For the sixth consecutive year Bellevue Community College (BCC) is welcoming an International Scholar in Residence under the auspices of the prestigious Fulbright academic exchange programs of the U.S. State Department.

This year’s Fulbright award has brought Akrem Rebhi, of the North African country of Tunisia, to BCC for the 2008-09 school year.

Rebhi will teach Arabic in the college’s World Languages Department and will also be available as a speaker and resource for the community on topics including Tunisian music, dance and literature.

Rebhi holds a degree in English Linguistics from Tunisia’s Higher Institute of Languages.

He comes to BCC through a grant from the Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistant program.

BCC is one of the first two community colleges ever to be selected to participate in this Fulbright program.

Through its Center for Liberal Arts, BCC has hosted seven International Scholars in Residence.

Previous scholars have come from countries such as Tibet, Nigeria, Brazil, Morocco, Oman and Argentina.

BCC’s Center for Liberal Arts was established in 2002 to enrich the educational experience of students, the professional development of faculty and the cultural life of the surrounding community.

The Center encourages liberal arts studies, fosters civic engagement, and promotes excellence in research, scholarship and teaching.

The center also presents public arts and cultural programs.