The college’s first Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Mohamed Ghouse Nasuruddin, will be in residence at WVU Parkersburg to teach theatre appreciation during the spring semester. Students enrolled in the course will have an opportunity to learn about Asian as well as Western theatre.

"Dr. Nasuruddin is a talented scholar, playwright, director, choreographer, musician, performer, and lighting designer. He is very well-known in the Southeast Asian region," said Nancy Nanney, chair of WVU Parkersburg’s Humanities Division.

"He is very much looking forward to teaching at WVUP and engaging in an exchange of cultural information and ideas on campus and with the public," she added.

During his five-month visit, Nasuruddin also plans to stage two productions on campus. The first, to be held in February, will be a workshop demonstration of Asian performance techniques, and the second, to be staged in April, will involve students in an East-West dance drama production. He will also be available to give special lecture/demonstrations for interested groups in the community-at-large.

Nasuruddin earned his Ph.D in Drama and Theatre from Indiana University in Bloomington. He regularly teaches at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (the Science University of Malaysia) in Penang.

WVU Parkersburg received a grant from the Fulbright Program to host Professor Nasuruddin. He is one of approximately 800 international faculty and professionals the Fulbright Scholar Program will bring to the United States to teach and do research. The program is designed to build mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries.

Area residents interested in the appreciation class, which will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:45 a.m. beginning January 14, can contact the Humanities Division Office, 424-8301, for additional information.