GLOBAL Magazine 2023

GLOBAL

The official magazine of OSU Global

NEW NAME SAME SCHOOL. NAME CHANGE REFLECTS SCHOOL'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.

GLOBAL

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On the cover

From its roots after the end of WWII, the unit now known as OSU Global has grown immensely as a crucial part of the university.

(Cover photo by Gary Lawson)

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A helping hand Afghan refugees commemorate 1-year anniversary of being resettled in Stillwater and at OSU following fall of their country.

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Loyal and true

Indonesian Ambassador Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, an OSU alumnus, returned to his alma mater in the fall as an inductee in the Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program.

18 Unique path

Ghanaian freshman spends whole life working toward becoming an OSU Cowboy after receiving orange T-shirt as a child.

24 Champion ambassador Olympic champion and OSU wrestling legend John Smith traveled to Azerbaijan in 2022 as an ambassador of the sport.

Plus …

6 Sustainable Development Goals

14 Delegation Yearbook

22 Student Author

28 Around OSU Global

34 Fast Facts

ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND DEAN, OSU GLOBAL

Dr. Randy Kluver

ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Dr. Jami Fullerton

ASSISTANT DEAN AND DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

Dr. Jeff Simpson

OSU GLOBAL COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST

Kelli Norton

EDITOR

Jordan Bishop

ART DIRECTOR

Dave Malec

DESIGN

Paul V. Fleming

PHOTOGRAPHERS

OSU Archives, Garrett Kirksey, Gary Lawson, Kelli Norton, Phil Shockley, Andrea Sisson and Bruce Waterfield

WRITERS

Stephen Howard, Randy Kluver, Kelli Leech, Kelli Norton, Andrew Ranson, Sydney Trainor and Brandon Wulz

OSU GLOBAL UNIT HEADS

Dr. Emily Boersma, English Language and Intercultural Center

Dr. Jami Fullerton, School of Global Studies

Tim Huff, Office of International Studies and Scholars

Andrew Ranson, Center for International Trade

Dr. Jeff Simpson, Center for Global Learning

GLOBAL is a publication of Oklahoma State University Global and is designed to provide information on college activities and accomplishments while fostering communication among the Global family and friends. GLOBAL.OKSTATE.EDU

The office of publication for GLOBAL is 307 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078-1024. © 2023, GLOBAL. All rights reserved. Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. OSU is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, the director of equal opportunity/Title IX coordinator is located at 401 General Academic Building and can be reached at 405-744-1156 or by visiting https://eeo.okstate.edu.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by OSU Global, was printed by Modern Litho, at a cost of $3715.60/1M/ March 2023/#9780.

global.okstate.edu

Welcome to the first issue of GLOBAL, which showcases Oklahoma State University’s incredible impact on the world.

OSU has a remarkable legacy of international leadership, and we hope to use this new publication to help our community better understand its global engagement and impact. GLOBAL will be dedicated to telling the story of the entire university — how faculty, staff and students engage the world. As you will read elsewhere in this issue, Henry G. Bennett, the transformational president of Oklahoma A&M College throughout the 1930s and ’40s, was instrumental in the university’s transition to a global institution with a worldwide impact. Seven decades later, President Bennett’s legacy lives on through the countless students, faculty and staff who are dedicated to bringing their talents, knowledge, skills and passion to changing the world.

I consider it an immense privilege to be a part of OSU’s global legacy, and to work to create the campus infrastructure that supports it. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our international travel was suspended, though now it is quickly resuming. Our students are starting to begin their studies around the world in earnest, and our faculty and staff have returned to engaging the world as well. Within OSU Global, we took the period of hiatus to restructure and rethink our structures and processes, and have reorganized a number of units to support greater global engagement. In this issue, we will explore some of those changes, as well as our plans for moving ahead in the future.

In January 2023, we proudly announced the renaming of the School of Global Studies and Partnerships to OSU Global to better reflect our mission and our work. Later in this issue,

we explain how the university has managed its international engagement throughout the decades, and how we arrived at this stage. The change is meant to better clarify the unit’s scope and responsibilities for both international and domestic audiences. Even though our name has changed, we remain dedicated to supporting international experiences for our OSU and Stillwater community.

Elsewhere in this issue, you will read about a number of activities and events on campus and around the world, including visits from ambassadors and delegations, our work to welcome Afghan refugees to Stillwater and the international recognition the university has received for our contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development goals.

We hope you enjoy reading the first issue of GLOBAL to learn about our college and accomplishments in 2022. As the associate provost and dean, I am more than happy to hear from all of our friends, alumni and others who have an interest in the university and OSU Global. We look forward to hearing from you! I also invite you to visit our website for news and information about our global activities and engage with us via our social media.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about OSU’s global engagement, and we welcome you to join the entire Cowboy family to help change the world!

Respectfully,

Dr. Randy Kluver Associate Provost and Dean, OSU Global

PHOTO GARY LAWSON OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Beginning a New Chapter

School of Global Studies and Partnerships becomes OSU Global

AS OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN GLOBALLY ENGAGED FOR OVER SEVEN DECADES, THE CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT HAS EVOLVED DRAMATICALLY THROUGH THE YEARS.

In January 2023, with the announcement of the rebranding of the School of Global Studies and Partnerships as OSU Global, yet another milestone was achieved to mark these efforts.

The school has grown exponentially from its opening in the late 1940s and has undergone different phases throughout the years.

DR. RANDY KLUVER | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY, GARY LAWSON AND OSU ARCHIVES

Henry G. Bennett points to his campus development plan for OAMC. Part of Bennett’s legacy was his influence in campus development.

PHASE 1: PRESIDENTIAL PROGRESS

Although there were some international ties prior to 1949, the university — then known as Oklahoma A&M College — made its first significant international efforts beginning in the aftermath of World War II.

OAMC President Henry G. Bennett led the efforts following U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s inaugural speech in January 1949. There, Truman announced a plan to create a program to provide technical support to the developing world. It was the fourth point in his speech and the resulting program was referred to as the “Point Four Program,” and would soon become known as the Technical Cooperation Administration.

Bennett, who was a well-recognized figure in promoting economic growth and stability in the developing world, spent the summer of 1949 traveling postwar Europe with the Civilian Agricultural Department of the Army. He gathered information on food shortages following WWII and suggested potential solutions.

In 1950, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia requested Bennett’s expertise on the possibility of establishing an agricultural college in his country. After returning from Ethiopia, Bennett secured a meeting with Truman in Washington, D.C., in which he discussed his travels and beliefs in regards to educational assistance for developing countries. Truman requested a report on Bennett’s visit to Ethiopia and was so impressed

THROUGH THE YEARS 1949

1951

U.S. President Harry S. Truman proposed the Point Four Program as part of his inauguration address. The program proved to be the starting point of OSU’s entry into the international arena.

1950

President Truman appointed OSU President Henry G. Bennett as the administrator of the Technical Cooperation Administration. OSU initiates its first international project in Ethiopia under Bennett’s leadership.

OSU establishes the Office of International Programs to provide support for the university’s expanding international programs and services.

Between 1952-1968, 183 OSU staff and faculty provided services to develop a national agricultural program and agricultural college in Ethiopia.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman

1955

OSU

1968

OSU

1969

OSU

1970

The English Language Institute (ELI) is established in the OSU’s Office of International Programs.

1984 Center for International Trade and Development is established

1987

1990

The

with his philosophies on education that he appointed Bennett as administrator of the Technical Cooperation Administration in November 1950.

As a result of Bennett’s visit to Ethiopia in 1950 and his relationship with Selassie, Ethiopia became the first country to request assistance through the Point Four Program. An agreement was signed in the summer of 1952 for the university to provide assistance in establishing an entire agricultural ecosystem, including educational institutions, research stations and nationwide extension services.

