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I-House welcomes students for the academic year

The I-House Connection

August 2017

I-House welcomes students for the academic year

Golden Bear

I-House is pleased to welcome 590 residents this fall—our largest number in recent memory for the academic year. Residents from over 75 countries will be moving into their new home starting on August 17th. That same week, over 2,400 incoming first year and transfer students will have the chance to experience the cuisine in our Dining Commons during the first ever Golden Bear Orientation initiativGolden Bear Orientatione. All new incoming residents and participants will get to experience I-House’s hospitality and learn what life is like under the dome. Go Bears!


I-House turns 87 on August 18th and you can join in the fun!

I-Love I-House stickerTo commemorate our 87th birthday on August 18th, we are collecting stories to add to our I-House Stories website. To share your story, click here. We will mail an “I Love I-House” sticker for each submission during the month of August!

When you receive your sticker, take a selfie holding it and write a post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram about why you love International House. Tag I-House and include the hashtag #iloveihouse. All posts submitted by August 31, 2017 will be entered for a chance to win I-House swag.


Forge memorable relationships with an international resident as a host family

Jasmine Hui and her host mom

Jasmine Hui with her host mom

I-House is announcing the return of the Host Family Program. It was created to forge memorable relationships between international students and local families through the simple, but invaluable, gift of hospitality. Every year our amazing volunteers and friends of I-House occasionally host one or more students for a dinner, a mini trip, an evening of conversation, or a game night. The goal is to ease the international students’ transition to their new country and to help them understand the local East Bay community and way of life. Host Families offer so much more that can be shared: beautiful memories, cultural revelations, new perspectives on life, surprises, fun, and friendship. The commitment is minimal but the rewards are great.

Learn more about this special program and apply on the Host Family Program webpage.

Host Family Program Kick-off Reception

Join us on Sunday, September 17th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm for the kick-off event for all participating hosts and residents.  It is also a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the program. Please RSVP by emailing Gemma Givens at ggivens@berkeley.edu.


I-House remembers Marian Diamond

Dr. Marian Diamond enjoys the presentation at the 2016 Gala

Marian Diamond at the 2016 International House Gala

We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our most notable alumni, Marian Cleeves Diamond (IH 1949-52), who died on July 25th at the age of 90 at her home in Oakland. She was world-renowned for her groundbreaking discoveries including the impact of an enriched environment on brain development. Professor Diamond started her love affair with the brain as the first female student in UC Berkeley’s Department of Anatomy in 1948. During her time as a Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Diamond discovered her passion for teaching. Fifty-five years and more than 60,000 students later, Dr. Diamond’s lectures remain some of the most revelatory ever presented at UC Berkeley. She would begin every year the same —by pulling a real, pickled brain out of her trademark hat box. Now a YouTube sensation, her lectures have been viewed almost one million times by eager learners around the world.

Marian Diamond was honored with the I-House Alumni Faculty Award at our 2016 I-House Gala for advancing the principles of International House every day. She certainly made a big impact here, and she will be missed.

Learn more in the Berkeley News piece, Marian Diamond, known for studies of Einstein’s brain, dies at 90.


In case you missed it

2017 Gala Honorees Dean Shankar Sastry, Dr. Arlene Blum, and Sir Desmond Rea

2017 Gala Honorees Dean Shankar Sastry, Dr. Arlene Blum, and Sir Desmond Rea

I-House’s 29th Annual Celebration and Awards Gala was an inspiring evening of laughter, memories, and recognition. This year’s Gala was truly a celebration of our I-House residents, alumni, and mission of promoting a world of greater peace and understanding through friendship. It was a most memorable evening honoring Sir Desmond Rea (IH 1966-67) as our Global Ambassador of Peace and Inspiration, Dr. Arlene Blum (IH 1967-68) as our Alumna of the Year, and Dean S. Shankar Sastry (IH 1977-78) as the Distinguished Alumni Professor of the Year.

You can find more details and photos of the event on our Gala 2017 page. We look forward to welcoming alumni and friends to next year’s Gala!


I-House alumni reunions

Families enjoyed the tour of I-House

Families enjoyed seeing familiar hallways on the tour of I-House

A group of more than 40 I-House alumni from 1987-1992, known as Uhuru (the Swahili word for freedom), returned to I-House on Saturday, August 5th. Former residents and their families traveled from as far as India and Jordan to gather and reminisce. They enjoyed being at I-House, seeing their old domiciles again, and sharing stories of what it was like to live under the dome.

In attendance were Dr. Hans Giesecke, International House Executive Director, and Joe Lurie, Executive Director Emeritus, for the festive reception followed by dinner in the Dining Commons. A good time was had by all.

If you would like to host a reunion with fellow residents from your same era in the house, please email ihalumni@berkeley.edu.

Uhuru Alumni Reunion on Saturday, August 5, 2017

Uhuru Alumni Reunion on Saturday, August 5, 2017


Calling all alumni!Calling all alumni!

We’re working on the Fall I-House Times Newsletter and would love to hear from you. Email your updates to ihalumni@berkeley.edu. Photos are welcome!


The I-House Development, Alumni Relations & Communications Team looks forward to welcoming you back to I-House. If you’re in the area, please let us know!

Best regards from Berkeley,

I-House LogoI-House Development, Alumni Relations & Communications Team
(510) 642-4128 | ihalumni@berkeley.edu

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