Two Iowa State professors are being honored Wednesday for their contributions to overseas education.

August Ralston, finance professor, and Joanne Courteau, foreign language and literature professor, will each receive the Wilton Park International Service Award at the Spring Faculty Convocation and Awards reception Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.

Ralston is being honored for his contribution to overseas economic education.

As part of a team of educators from the ISU colleges of business, agriculture and liberal arts and sciences, Ralston traveled to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia to work with foreign universities to help teach the fundamentals of a market economy in emerging democracies.

Sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, Ralston and his colleges worked to help give residents of these countries a better sense of how the shift away from Communism would effect the economic systems.

“The opportunity to work with ISU colleges overseas as a team is the most exciting aspect of the program,” Ralston said, “and it’s extremely gratifying to be recognized by these colleges with this award for my contributions.”

Courteau’s award comes from both her expertise in foreign language and literature and her work to further overseas education through exchange programs.

An expert in Brazilian and Portuguese culture and literature, Courteau started a semester abroad program at Spain’s University of Valladolid that has been running successfully for seven years.

Courteau has also organized two symposia at ISU that drew scholars and legislatures from Poland to the university.

In addition, Courteau has been invited to present papers in a multitude of nations, including France, Spain and Germany.

“It’s nice to have my efforts in international collaboration recognized,” Courteau said.

The Wilton Park Awards are based on the Wilton Park Conferences, which have been held in England for the study of international relations since 1945.

As award winners, both Ralston and Courteau will be able to attend one of the Wilton Conferences, which involve about 60 select conference members from around the world.