Unfortunately, Bennett, his wife, Vera, and several aides were killed in a plane crash outside of Iran while on a mission for the TCA in 1951. The university, then under the leadership of President Oliver Willham, continued the commitment and dozens of university staff began preparations to help fulfill this goal. The first OSU personnel arrived in Ethiopia in the early fall of 1952.

At this time, international engagement was not an essential element at OAMC. In 1949, only 61 international students studied on campus, and an on-campus intensive English language study program was formed only in 1970. The study abroad office at the university was not formed until 1996. Nevertheless, the university created the Office of International Programs (OIP) in 1951 to provide critical administrative support to the project in Ethiopia.

Soon, however, it became clear that addressing a broad spectrum of problems, not just agriculture, was a strength of the university. In 1955, the university began the first technical teacher training program in Pakistan, and OSU faculty developed model polytechnic schools in what is now Bangladesh. In addition, university faculty contributed to engineering educational programs in Brazil. The efforts of the university now included not just faculty from the disciplines of agriculture, but also engineering, education, human sciences and others.

The university developed an international reputation for its work overseas, and in 1969 was honored with a distinguished service award from the Institute of International Education and the Reader’s Digest Foundation.

PHASE TWO: INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

In the 1970s and ’80s, OSU continued its international efforts on campus and continued to grow the organization infrastructure to support internationalization, such as the founding of the English Language Institute in 1970 and a Study Abroad Office in 1996.

In the mid-1980s, U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins worked with the university to create the Center for International Trade Development as a physical space that would support research and programs to promote international trade. Groundbreaking for the new building occurred on April 22, 1988, and the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development facility was completed in 1990. Nine years later, OSU celebrated the 50th anniversary of Point Four with a dedication ceremony in 1999.

In 1999, under OSU President James Halligan, the university created a School of International Studies, which was the first academic program to be offered on campus with an exclusive emphasis on the hallmarks of the university’s emphasis on addressing global problems. The SIS, a graduateonly program, became one of the most visible elements of the new International Education and Outreach (IEO) unit, which included the Study Abroad Office, the English Language Institute, the Fulbright Support Center and a Mexico Liaison office.

The university’s growth in international engagement continued throughout the early part of the 21st century under the umbrella of IEO. OSU faculty and staff chartered the university branch of Phi Beta Delta.

In 2010, IEO became International Studies and Outreach (ISO), a result of a universitywide study to better leverage OSU’s international strengths. Not long after, in 2015, a number of important endowments and scholarships were provided by donors, including the Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies program and the Don and Cathey Humphreys endowments to support study abroad.

In 2017, ISO was replaced by the School of Global Studies and Partnerships (SGSP), part of an

sets up the first technical teacher training program in Pakistan. OSU developed model polytechnic schools in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and helps to develop curricula and programs to train engineering technologists in Brazil.

enters into an agreement with USAID to provide technical advisors for vocational education programs in Thailand.

is the first landgrant university to receive the “Distinguished Service Award” from the Institute of International Education and the Reader’s Digest Foundation.

OSU establishes a branch campus in Kyoto Prefecture in Japan.

Center for International Trade Development building is completed and later named the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development.

U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins

initiative to raise the visibility and strength of the School of International Studies. The School of International Studies was renamed School of Global Studies, both to reflect the “global” nature of important international issues, but also to emphasize a global, rather than bilateral or binational, approach to solving important global issues. The master’s degree curriculum was updated to reflect a more focused approach to studying global issues, and the school added its first full-time faculty members.

In 2019, the China Programs Office and International Students and Scholars office were moved into the SGSP and the Wes Watkins Center, reflecting an understanding of the importance of international students to the university’s global footprint and agenda, and a commitment to providing a consistent level of support for all international activities across campus.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, devastated global engagement for OSU, as it did for every other university around the world. The number of students traveling abroad, as well as international students coming to OSU, plummeted, and faculty engagement also declined during this time.

The staff of SGSP, however, used the relative decline in activity to reposition several of its programs and units for post-pandemic growth, and in 2021, during its 25th anniversary year, the Study Abroad/National Student Exchange Office was renamed as the Center for Global Learning, to better prepare a broader audience of OSU students for international engagement.

The next year, the ELI became the English Language and Intercultural Center (ELIC), reflecting an updated approach, curriculum and greater ability to offer intercultural training sessions across the university, rather than strictly English language programming.

In January 2023, SGSP changed its name again to OSU Global, while the academic program kept the name of School of Global Studies. This new brand is intended to better reflect to both internal and external constituents, including its many global partners,

that the office represents the entire university in its international endeavors.

Throughout the seven decades of OSU’s global engagement, there have been many approaches and strategies, and indeed, even names of the supporting offices. What has remained consistent, however, has been a strong commitment by the university and its faculty, students and staff, to prepare students for careers of global leadership and to utilize faculty expertise to meet the challenges of nations around the world.

OSU’s engagement with the world began as an effort to bring technical agricultural knowledge to Ethiopia, but its commitment to addressing global needs has expanded to include the entire spectrum of intellectual capital at the university, from every discipline and field.

1996 The Study Abroad Office opens in the Office of International Programs.

1999

International Education and Outreach is established, and the School of International Studies is created.

2004

Phi Beta Delta, an international honor society, is chartered at OSU.

2010 International Education and Outreach becomes International Studies and Outreach.

2017 The School of International Education and Outreach is renamed the School of Global Studies and Partnerships.

2019 International Students and Scholars becomes a unit of the School of Global Studies and Partnerships, moving to remodeled offices on the third floor of the Wes Watkins Center.

A NUMBER OF BOOKS have been written about OSU’s international engagement, which we have found invaluable in compiling this article. Some titles that we recommend:

Jerry Gill, 1978, The Great Adventure: Oklahoma State University and International Education, Oklahoma State University Press.

Paul Bass and Katie Sewell, 2016, O klahoma State University School of International Studies: A History of Leadership and Learning, New Forums Press.

Paul Bass, 2007, No Little Dreams: Henry Garland Bennett, Educator and Statesman, Cimarron River Press.

2021

SGSP welcomes Afghan families to Stillwater; Study Abroad and National Student Exchange is renamed Center for Global Learning.

2022

English Language Institute renamed English Language and Intercultural Center.

2023 The School of Global Studies and Partnerships is renamed OSU Global.

Sustainability Leader

OSU climbs to No. 4 in the U.S and No. 63 globally for UN Sustainable Development Goals

Oklahoma State University continues to meet and exceed its goals to be a global leader in addressing sustainable development.

OSU is driven to make its campus better for not only current students but also those to come by eliminating hunger on campus, providing clean water and more. OSU has earned 91.1 out of 100 points on the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, placing it at No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 63 out of 1,410 universities internationally.

In a year, OSU climbed from No. 85 internationally and No. 8 in the U.S.

Globally, OSU ranked in the top 5 in zero hunger and top 100 in clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities and partnerships for the goals. Domestically, OSU ranked first in zero hunger; top 5 in clean water and sanitation and partnerships for goal; and top 10 in sustainable cities and communities.

“The Global Impact ranking by Times Higher Education is the first effort to really understand what universities do to make our world more livable and sustainable,” said Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean

of OSU Global. “We at OSU are very grateful that this ranking highlights the exceptional contribution made by our faculty, students and staff to sustainability.”

OSU Global led the data submission process by collecting data and organizing the information sent by 46 individuals from 32 units and departments across the campus. The following are highlights from the ranking:

SDG 2 ZERO HUNGER

OSU ranked No. 5 globally and first in the U.S on SDG 2. Earning a high ranking in SDG 2 highlights OSU’s initiative to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture in their local and global communities through research, teaching and campus operation efforts.

As a land-grant university with a rich history in agriculture, OSU is driven to end hunger globally and locally through education, research and outreach initiatives. OSU has propelled itself as a leader in the field by exploring sustainable agriculture through economic viability and natural resource management.

