THE UNIVERSITY HAILY KANSAN
MONDAY NOVEMBER 17,2008
6A NEWS
Alumna climbs to Forbes' No.5
SPEAKER
BY JOE PREINER
jpreiner@kansan.com
When Cynthia Carroll visited Skidmore College in New York as a senior in high school, science was near the bottom of her list of academic interests.
She said she asked her tour guide one question: "I heard there is a science requirement," Carroll said. "How do I get it over with?"
Carroll chose geology to fill that requirement because she heard it was easy. Four years later she graduated as a geology major and was on her way to the University of Kansas for graduate school.
Carroll, who received her master's degree in geology from the University in 1982, currently ranks No. 5 in Forbes Magazine's top 100 most powerful women in the world. In the spring of 2007, she became the first woman Chief Executive of Anglo American, one of the world's
leading mining companies. Carroll, who also received a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University, was on campus at the University Friday to meet with students in the business school and speak about the role a corporation like hers plays in the world market.
Carroll's status among women in business has risen from No. 7 last year to No. 5 in 2008. Despite her success, she said she remained focused on her duties as CEO of a multi-national corporation as well as a mother of four.
"I don't spend a lot of time thinking about these things," Carroll said. "I never set out a game plan. I never said I wanted to be at such and such a level. I just try to do the best I can at any given time."
Anglo American operates in 45 countries around the globe. It is the world's leading producer of both platinum and, through its 45 percent share of De Beers,
diamonds. Although Carroll runs many aspects of De Beers, she said the position within Anglo American and title of fifth most powerful woman in the world didn't come with any diamond-studded perks.
"I don't own a lot of that kind of jewelry," Carroll said, "When I go to De Beers events with my husband, the De Beers marketing person is always running over to us asking, 'Where are the diamonds?' I own a little, but not a lot."
Carroll spoke to a nearly-full auditorium in the Spine Museum of Art Friday afternoon. Her presentation, "The Role and Responsibility of the Multi-National Corporation," detailed many of her company's efforts to stay ahead of the curve when dealing with energy and environmental issues.
The presentation spurred discussion on the impact of the economy on Carroll's company. Jason
Hering, Hutchinson senior and president of Ecojustice, said Carroll presented herself in a manner fitting of the CEO of a world-leading company.
"Being a leader doesn't mean all that much," Hering said. "It means you're better than the rest, but in the industry the rest aren't that good."
Carroll said she realized she could be viewed as a role model for younger women. Her advice to students was to keep an open mind to career possibilities and try different subjects as she did.
In the latest edition of Forbes Magazine, Carroll was described as a force to be reckoned with within the realm of world governments. Chancellor Robert Hemenway agreed.
"Of course she is." Hemenay said. "She's a Jayawk."
MULTICULTURALISM
— Edited by Ramsey Cox
Week celebrates international education
BY BETSY CUTCLIFF bcutcliff@kansan.com
Workshops and events promoting international education abound this week as part of the U.S Department of Education's ninth annual International Education Week.
This week, the University will play host to 27 scheduled events. Celeste Morgan Yaluk, International Program assistant, said the goal for the week was to encourage students to expand their horizons and strive to learn more about international customs and affairs.
"We live in a very global world, and this week is to attract KU's future leaders to become interested in our international programs here and abroad," Yulak said.
The U.S. Departments of
Education and State dedicated this week to spreading awareness about global affairs and encouraging students to participate in international programs. This year's theme is "International Education; Fostering Global Responsibility and Leadership."
Some of the University's programs are held annually. This year, new events include "International Trivia Night" and "Peace Pole Rededication Ceremony." The Office of Study Abroad is also holding a forum on multicultural students' experiences abroad.
Robert Lopez, outreach coordinator for the Office of Study Abroad, said studying abroad was the best way to learn a new language and also prepare students for the outside world.
Megan McGinnis, Kansas City, Kan., law student, spent last summer studying international law in Istanbul, Turkey. She said being
exposed to the cultural differences was one of the most beneficial things about studying there. She was surprised that some Turkish law students believed in keeping church and state separate. This has became a more controversial issue in Turkey after Abdullah Gul was elected the country's first political Islamist president since the secular republic's creation in 1923. Allowing women to wear head scarves in government buildings has sparked controversy in recent years.
"One big issue we talked about was allowing women to wear head scarves in government buildings," McGinnis said. "American students were more on the side of allowing it for freedom of expression, but the Turkish students were more on the side of not allowing any expression of religion when it comes to the government."
Lopez said it was these kinds of experiences that would make a
difference on résumés and in interviews because employers looked for intercultural communication skills and knowledge of global events.
According to the Office of Study Abroad, during the 2006-07 school year, the University sent 1,385 students to 66 countries all over the world. The University welcomed its first international students in the late 1800s and continues expanding its programs year after year.
Joe Potts, director of International Student and Scholar Services, said the University also emphasized integrating foreign students. He said that practice gave students a better chance at taking home culture as well as knowledge. The weeklong orientation at the beginning of each semester gives international students a chance to socially network and get settled before starting classes.