Dr. Luchen Li and Luis Fernando Covatti.
“Ciencias Sem Fronteiras”. " Science Without Borders".
Dr. Luchen Li serves as the Associate Dean of Global Programs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This science and engineering school, set in the Midwest of the United States, has been ranked # 1 of all colleges of this size for 14 consecutive years. The caliber of education that is provided by Rose-Hulman makes this school the perfect place to gather some of the finest math and science and engineering students from Brazil. Dr. Li has encouraged and facilitated Rose-Hulman participation in the"Ciencias Sem Fronteiras" which is the initiative by the Brazilian government to send science and engineering students abroad and repatriate them with expanded cultural and educational experiences.
Dr. Luchen Li is an International Educator and a Steinbeck Scholar
Having received his education in China and the United States and then taught at universities in both cultures, Dr. Luchen Li has a broad experience in academic disciplines and deep knowledge of international education. Li has demonstrated leadership in building successful international programs for collaborative research, recruitment, study abroad, and student exchange. As Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's first associate dean of global programs, Dr. Li leads the charge toward a more globally-focused educational experience, reaching out to increase international collaboration, and fostering a culturally-enhanced worldview to Rose-Hulman students, faculty and staff members.
Luchen is currently providing leadership and support in developing an institute-wide plan and to formulate and implement strategic initiatives for its global programs. He is coordinating with academic departments to develop international programs for their respective disciplines. He is also leading efforts to promote global and cultural activities such as study abroad and institutional global outreach, and helping with international admissions and international student services at RHIT.
With a track record of performance in international education and extensive experience in academics, Dr. Li has been invited as a keynote speaker to share his experience and philosophy in international education and cross-cultural understandings at national and international symposiums and conferences.
Li is committed to engaging all stakeholders of institutions and the broader regional areas in mapping out the global strategies to best serve the diverse needs and goals of each unit of the Institute. He believes that the Institute's dedication to enhancing and enriching global programs is in line with institutional missions to graduate leaders who can impact the world.
As a scholar, he has published in a number of publications, including books John Steinbeck's Global Dimensions, John Steinbeck: A Documentary Volume, Critical Companion to John Steinbeck, and numerous book chapters and articles in literary and cultural studies. Professor Li serves as Vice President of the John Steinbeck Society of America and is an editorial contributor of the Steinbeck Review.
Luis Fernando Covatti
Luis Fernando Pelaez Covatti comes to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology through the national program "Ciencias Sem Fronteiras". Because of his engineering studies at Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianopolis and his desire to tackle the competitive rigors of this national program, he earned the privilege to study for one year in the States at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This educational initiative by the Brazilian government prepares Brazilian students to be leaders at home in math science and engineering with a view to global considerations. Luis is one of seventeen students who currently attend Rose-Hulman through this Brazilian government program.
Luis Fernando Pelaez Covatti was born in Santana do Livramento, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, right on the border with Uruguay.
He started college in March/2007, at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Florianopolis, studying Control and Automation Engineering. During college, was the president of the Junior Enterprise of his major at UFSC (AutoJun) and leader of the Training of Professionals program of the CERTI Foundation, which won the FINEP National Technology Innovation Award in 2009. His first time in the USA was in 2008, during a 3 months' work-experience program at Squaw Valley Ski Corp, in California.
During the fourth year of college, spent 10 months in Aachen, Germany, working as intern at the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV), at the North Rhine-Westphalia Technical University (RWTH). In the end of the fifth year, was approved for the national program Science Without Borders, coming to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) in March/2012, for a one-year exchange program. During the 2012 summer break, worked at the Physics and Optical Engineering Department at RHIT, in the Smart-Lighting Research Group.
His graduation in Brazil is expected to be in August/2013.