In 2022, the new Pete’s Pantry on-campus food and resource center opened in the Student Union, allowing students in need to access fresh food and hygiene supplies.

SDG 6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

OSU ranked No. 40 globally and fourth in the U.S. on SDG 6, which assesses universities’ ability to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. As an EPA Energy Star Partner, OSU uses Energy Star resources to reduce energy and water waste within its community. In addition, OSU’s Water Resources Center is one of 54 centers nationally that focuses on sustainable water supplies and achieving high-level water quality. OSU ensures the availability of clean water internationally through the OSU chapter of Engineers Without Boards, which has been building a point-ofuse water treatment system in Guatemala since 2015.

SDG 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

OSU ranked No. 69 globally and eighth in the U.S. on SDG 11, which challenges universities to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. SDG 11 highlights the university’s strategies for decreasing its environmental footprint and its ability to preserve the local culture. OSU plays an essential role in maintaining the culture in Oklahoma through academics and campus events.

SDG 17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

OSU ranked No. 36 globally, improving from 2021 when OSU ranked 86th worldwide and second in the U.S. on SDG 17. SDG 17 inspires universities to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. As a public research institution, OSU works closely with private and public sectors, NGOs and international partners to foster and share best practices regarding addressing global challenges.

OSU Global continues to strive to develop these partnerships to improve the quality of life for both local and global communities. The university officially adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals as the framework for OSU’s global engagement in 2020. Since then, it has been engaging different units on campus and community organizations to promote awareness of the SDGs.

In April 2022, OSU Global partnered with the sustainability office, SGA Sustainability Committee and the academic colleges across the campus to create a series of events — held on campus and online — to raise SDGs awareness through local and global dialogues and make a call for more actions among its students, faculty and staff.

The Edmon Low Library is currently working to provide a database of

sustainable publications that the OSU community can access.

“The SDGs deal with complex global issues that demand the effective communication of research and the ability to make connections across many fields of expertise,” said Matt Upton, associate dean of Research and Learning Services. “The Library is working to better enable our faculty, staff and students to make these connections, whether to openly accessible publications and data related to the SDGs, or to other experts across disciplines and institutions.

“We’re in a position to help our researchers highlight their own work through systems such as Experts Directory, find potential partners across the world, and even analyze the broader scholarly and societal impact that their work has. We want to help solve these

problems by connecting people and information.”

The Cowboy community has answered the call for sustainable practices by partnering with different organizations on campus.

“Other initiatives taking place on the university level include a pilot study of SDGs course mapping to the geosciences field, a campus working group to reinforce our joint efforts on campus and the development of a sustainability plan developed by the sustainability office,” said Dr. Vivian Wang, former director of global partnerships at OSU Global.

Continual growth is always on the horizon for OSU. Climbing from No. 8 to No. 4 was a significant accomplishment for OSU, yet the global challenges remain pressing; those challenges are transnational in nature and require our collaborative actions for a better future.

AFGHAN REFUGEES REFLECT ON ANNIVERSARY OF RESETTLING IN STILLWATER AND OSU COMMUNITY

Following the fall of Afghanistan in 2021, 72 refugees found a new home in Stillwater; now, they are fully integrated into the community, continuing their education, purchasing cars and starting careers.

Oklahoma State University partnered with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma (CCEOK) to help fill this need and provided access to 15 on-campus apartments to house Afghan families.

OSU Associate Provost and Global Dean Randy Kluver, working with departments and offices across the campus, began to lay the groundwork for the effort to welcome these new neighbors to Stillwater.

“Our goal from the beginning has been to provide the help for them to become successful in the U.S., and to make sure that they felt welcome, that they had the resources they needed to succeed in Stillwater, and would want to make it a permanent home,” Dr. Kluver said.

In January 2022, after several months of preparation, the community of Stillwater and OSU welcomed 72 Afghan refugees. Volunteers from throughout the university and the community pulled together to provide donations for household goods and furniture as well as immediate transportation needs and short term food assistance.

Throughout the spring and summer, OSU’s Wes Watkins Center also became a hub of activity, with the staff of the English Language and Intercultural Center (ELIC) providing intensive English language training, assistance with transitioning to the U.S., and even hosting a program by Stillwater Public Schools (SPS) to help Afghan children adjust to the U.S. schooling system.

The challenges of integrating into Stillwater weren’t easy, with many of the Afghans having had little formal education, and most not speaking any English. Added to the trauma of having to leave their own country, they had to quickly learn to adapt to the U.S., find

jobs and settle in permanently, without any resources from their home country.

The staff of the ELIC, led by interim director Michael Amory and Dr. Stephanie Link, quickly launched the CARES (Compassionate Afghan Resettlement and English Services) project, with a focus on providing ESL training as well as intercultural training to adapt to U.S. culture.

By mid-summer, after the case management support from CCEOK ended, and no other local case management support materialized, help was still needed to assist in the ongoing transition. Stillwater had never had a formal refugee resettlement program in place, and there was not a local agency

Community Partnership

On Sept. 1, 2022, OSU developed the Supporting Afghan Neighbors (SAN) program and was officially recognized as a resettlement agency with funding support from Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services (DHS). This funding allowed OSU to fill the gap and provide comprehensive support services for all of the Afghans who were resettled in Stillwater.

with the resources to take on the task. The ELIC had, however, a committed staff with a new director in Dr. Emily Boersma, some infrastructure, and more importantly, the relationships with the Afghans to continue with the task of resettlement.

“If we don’t, who will?” Boersma said.

The staff of OSU Global and ELIC worked to develop a structure and staffing to provide ongoing case management support.

English Language

Building relationships with Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR) and the Welcome Campus movement — a national initiative of universities delivering support for refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine — provided additional aid for OSU to support the refugees during their resettlement.

“These organizations (ECAR and the Welcome Campus movement) provided invaluable guidance and support for us to move forward,” Kluver said. “They enabled us to network with other great universities who have stepped up to assist in this historical event, and to get ideas to make sure that the transition was successful.”

These efforts have been successful. Of the 72 initial refugees, 62 remain in Stillwater, although a few have

“This has really been a community partnership. OSU has been generous in their support of the Afghan families, but many community agencies, individuals and local churches have also been integral to this resettlement effort.”

Dr. Emily Boersma, director of OSU’s

and Intercultural Center (ELIC)

WHEN THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER AFGHANISTAN IN AUGUST 2021, MORE THAN 1,800 AFGHANS WERE RESETTLED IN OKLAHOMA, BUT THE LACK OF AVAILABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUICKLY BECAME THE BIGGEST HURDLE.

left to be reunited with family members elsewhere or for other job opportunities.

In the spring of 2023, four were enrolled full time at OSU. The university has been a huge advocate for the families locally helping with writing resumes, finding and securing employment opportunities and recruiting volunteers for additional support. In May 2023, many will move out of the campus apartments, but the ELIC will still continue to support their integration into the community.

Of the 62 Afghans that have stayed in Stillwater, 25 have full-time employment and three work part time. Some adults have taken second jobs in the evenings and on weekends to supplement their income. Many are working while also attending English as a Second Language (ESL) courses that are provided with a specialized curriculum through the ELIC.

Boersma emphasized that the university and community have been a huge help.

“This has really been a community partnership,” Boersma said. “OSU has been generous in their support of the

Afghan families, but many community agencies, individuals and local churches have also been integral to this resettlement effort.”

The ELIC, a department located in OSU Global, offers three specialized English classes for adults — English fundamentals, English for cultural integration and English for occupational purposes — and provides child care when needed.

