Emory Report

August 7, 2000

 Volume 52, No. 39

Focus: International Affairs

Veteran law professor takes on interim duty

Elizabeth Kurylo is communications coorinator for the Office of International Affairs and the Halle Institute for Global Learning.

Thomas Arthur, a law school professor who has worked behind the scenes for many years to enhance internationalism across campus, will serve as the interim vice provost for international affairs.

Arthur has been on the Emory faculty since 1982 and was a charter member of the International Affairs Council (IAC). In his new position, he also will act as interim director of the Halle Institute for Global Learning. In both jobs, he succeeds Marion Creekmore, who retired in June.

Arthur was associate dean of the law school from 1989-1997. Three times during his tenure he has taught U.S. law overseas: twice in Moscow and once in Dresden, Germany. He is an expert on antitrust law, administrative and constitutional law, and civil procedure. He practiced law for 11 years at a Washington, D.C., firm before joining the Emory faculty.

As a member of the IAC, Arthur was instrumental in helping to create the University's internationalization strategy. He also chaired the University Fund for Internationalization that for the past three years has distributed grants for programs and proposals that enhanced internationalism across campus.

Arthur said he hopes to continue the Halle Institute's momentum. Over the last few years, Creekmore initiated a series of international guest speakers, hosted a prominent Halle fellow from India and recently took a group of faculty members to Germany for a study trip.

"The Germany trip was such a success that we'd like to have another one next May or June," Arthur said. He also hopes to invite another Halle Distinguished Fellow to campus next year, in addition to guest speakers. The first guest speaker will be Susan Stern, an author who met with the faculty in Germany. She is planning to visit Emory in late September, Arthur said.

He also noted that the research seminar led by Halle Professor Thomas Remington will continue next year.

Arthur said one of his primary tasks is to continue the University's efforts to enhance internationalism on campus. He said he is happy with the progress made so far.

"The consciousness has been raised. There are concrete programs going on in the schools," he said. "The question now is what to do next and how to do it right. We don't want to duplicate efforts or get in the way of the work of the various schools and units.


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