SoCJ’s Colvin Center Hosts Visiting Scholars from Cambodia, Slovakia

The Marie Colvin Center for International Reportingat the School of Communication and Journalism(SoCJ) will host two visiting fellows this fall.

The scholars are part of an international program designed to enhance fellows' media, communications and leadership skills to address economic, environmental, political and social challenges in their home countries. This is the Colvin Center's fourth year as a host in this program.

Vuochleang Uon is a former communications and media coordinator for the non-profit Coalition for Partnership in Democratic Development. The coalition advocates for civic engagement and democracy in Cambodia.

"Communication is a powerful way to inspire people and also bring people together," said Uon. "Through this fellowship, I hope to develop skills that I can implement into my project, so I can inspire people to engage more efficiently in the democratic process in Cambodia."

Uon's community action project is designed to strengthen democratic engagement in Cambodia by equipping high school and university students with media literacy skills, such as identifying misinformation, as well as fostering participation in the governance process. She will develop her project during her time at Stony Brook.

Zuzana Grochalova' is a former community/project coordinator and fundraiser for the anti-corruption NGO, Transparency International Slovakia. At Stony Brook, Zuzana will develop her community action project that will combine civic education, public awareness and historical reflection on pivotal moments in the fight for transparency and public accountability. The project will create a series of walking tours in Bratislava, Slovakia and potentially expand to Slovak towns.

"I am very thankful and grateful for this opportunity to come and learn from the best practices the U.S. has to offer," said Grochalova'. "I want to pick up the cherries from those and make a delightful, juicy cake to bring back home that people could benefit from."

"The Colvin Center is thrilled to welcome Vuochleang and Zuzana to Stony Brook," said Sarah Baxter, director of the Colvin Center and a visiting professor of foreign reporting. "Hosting visiting international scholars is an important part of our mission to train the next generation of foreign correspondents. Their expertise offers a wonderful chance for our students to learn about Slovakia and Cambodia and for us to share our knowledge of communications and journalism in the U.S. with them."

The program also reflects the broader mission of the School of Communication and Journalism to foster global perspectives in media education. "Sarah and the Colvin Center team have done exceptional work in building these international partnerships," said Stephanie Kelton, interim dean of the School of Communication and Journalism. "When we bring together emerging leaders from around the world with our students and faculty, we create meaningful exchanges that benefit our entire community. Vuochleang and Zuzana's work in promoting democracy and transparency aligns perfectly with the values we strive to instill in our future journalists and communicators."

The two media professionals will be at Stony Brook until November. They then will spend a week in Washington D.C. as part of the program before returning home in December.

Grochalova' and Uon have come to Stony Brook through the IREX Community Solutions Program, an international fellowship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government, and supported in its implementation by IREX.

The Community Solutions Program aids human development by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions and extending access to quality education and information.

Previously, the Colvin Center hosted visitors from Indonesia, the West Bank, Nepal, Ukraine and Moldova. Following the visits, SoCJ students were able to visit and report from Nepaland Moldova.