The ELIC works closely with Stillwater Public Schools (SPS) to ensure a smooth transition of Afghan students into the schools. With DHS funding, SPS hired four Afghans to work as translators and teachers in the ESL program. SPS also hired two Afghans to work in cafeterias on campus. As of February 2023, there are 22 Afghan students enrolled in SPS, and they are thriving. One recent arrival was named the student of the month at Stillwater Junior High School, less than a year after arriving in Stillwater and beginning to learn English.

Local families known as family assistants have paired with refugee families to support them in their adjustment to living in Stillwater. Family assistants have helped in obtaining

driver’s licenses and buying cars, as well as just being a friend. They have attended OSU sporting events and celebrated birthdays alongside their new Afghan neighbors.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church has been one institution that has provided consistent support. Through generous donations from their parish and the community, they have been able to provide extra funding for dental and mental health services along with other medical assistance that many of the Afghan families need but would not be able to afford.

Other churches have also generously donated time, space and financial resources that allow the OSU case managers to provide “luxury” items like bicycles to meet transportation needs and sewing machines to make clothing.

Current focuses for the ELIC and caseworkers include learning to budget along with creating short and longterm goals.

“Our team wants to focus on supporting integration and selfsufficiency as the Afghan families settle into routines and the flow of life in Stillwater,” Boersma said.

Stillwater Public Schools’ Stephanie Coca, an Oklahoma State University alumna, teaches English to Afghan students.

“We did not do this for attention. We did it because it was the right thing to do, and there was an immediate need.”

Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost of global partnerships and dean of OSU Global

Constant Perseverance

One graduate student known as Zhina struggles with uncertainty.

She constantly looks toward the wedding ring on her finger, a reminder of her husband, who was able to leave Afghanistan and is now in Sweden. She hopes to see him soon.

Zhina, who asked to keep her name anonymous because of fear of retaliation against her family in Afghanistan, is in the School of Global Studies (SGS). She is studying for a master’s degree in global studies with a scholarship from OSU. She is one of four Afghan refugees attending OSU on scholarships from a fund created by the OSU Foundation and OSU Global.

Zhina’s ultimate goal is to finish her master’s degree, get a job, visit her family in Afghanistan and help others in a situation like hers.

“I love it here so much,” Zhina said. “The people here have a good understanding and awareness of the international people that live here. I know they help those who immigrated here and solve problems with kindness. I am very happy to live here.”

Despite the circumstances, Stillwater has been an ideal place for Afghan refugee families to begin their new lives. It’s small and affordable, and the community is rallying around them.

Kluver said he admires how the OSU and Stillwater community came together to help the new residents.

“We did not do this for attention,” Kluver said. “We did it because it was the right thing to do, and there was an immediate need. But we have gotten a lot of attention for it. OSU has probably seen the largest university effort to resettle Afghan refugees happen here in Stillwater.”

The Afghan families will not celebrate the one-year anniversary of their arrival. The loss of a home and separation of families is not an event they want to celebrate, but their strength, compassion, grit and determination are worth respect and admiration.

“The resilience of our new Afghan neighbors and the hard work, love and passion of the Stillwater community is simply remarkable,” Boersma said.

PROVIDING A HELPING HAND

There are two tangible ways to assist the Afghan refugee program in Stillwater.

To donate to the scholarship fund: okla.st/afghandonation

To become a volunteer: call the ELIC at 405-7447520 or email stwvolunteer coordinator@gmail.com

Afghan children play with puzzle pieces as their parents study English.

“I love it here so much. The people here have a good understanding and awareness of the international people that live here. I know they help those who immigrated here and solve problems with kindness. I am very happy to live here.”

Zhina, master’s degree student in the School of Global Studies (SGS)

From Cowboy to Ambassador

Indonesian Ambassador Roeslani visits OSU

His Excellency Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, the sitting Indonesian ambassador to the United States, was inducted into the Oklahoma State University Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program while visiting his alma mater on Oct. 8, 2022, by OSU Global.

The Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program is named for the former OSU president from 1928-50 who made outstanding contributions to the university, higher education and later, the world at large, as the head of President Harry Truman’s Point Four Program.

The fellowship is bestowed on those who have made advancements

in global business, government or academics. Previous honorees include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; former U.S. Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell; and Dr. Duck-Woo Nam, an OSU alumnus and former South Korean prime minister.

Roeslani, 53, began his journey into international business and diplomacy during his time in Stillwater as an undergraduate from 1988-92, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in general business and management with a minor in finance. Roeslani counts Barry Sanders’ run to the 1988 Heisman Trophy and watching coach Eddie Sutton’s Cowboy basketball team

in Gallagher-Iba Arena as some of his fondest memories at OSU.

“I got a very good education here, and I have a lot of good memories,” Roeslani said. “Because of Oklahoma State University, I’m here as an ambassador to the U.S., and I’m very grateful.”

While the campus may look different, Roeslani saw his old classroom buildings and reminisced about his time living in the dorms. His one request was to see Eskimo Joe’s, where he would grab a bite and hang out with his friends, said his wife, Ayu Heni Rosan.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from OSU, he went on to earn his MBA from European University in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1994 before

Indonesian Ambassador Rosan Perkasa Roeslani visited his alma mater of Oklahoma State University with his wife, Ayu Heni Rosan, and two of their three children: Razan and Ranisya.

diving into the world of finance. In 1997, Roeslani co-founded a company now known as the Recapital Group, which has grown into one of the world’s top asset management and investment companies with a portfolio that includes everything from banking to communications.

Roeslani credits his stay as the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 201521 as the key to him jumping from the business world into diplomacy. That position required Roeslani to meet regularly with President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, who shared Roeslani’s vision of strengthening Indonesia’s relationship with the United States in terms of trade, investment and human capital. He asked Roeslani to serve as his ambassador to the U.S. in 2021.

“Since I came from the private sector, I try to bring a different perspective into diplomacy,” Roeslani said. “There are similarities in both worlds because both are in sales. I enjoy meeting a lot of people, and luckily I get all the support from the embassy and consulate. They help me reach my targets and my goals.”

Roeslani’s goal is $60 billion in two-way trade between Indonesia and the United States by 2024. He said that figure has increased significantly during his ambassadorship — up 36% last year — and investments are up 74%. The United States is now the second largest trade partner for Indonesia and the fourth largest foreign investor in the country.

A country of 217 million people, Indonesia also has a goal of raising its skilled labor force. Roeslani has

been working with U.S. companies to incentivize worker programs, and he has a goal of raising the number of Indonesian college students studying abroad in the U.S. by 2,000 before the end of his first term.

In 2022 alone, Roeslani held discussions with world leaders on clean energy solutions, attended the United Nations General Assembly and rang the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever get to be a part of activities like this, but it was always my goal to ring the bell on the New York Stock Exchange,” Roeslani said. “I was very honored.”

The Roeslanis outside the Business Building. Roeslani watches on at The Walk outside the Student Union on a football game day.

“I got a very good education here, and I have a lot of good memories. Because of Oklahoma State University, I’m here as an ambassador to the U.S., and I’m very grateful.” HIS EXCELLENCY ROSAN PERKASA ROESLANI

OSU hosts several foreign dignitaries

In 2022, OSU Global was visited by a multitude of foreign delegations, including several ambassadors. On the next few pages is a collection of some of the visitors who came to Stillwater last year.

AMBASSADOR KHAZAR IBRAHIM — MARCH 31, 2022

Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim of the Republic of Azerbaijan led a delegation to the university in recognition of the rec dual degree program between OSU and Azerbaijan State Agricultural University (ASAU). During his visit, Ibrahim spoke to OSU Global graduate students about his diplomatic experience prior to being named ambassador to the U.S. and the partnerships between the State of Oklahoma and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

AGENT GENERAL JAG BADWAL — APRIL 12, 2022

Ontario Rep. Jag Badwal visited the university to better understand the research and innovation initiatives at OSU. In addition, exploratory conversations were held about international research partnership opportunities between the Center for International Trade Development (CITD) and the province of Ontario, Canada.

