Left to Right: Dr. Bardsley; Dr. Polka; Dr. Calzi; Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, Acting Bishop Of Munsters, Germany; Mr. Green; Dr. Iannarelli; Dr. Vermette, Keynote speaker; Dr. William Middendorf, Superintendent of the Catholic Schools, Germany; Dr. Erwin

Several College of Education faculty members presented at the second annual “International Educational Leadership Conference on Learning, Teaching, Leading, and School Development,” from July 9-12, 2008, in Muenster, Germany. This international conference was hosted by the University of Muenster and included participants from Niagara University, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and India. Dr. Paul Vermette presented the opening keynote session, “Because it Matters: ENGAGING Teens in their Own Learning.” Dr. Frank Calzi, Dr. Leticia Hahn, Dr. Robin Erwin, Dr. Barbara Iannarelli, Dr. Walter Polka, Dr. Mary Ellen Bardsley, Jason Blokhuis, and Norman Green also presented at the conference. A highlight of the trip was a meeting and discussion with the acting Bishop of Muenster, Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck, with topics including co-operative learning and Catholic K-12 education in Germany.

The international leadership conference was established at Niagara University in summer 2007. The third annual conference will be held in Europe in fall 2009. In addition, an international leadership course was offered on campus this summer with leaders from Germany attending and studying with Niagara University professors. A focus on international partnerships is resulting in the development of new courses to address international issues in education, expansion of study-abroad programs for Niagara University students, and in collaborative research.