen. Lloyd Austin, a Webster alumnus and the new Secretary of Defense, along with a variety of other highlights from the past six weeks.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The graphic is from the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) and is used with permission.

On Webster World Report No. 17, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features an interview with Webster University Alumni Association President Alexandria McCuien about diversity issues in the technology sector (the second of two parts) and also an in-depth discussion with Beijing Site Representative Candice Zhao about Webster’s operations in China. The program’s news segment also features an excerpt from the latest Webster Speaks webinar series on diversity and equity issues, along with an excerpt from the Webster Writers Series, sponsored by the English Department, this time highlighting African American poets.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The photo is from Webster University China and is copyright Webster University.

On the sixteenth edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, the program features in-depth discussions with faculty experts and a student about how they see the presidential election in the United States and what they think of the aftermath. This special hour-long version of the program features a panel discussion with Prof. Gwyneth Williams and Prof. Bill Hall analyzing the election and giving a forecast of what is likely ahead. The program also includes an interview with Suggs Scholar Tekoa Bell. The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the recent Webster Speaks program entitled “My Journey Toward Becoming an Anti-Racist,” which included Rob Good, a facilitator in the Witnessing Whiteness program and Hannah Verity, the director of global program development at Webster University, and more.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The photo is from ShutterStock using a Webster University license; acquired with permission. 

Program #15 of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, features a deep dive into the philosophy of teaching. The program includes Julie Smith of the School of Communications discussing her new book: “Wake ‘Em Up: Supercharge Your Classroom Engagement.” The program also features the second part of an in-depth discussion with Associate Vice President Michelle Loyet, the director of the Online Learning Center (OLC) on the philosophical approaches to creating and teaching online courses, a topic that has gained even more importance during the pandemic. The news segment of the program includes: excerpts from a panel on U.S. politics that featured Prof. Gwyneth Williams; coverage of the School of Communications’ conference on health communications; highlights from the “Webster Speaks” video series on race and equity issues from October; and more.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

Jessica Battle is seen in the photo. The photo is by Webster University Manager of Photographic Services Inocencio Boc and is the copyrighted material of Webster University.

The 14th edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, features a discussion among two of the University’s experts on political science, analyzing the state of the presidential election in the U.S.  Topics covered in the discussion included: the condition of democracy in the U.S.; the role of race and racism in U.S. political discourse; and a historical perspective of elections during crisis periods. Expert guests include: Professors Bill Hall and Gwyneth Williams. The news segment of the program includes excerpts from the Women of the Diaspora Global Virtual Summit that featured both Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and Director of the Geneva Campus Clementina Acedo. The news segment also features highlights from the “Webster Speaks” video series.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Tara Graves, announcer.

The photo illustrating this podcast is from the Commission on Presidential Debates and is in the public domain.

The 13th edition of the Webster World Report, the discussion linking Webster University’s global operations during this year of crises, includes a panel of international relations experts from three different continents, all of whom are professors in the Webster worldwide system. This expert panel discusses how the pandemic is changing the global order. Other topics included how U.S. international relations have changed during the Trump administration and the role of the United Nations in examinations of police brutality. The international relations professors include: Kelly-Kate Pease from the main campus in Webster Groves, MO; Robin Ramcharan from Webster University Thailand; and Jozef Batora from Webster Vienna Private University. The program also features the perspectives of Erika Gavilanes, an international student from Ecuador studying in the U.S. The news segment of the program features highlights from the opening Convocation of the Fall Semester, and excerpts from the new “Webster Speaks” series, discussing racial issues in the media, and how Black athletes cope with racism in the U.S.

Executive Producer/Host: Rick Rockwell. Staff: Jennifer Gammage, associate producer; Tierra Gray, newscaster; and Jennifer Starkey, announcer.

The photo illustrating this podcast is from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is in the public domain.