KENYA COLLEGE OF ACCOUNTANCY (KCA) — APRIL 12-17, 2022

Professor Isaiah I.C. Wakindiki, vice chancellor and CEO of KCA University, led a delegation to Oklahoma State University to learn about academic practices and explore the establishment of an academic partnership between OSU and KCA.

CONSUL GENERAL ASEEM MAHAJAN — MAY 12, 2022

Consul General Aseem Mahajan visited OSU to learn more about the university and to visit faculty and students from India at the university. During his visit, members of the OSU Indian community came together to honor the consul general and share their experiences at OSU.

EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA — JULY 13, 2022

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China sent a delegation, led by the deputy of mission and minister Xu Xueyuan, to OSU to meet with members of the OSU Chinese community and understand the partnerships between OSU and its Sino-U.S. joint degree programs.

The delegation also explored new academic and communal partnership opportunities between China and OSU. Currently, OSU has four dual degree programs with universities in China in the fields of agriculture, fire protection and environmental engineering.

UNIVERSIDAD POPULAR AUTÓNOMA DEL ESTADO DE PUEBLA (UPAEP) — SEPT. 6-7, 2022

A delegation led by Dr. José Pablo Nuño, vice president of internationalization at UPAEP and an OSU alumnus, visited OSU to deepen the ties between the universities and invite OSU President Kayse Shrum to visit in honor of UPAEP’s 50th anniversary. Nuño also raised the possibility of opening an OSU Mexico liaison office at UPAEP.

ETHIOPIAN DELEGATION — OCT. 10-13, 2022

The Ethiopian Higher Education Leadership, Management and Governance Program (LMG) delegation visited OSU to learn about higher education in the U.S. through a grant funded by the U.S. Embassy. In partnership with Ohio State University and Texas Tech University, this first cohort participated in workshops geared towards university leadership and governance. While at OSU, the delegation learned from leadership about a land-grant university, attended an OSU Faculty Council meeting, toured OSU’s stateof-the-art facilities and saw practical, global solutions being developed at the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University.

CHARLES DAMBACH — OCT. 6, 2022

Charles F. “Chic” Dambach, OSU alumnus and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, was awarded the Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellow Award for his lifelong career achievements. During his visit, members of the Founders’ Council announced the endowment of the Chic Dambach Peacebuilder Endowed Fellowship Fund, which will be awarded to a graduate student in the School of Global Studies pursuing a career in peacebuilding.

AMBASSADOR ROSAN ROESLANI — OCT.

6-9, 2022

Ambassador Rosan Roeslani, OSU class of 1992 and current ambassador from the Republic of Indonesia, was honored with the Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellow Award for his work as an international leader who addresses global issues. While visiting OSU, Ambassador Roeslani discussed U.S.Indonesia relations to the OSU community from a business perspective.

AZERBAIJAN DELEGATION — NOV. 30, 2022

In a second visit to OSU representing Azerbaijan, a delegation, led by senior military leaders from Azerbaijan, came to Oklahoma. The delegation was invited by Oklahoma’s Gov. Kevin Stitt to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma-Azerbaijan National Guard Partnership. During their visit to Oklahoma and OSU, discussions centered around the strong ties between the leadership of Oklahoma and Azerbaijan.

COWBOY CLINTON

International student takes unique path to OSU

Clinton Waunka, a first-year master’s student from Ghana, stands inside the Wes Watkins Center.

Cowboys in America are revered; a symbol of both the Old West and ruggedness on the frontier. Across the Atlantic Ocean, though, in the small African country of Ghana, the word has a different meaning. In a culture where family means sticking together, working alongside each other at the farm, the idea of up and leaving to go on the path of a cowboy is reviled.

So, when Clinton Wuanka was called Cowboy Clinton in school growing up, it was an insult. But Wuanka embraced it. To him, it was a badge of honor that he wore proudly.

UNEXPECTED VISITORS

It all started with an orange T-shirt.

On a Saturday afternoon in 2000, Wuanka — 6 years old at the time — received the garment emblazoned “Oklahoma State University” from a Peace Corps volunteer and OSU student named Anaya.

“I don’t forget her name,” Wuanka said. “I always tell myself I’ll give the name to my daughter because her name is really precious to me.”

How that shirt arrived in the small town of Dzolo Gbogame in the southeastern part of Ghana called the Volta Region starts with the story of Wuanka’s grandfather: Denqueh.

Denqueh Wuanka was a former staff member of Operation Crossroads Africa. Founded in 1958 by Dr. James H. Robinson, Operation Crossroads Africa was designed to facilitate service projects in African countries each summer. It was a predecessor to the Peace Corps in that region.

For almost 30 years, Denqueh served as a director of the program where he coordinated the projects of volunteers, usually students, who offered to construct buildings and provide education. During this time, he earned the nickname of NOWAY because of his firm stance on raising his grandchildren through education.

In 1972, Robinson died and Operation Crossroads Africa dwindled, sending Denqueh back to his hometown of Dzolo Gbogame where he farmed with his grandchildren.

Traditionally, a child born into a farming family in Ghana is old enough to work at 2 years old. Although the children had jobs on the farm, they would still attend school. Oftentimes, they woke up early to go work at the farm before school, wearing their school clothes under their work clothes. After class, they went back to the farm for more work before going home at night.

When Waunka was growing up, the custom warranted when men reached the age of 20, they married a woman from the area, had children and the cycle continued.

This would have been Wuanka’s life if it weren’t for his grandfather.

The day Wuanka got the shirt from Anaya, he and his family were cultivating their cocoa system when his grandfather received a message that they had visitors back at the house.

“We were so traditional to the extent that when they said you have a visitor, you need to give serious priority to the visitor, because you may not know the message they came with, so we rushed home,” Wuanka said.

Two hours later, they arrived home to find 10 individuals waiting to greet his grandfather. They had met him through the Peace Corps and came to volunteer in the area.

From that day on, Wuanka developed a passion for OSU.

“I would always tell everyone around me that one day, I would go to Oklahoma State University,” Wuanka said. “I went around everywhere including the farm, school, market and riverside saying I would one day go to Oklahoma.”

FINDING HIS WAY

Receiving an education past junior high school was not popular in Wuanka’s hometown at the time as it was felt someone’s time could be better spent on farming.

Wuanka’s friends mocked him for his college dreams, people in the community told him he was going crazy and his parents told him it was impossible. In Dzolo Gbogame, the highest level of education usually received is junior high school.

Denqueh composed a library of his journals, diaries and letters from Operation Crossroads Africa and used them to teach Wuanka to read and write English.

Wuanka learned from Anaya people at OSU were called Cowboys and Cowgirls. Therefore, Wuanka wanted to be known as Cowboy.

Wuanka was one of five students in his class of 47 who received admission to senior high school. At a new school with new people, he introduced himself as Cowboy Clinton Wuanka and again he was mocked.

“I knew Cowboy came from being a student of a prestigious university located somewhere I’ve never been

before, but I had hope — one day, I would be there,” he said.

He completed high school in 2013, stayed home and worked for the next three years. In 2016, the same year his grandfather passed away, Wuanka decided to attend the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana to obtain his bachelor’s degree, which he would then use to transfer to OSU.

When he told his parents his plans to attend UCC, they disapproved. They informed him they wanted him to be a teacher and earn a diploma in basic education from a nearby school.

He agreed to go to avoid backlash, but ran away at night to Accra, the capital city, without anywhere to stay.

“I slept at some car transport terminals when they closed from work,” Wuanka said. “I just asked permission from the drivers and said I don’t have a place to go.”

He slept in the back of the cars, then got up and showered in the station washrooms.

For the next six months, Wuanka worked as a driver’s assistant and in construction to get enough money to apply to UCC. He eventually graduated in 2020. He then served his year of mandatory national service in the Parliament of Ghana.

