Jim Handy

J. W. George Ivany Internationalization Award - Fall 2003

The J. W. George Ivany Internationalization Award was established to recognize a faculty or staff member's extraordinary contributions toward the internationalization of the University of Saskatchewan. The fall 2003 winner is Professor Jim Handy from the Department of History, College of Arts and Science.

Professor Handy obtained his BA and MA from the University of Waterloo, followed by his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. He joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1986 as an Assistant Professor of History. Jim's research is explicitly interdisciplinary and cross-cultural. He works collaboratively with local organizations and universities throughout Central America on environmental history, indigenous movements, and international relations.

During his 17 years here, Jim Handy has been a champion of international initiatives and has made a significant contribution to the University's international profile. The list of Dr. Handy's contributions is long, but there are three achievements that deserve special mention. First, as the Coordinator of the International Studies program, he enhanced opportunities for students to work in international settings and helped build the program to the point that students now flock into it.

Second, Professor Handy established the Guatemala Term Abroad program, which gives students a four-month opportunity to study in that country and allows them to experience how local and global processes play out throughout Guatemala.

Third, Jim saw the need for a University-wide mission statement on internationalization. He gathered together key individuals on campus to develop the statement, which was subsequently approved by the University Council in 2000. That mission statement has, in turn, had an impact on the content of President MacKinnon's Strategic Directions statement, the Enrolment Plan, and the Internationalization foundational document.

In addition to his University work, Dr. Handy served two terms as President of the Canadian Association for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) from 1997-2001. CALACS is one of the largest area studies association in Canada.

Jim's commitment to international and intercultural scholarship is widely recognized within the University and the international community. He is most deserving of this award.