Ortega to head new international living/learning community

Isaac "Morty" Ortega, an associate professor of wildlife ecology in the Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering, has been named director of UConn's new global living/learning community.

The living/learning community, to be known as Global House, will open in the fall.

A residential unit of up to 80 students, located in McMahon, Global House will bring together U.S. students interested in learning about global society and other cultures, and international students attending UConn.

"Being international myself," says Ortega, "this is close to my heart. I'm interested in creating a community that's more diverse, and more respectful of the international arena."

Ortega joined the UConn faculty in 1997. Originally from Chile, he earned his M.S. at Iowa State University and his Ph.D. at Texas Tech University.

He regularly takes groups of students to Patagonia, Chile, to do ecological research. He also teaches UConn students about African field ecology during three-week courses in South Africa.

Veronica Makowsky, vice provost for undergraduate education and instruction, says Ortega is well suited to the position, both because of his own experience as an international student, and as a faculty member who works with international students and with American students he's taken abroad.

"He has a deep commitment to international education and great enthusiasm for it, and the energy and drive to make it happen," she adds. "He's a man with a mission."

Makowsky says internationalization is a "major plank" of the Provost's new academic plan.

The global living/learning community was one of the recommendations of a task force created by the Provost to develop strategies to help UConn students develop a global outlook.