With his new job came access to a good phone, a laptop and a paycheck. He said to himself, “Now it’s time for the Oklahoma dream to begin.” He began looking for sectors of Ghana lagging

behind that he could use education to improve. He landed on trade policies.

“I typed ‘international trade at Oklahoma State University’ on the laptop but … I made up my mind that even if Oklahoma State did not have anything about trade, I would not let go of it because I was not ready to trade Oklahoma State for any program,” Wuanka said.

The first result was OSU’s School of Global Studies. Amazed by the variety of programs available, Wuanka reached out to then academic programs coordinator Cara Menasco Eubanks.

Eventually, in his inbox was an email from Eubanks notifying him of a nonresident tuition reduction award, which can be used in situations like Wuanka’s.

“Waiving that portion of the tuition for international students helps a lot and it helps them get a visa,” Eubanks said. “International students have to show proof that they have the finances to cover their education expenses for at least a year before they even get here. When we can do anything to reduce the cost of attending OSU, it drastically helps them.”

Eagerly waiting for his admission letter, Wuanka said he called OSU’s Graduate College sometimes 10 times a day. Eventually, the day came — he was granted admission.

Holding his grandfather’s picture, he said “my dream is coming true, watch out.”

TRAVEL TROUBLES

Visa appointments in Ghana were unavailable until 2024, prompting Wuanka to travel to the embassy in the nearby nation of Burkina Faso.

However, the embassy was prioritizing its own citizens and placed him in an administrative process to review his documents where he stayed for six weeks.

“I nearly died at that time because a dream that had been lingering for over 20 years was about to be fulfilled. What stood between me and Oklahoma State was a consular officer who didn’t want to issue my visa,” Wuanka said.

Wuanka began advocating for himself and worked with Eubanks — also known as “mom” to him and other international students — to contact the embassy to approve his visa.

“Clinton is very persistent, which is needed. It’s not easy to immigrate to the United States, and it’s certainly not easy for international students. You need that persistence and Clinton certainly has it,” Eubanks said. “ I don’t know if his persistence is just his personality or his background and his story, but it’s just so clear how much passion he has for OSU.”

Hoping to move his case along, he went as far as working with Eubanks and Dr. Jami Fullerton, associate dean of the School of Global Studies, as well as U.S. Sen. James Lankford and faculty

at OSU Global to send inquiries on his behalf to the embassy in Burkina Faso.

In order to begin his studies at OSU, the last day Wuanka could report to campus was Aug. 29 or he would have to defer to the next semester. Using his network, he contacted leaders in the Ghana parliament who tried to contact the consular section of the embassy on his behalf.

Wuanka finally got an interview appointment for Aug. 25. Unfortunately, he was again put into an administrative process for verification of his documents and enrollment, causing him to defer his program.

While waiting, the team at OSU Global kept in contact with Wuanka and helped him emotionally get through the hard times. On Sept. 1, his visa was approved.

His goal was to be in Oklahoma before 2022 ended. On Dec. 29, Wuanka left Ghana to chase his Cowboy dream.

“We are so fortunate to have Clinton studying in our program,” said Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean of OSU Global. “Not only does he bring a fresh perspective to our classes from his life in Ghana, his lifelong desire to study at OSU reminds us and our students as to the immense privilege of working, and studying, at OSU.”

Now a first-year graduate student at OSU, Wuanka plans to get a master’s and doctorate degrees while working in the Center for Global Learning and then return to Ghana.

“When I look at where I’m coming from — a village where mostly we are predominantly like families — nothing was working when it came to education, and I’ve been able to get this far,” Wuanka said. “Sometimes when I lay on my bed I say ‘God, you really exist.’

“I thank God a lot for that kind of grace.”

When

Clinton arrived at OSU, he gifted Cara Menasco Eubanks with a traditional Ghanaian dress commonly used to honor someone of high importance.

“We are so fortunate to have Clinton studying in our program. Not only does he bring a fresh perspective to our classes from his life in Ghana, his lifelong desire to study at OSU reminds us and our students as to the immense privilege of working, and studying, at OSU.”

Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean of OSU Global

His Mark

Exchange student Kalungu-Banda cherishes his time at OSU

The opportunities for students studying abroad at Oklahoma State University are endless, and Neo Kalungu-Banda is taking advantage of every moment.

Kalungu-Banda was born in South Africa but grew up in the United Kingdom. He came to OSU as an exchange student studying psychology for the 2022-23 year. Unlike some of his colleagues, though, he arrived in Stillwater as a published author.

Kalungu-Banda’s book, INSPIRED: The stories within and around us, walks through his life story and the events, places and experiences that have inspired him.

He started drafting the book during the COVID-19 lockdown after he received news that Boris Johnson, then British prime minister, had canceled all exams in the U.K. With so much free time, Kalungu-Banda called a friend to discuss the situation.

“I was on the phone with my friend, and out of nowhere, he said, ‘You should write a book,’” Kalungu-Banda said.

At first, Kalungu-Banda hesitated to begin writing because of his young age. As someone who had just turned 18, he didn’t believe he had the life experience to write a book.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘What am I going to write a book about?’” he said.

However, as he began writing his book, it evolved. The first chapter focuses on his life experience and transitions into the inspirational life of others. The other sections contain stories of people who have inspired and taught Kalungu-Banda along with key moments and venues that have made an impact on his life so far.

By the end of the book, he hopes the reader reflects upon themselves to try and find inspiration within.

Writing isn’t Kalungu-Banda’s only passion; he also enjoys sports, inspiring others, entrepreneurship and attending events.

Passionate to inspire others, Neo Kalungu-Banda wrote INSPIRED to motivate his peers.

In September, he had the opportunity to go to the 2022 United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. The conference centered on transforming education for global authors. Over Thanksgiving break, Kalungu-Banda traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend a conference that focused on sustainable tourism.

“It’s great to be surrounded by likeminded people,” he said.

On Jan. 17, 2023, Kalungu-Banda donated two copies of the volume to the OSU Library and OSU President Kayse Shrum.

Dr. Jeff Simpson, OSU Global’s assistant dean and director of partnerships, opened the ceremony with his remarks about Kalungu-Banda and their time getting to know one another.

“Neo represents talents and aspirations we hope to cultivate in all of our OSU students,” Simpson said.

Kalungu-Banda hopes that OSU students will read his book and be inspired to achieve their goals.

“You should always go for what you want,” he said. “Chase your dreams.”

Dr. Shrum was honored to receive the books on behalf of the OSU library.

“What exchange students bring to our campus is an opportunity not only for students from other countries to learn all the experience, but also for us to learn other cultures and to experience other viewpoints,” she said. “That’s what makes us better as people.”

Kalungu-Banda will never forget his time at OSU.

“Over the past semester, I have had a lot of great experiences,” he said. “Embracing and experiencing the American college lifestyle here at this school has been an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

“What exchange students bring to our campus is an opportunity not only for students from other countries to learn all the experience, but also for us to learn other cultures and to experience other viewpoints. That’s what makes us better as people.”

OSU PRESIDENT KAYSE SHRUM

Author Neo Kalungu-Banda poses with Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum and faculty and staff to celebrate his donation of two books to the OSU library.

Grappling on a Global Scale

Cowboy wrestling coach Smith travels to Azerbaijan

John Smith stepped onto the mat, ready to inspire an already fervent international crowd. This wasn’t the Olympics or the World Championships, though. It’s been a long time since the legendary Oklahoma State University wrestling coach has gone toe-to-toe on one of those mats.

This was just last fall. The venue: Azerbaijan. The crowd: young wrestlers ready to be impressed. Smith’s role: ambassador.

As he demonstrated his famous low single-leg move, he was surprised to see the recognition on the kid’s faces.

“It was flattering,” Smith said. “Everyone knew my move, my technique.”

It was a unique trip for Smith, the Cowboy great who has a plethora of gold medals and championships from his time on the mat and as a coach. But traveling to the west Asian country bordering the Caspian Sea as a wrestling ambassador was a tour he will always remember.

Smith visited the capital city of Baku for the first time in 1986, when it was

John Smith won six consecutive world championships, including two Olympic gold medals, as a wrestler before taking over as coach at Oklahoma State in 1991. He has guided the Cowboys to five team national titles in his tenure.

still part of the former Soviet Union, for a wrestling meet but couldn’t see much of the country. This time, he requested to travel by van to see everything.

“Azerbaijan as a country was impressive,” he said. “From the first time I was there, Baku is a whole different city. One of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.”

Smith was designated as an “American Wrestling Envoy,” along with Sally Roberts, CEO of Wrestle Like a Girl, by the United States Embassy in Azerbaijan. They toured the nation from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 2022. The organization — under the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program — is in partnership with the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.

“It was a privilege being able to share what we do in programs here,” Smith said. “Azerbaijan is a country that is very proud of its wrestling. It’s amazing what they do in the sport of wrestling. They are competitive on the world stage.”

Smith and Roberts traveled to Baku, Astara, Shamakhi and Ganja. They met with young wrestlers, leaders within the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and Sports, the president and vice president of the Sports Academy, and wrestlers and coaches to discuss topics such as leadership and respect within the sport.

“I was looking forward to seeing it again in a new setting,” Smith said. “The trip was to celebrate wrestling, teach and visit with the coaches and the athletes. It became much more than I thought. They were excited about learning, and the coaches were excited to hear me talk about my 30 years of experience coaching.”

Azerbaijan has a long and prosperous history in wrestling. The sport has been a national favorite and a leading sport in the country.

“It was great to see how excited they were,” Smith said. “I saw a level of motivation from boys and girls.”

The Azerbaijani coaches were intrigued by the topic of after-school sports programs offered in the U.S. In Azerbaijan, youths who want to participate in sports must join a club. Meanwhile, American kids can start wrestling in elementary school and continue after school at a club at little to no cost.

“It appeared to them amazing that you could wrestle during and after school,” Smith said. “Without our educational system, we wouldn’t be the country we have been in sports. We need to go back and recognize how important it is to start sports in elementary, junior and high school.

“Building wrestling through our education system makes the United States a great competitor on the world stage.”

The coaches also discussed motivating the athletes at all levels. There, they found common ground in their experiences with issues they all face.

“We talked about ways of motivating young kids and motivating some of our better guys to being the best in the world and in the country. We talk a lot about ways of building our programs up,” Smith said. “Even though we are hundreds of miles away from each other, we could relate to a challenge we both face.”

Smith’s trip to Azerbaijan follows a visit by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2021 to build upon the two-decade relationship between the State of Oklahoma and Azerbaijan.

As a part of that trip, OSU expanded its partnership with Azerbaijan State Agricultural University in 2021, creating a pathway for Azerbaijani students to obtain a master’s degree in international agriculture by attending one year of classes in Azerbaijan and a year on the OSU campus in Stillwater.

The first program cohort of Azerbaijani students will arrive in Stillwater for the fall 2023 semester.

John Smith sits with Khazar Isayev, who he beat in the 1987 World Championship finals.

From left: Dr. Randy Kluver, dean of OSU Global, Charles “Chic” Dambach and Dr. Jeanette Mendez, OSU provost, pose for a picture.

Dambach Gives Back

School of Global Studies announces the Chic Dambach Peacebuilder Fellowship

Charles “Chic” Dambach found his passion for peace when he began his academic career at Oklahoma State University.

After an incredible life of peacebuilding around the globe, Dambach and other OSU alumni came together to create the Chic Dambach Peacebuilder Fellowship to help students who aspire to be peacebuilders.

In 1962, Dambach arrived at OSU on a football scholarship. After a shoulder injury ended his athletic career, Dambach had the opportunity to explore other interests beyond the classroom.

He soon joined the OSU debate team where he met his lifelong mentor and friend, Dale Stockton, who challenged Dambach to take a critical approach when discussing and analyzing social issues. During the 1960s, OSU administrative policies prohibited speakers on campus from discussing the Vietnam War or other progressive subjects. To work around this obstacle, a few students formed a group known as FATAGS (Friday Afternoon Tea and Glee Society) and began peacefully debating topics such as the war, free speech, civil rights and anything else they wanted to bring to the table.

Inspired by the activism he experienced during college, Dambach joined the Peace Corps after graduating from OSU in 1967. His first volunteer location was at a small fishing village in Colombia, where Dambach stayed from 1967 to 1969, helping the locals form a worker’s co-op, obtain loans, build a school and acquire fishing gear.

After the Peace Corps, Dambach began to use his skill set in peacebuilding by negotiating between Ethiopia and Eritrea to end their border war. By the time the war ended, Dambach had saved hundreds of lives by facilitating peaceful negotiations and

discussions between the two countries. Later, Dambach served in a similar role in the internal Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo conflicts.

Dambach’s efforts in peacebuilding have been recognized by a multitude of organizations, groups, governments and individuals. Most notably, he was nominated in 2017 for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Not only did Dambach excel in peacebuilding, but he also lived another extraordinary life in athletics. He was a national competition official kayak racer in the 1986, 1992 and 1995 Olympic Games for the USA kayak and canoe racing teams.

As a result of his incredible efforts to make the world a better place, a group of OSU alumni and former FATAG members came together to create the Chic Dambach Peacebuilder Endowed Fellowship. The fellowship will be awarded to students who take on the challenge of peacebuilding. The council established the fund on behalf of Dambach, who dedicated his life to building peace and positively impacting the lives of people throughout the world.

“We are so honored that Chic and his friends and classmates are endowing a scholarship for Global Studies students who are interested in pursuing careers in peacebuilding,” said Dr. Jami

Fullerton, associate dean of the School of Global Studies.

Students obtaining a master’s degree from OSU Global can apply for the Dambach Peacebuilder Endowed Fellowship. The award will go toward students actively working to build peace or solve international issues.

The legacy Dambach has left at OSU, and the world, will carry on thanks to the donations from the members of the Dambach Fellowship Founder’s Council.

Dambach Fellowship

Founders’ Council Members

 Doug Caves, Middleton, Wisconsin*

 Sherry Caves, Middleton, Wisconsin*

 Hank Hankla, Durham, North Carolina*

 Connie Kantzer, Stanwood, Washington*

 Keith McGlamery, Charlottesville, Virginia*

 Gene Reid, Powell, Ohio*

 Ron Stevens, Chicago*

 Jim Troxel, Chicago*

 Kay Dambach, Crownsville, Maryland

*Denotes founding member

“We are so honored that Chic and his friends and classmates are endowing a scholarship for Global Studies students who are interested in pursuing careers in peacebuilding.”

DR. JAMI FULLERTON, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF GLOBAL STUDIES

Creating Commerce

Center for International Trade continues legacy of global engagement

When Andrew Ranson arrived at the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development (CITD) in late 2019, he was given a broad objective: to make the CITD a more visible and valuable resource to the state of Oklahoma.

Like everyone across the globe, the pandemic impacted the CITD. And yet, the networks they developed during that time (often virtually) provide valuable avenues to generate impact, and their work continues gaining momentum.

For example, the CITD has had the opportunity to take part in the leadership of statewide organizations such as the Oklahoma Governor’s International Team (OKGIT) and to assist in planning events like the Oklahoma Consular Summit and World Trade Conference. These engagements have led to meaningful and mutually productive relationships with leaders in the state and abroad.

On the research side, the center’s body of work includes several meaningful pieces explaining important aspects of trade and competitiveness in Oklahoma. In addition, it has had opportunities to serve the state through research efforts on behalf of the

Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The CITD has also branched out to begin producing private sector-oriented research.

The students working in the CITD have played a vital role in the research and client service aspects of the CITD. Through the generosity of their founder and namesake, former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins, a Wes Watkins Global Trade Fellowship has been established. The fellowship allows students to work as graduate assistants in the center, learn the practice of international trade and conduct important research to grow the state’s economy.

The CITD has also assisted many Oklahoma small businesses to develop its international markets through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade specialty center unit.

The world is complex, and to be successful, Oklahoma needs to continue

the legacy of global engagement that OSU has led for decades. The CITD is excited about its expanding role as a valued resource to the state regarding international trade and competitiveness.

The center looks forward to partnering with Oklahomans and our global partners to move Oklahoma forward.

For more information, visit global. okstate.edu/partnerships/citd/

Andrew Ranson, director, CITD

Changing the World

School of Global Studies prepares students to address global issues

In 1998, the school was founded and known as the School of International Studies, but in 2018, when Dr. Randy Kluver became the dean, the school changed its name to the SGS, hired full-time faculty and restructured the curriculum.

Now, it offers a Master of Science degree in Global Studies with four focus areas — global trade, public diplomacy and global communication, global leadership and development, and global disaster and crisis management. SGS also offers two graduate certificates in global issues and international disaster and emergency management as well as oversees the undergraduate minor in international studies.

In global trade, students can study the policies and the political and legal structures that surround global trade and economic development. In global leadership and development, they can also learn about global challenges and develop skills to enable them to be

leaders in addressing humanitarian and social issues.

In the area of global communication and public diplomacy, students learn skills and theories that prepare them for careers requiring an understanding of the global communication environment. And in global disaster and crisis management, students are prepared in those areas to work for government and nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Jami Fullerton, associate dean of SGS, said the master’s program tries to keep 50-60 graduate students enrolled, including half domestic and half international students. Currently, the program has students from approximately 10 countries.

“The theme of our program is ‘How will you change the world?’” Fullerton said. “It is not an area studies program. It is not a political science program. It is about solving world problems and addressing global issues. So, we try to prepare our students to go out in the world and fix problems facing our

world, such as in the environment, with refugees and trade.”

Fullerton stressed the program focuses on issue themes, not regions.

Graduate students are required to complete a thesis or an internship to earn their degree. The program helps students find internationally oriented internships, some with the U.S. Department of State and others with international NGOs and multinational companies.

For more information, visit global. okstate.edu/globalstudies/

Oklahoma State University has an international legacy going back to the 1950s, but the current School of Global Studies (SGS) is much younger — formed in 2018.

Dr. Jami Fullerton, associate dean, SGS

Creating Awareness

Center for Global Learning prepares students for international careers

In the nearly three decades since Oklahoma State University founded an office dedicated to studying abroad, OSU has sent over 15,000 students on high-impact global learning programs.

Building on OSU’s long history of international engagement, the Center for Global Learning (CGL) strives to significantly increase the global focus and competitiveness of its students, faculty and staff.

As a part of its 25th anniversary in 2021, the Study Abroad and National Student Exchange office announced its rebranding to the Center for Global Learning and the creation of the Center Model to expand strategic efforts across campus focused on increasing accessibility for more OSU students to not only study abroad, but also to intern abroad, participate in international service-learning projects and conduct research overseas.

The CGL’s primary mission is to address global challenges through international education and prepare students to serve as visionary leaders in their lives and professional careers. The mission is accomplished by connecting students

with discipline-specific academic experiences abroad; engaging them in activities that strengthen individual global competencies; and providing them opportunities to develop the skills and cultural understanding necessary to effectively address global challenges and advance not only the state of Oklahoma but potentially the world.

In addition to high-impact learning for students, the CGL orients itself around significant global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a key strength of the university and a priority area for OSU’s new strategic direction.

The CGL has set goals to develop its internal capacity and capability to triple student participation in study abroad. Currently, only 5% of OSU students graduate with study abroad experience, and the center will seek to increase this to 15% per year through the restructuring of faculty-led programming.

Additionally, it will focus on summer academic programs and increasing domestic student exchanges with other institutions in the United States, Canada and U.S. territories.

“The CGL is focused on leveraging global education opportunities and our unique ‘Cowboy Culture’ in cultivating graduates who influence the nation and transform the world,” said Dr. Jeff Simpson, OSU Global assistant dean. “A core component of the new OSU strategic plan is the development of an ideal graduate.

“There is no better way to become a more professional, responsible and engaged citizen than to spend time outside your comfort zone immersing yourself within diverse communities around the globe.”

For more information, visit global. okstate.edu/studyabroad/

STORY BRANDON WULZ | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Significant Service

International Students and Scholars Office provides critical support to students

Oklahoma State University’s Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) recently marked 50 years of providing service to OSU international students, scholars and their families.

Although ISS was founded in 1972, staff members had served the international constituency for several years before its founding. ISS spent many years in the Student Union as a member of the Division of Student Affairs, but in 2019, the university began an effort to consolidate international affairs under one unit and reassigned ISS as an independent office to the School for Global Studies and Partnerships, which is now OSU Global.

The office provides special support services to sponsored students and scholars. The design of these services helps reduce stress levels, ease transitions and promote sustained academic and personal success.

Its primary function includes orientation and registration of new international students and scholars on campus; employment permit issuance; sponsored student services; immigration maintenance; internship application processing for continuing students; OPT

post-degree internships for graduating internationals; and working with visiting scholars on J-visas.

Special constituencies within the international population require services beyond those listed in the university catalog.

For over 50 years, OSU has supported a unique constituency — sponsored international student programs. The office has proudly worked with many embassies; oil and petroleum companies; foreign universities; airlines; foundations; and other esteemed sponsors seeking to educate their populations by employing international individuals. OSU has had the privilege of working with more than 50 sponsors representing over 60 countries.

Another special constituency among OSU’s international population is visiting scholars (J-visa holders). Since the COVID-19 pandemic is waning, ISS has reestablished more

efforts to bring Bridge USA J-1 scholars and interns to campus. J-1 exchange visitors have increased through the College of Veterinary Medicine and University Dining Services programs as well as the global exchange student program. As of January 2023, OSU has 103 J scholars, students and interns representing 26 countries.

“We are very excited about the many opportunities for educational exchange and continue working with departments across campus so they can see the benefits, and learn the process, of bringing scholars to the OSU campus,” said Tim Huff, director of ISS.

For more information, visit lcl. okstate.edu/iss/

Tim Huff, director, ISS

Opening the Door

English Language and Intercultural Center assists in language development, cultural integration

Oklahoma State University’s English Language and Intercultural Center (ELIC) officially reopened its doors in fall 2022, building on 40 years of English Language instruction on campus.

The ELIC was previously known as the English Language Institute, but after COVID-19 halted international students studying abroad, the ELIC seized this time to reorganize its structure and curriculum, expand its offerings and change its name to better describe the programs and services offered.

One of ELIC’s first significant expansion initiatives on the intercultural side was to welcome 72 Afghan families who arrived in Stillwater in early November 2021. By partnering with various organizations, volunteers, teachers,and tutors, the ELIC provided the new arrivals with language and intercultural support.

The unit collaborates with OSU’s highly acclaimed TESOL/Linguistics program in the Department of English to provide instructors for English classes.

Students can enroll in two different programs: community engagement or the academic English track. The

community engagement track offers everyday intercultural communication skills needed to succeed during authentic English exchanges. The latter track prepares students with the necessary skills to succeed in OSU coursework. By taking an integrated approach, students circulate between language instruction, application and cultural enrichment activities to acquire a well-rounded English language experience.

Dr. Emily Boersma, director of the ELIC, joined the center in 2022. Her career has been built on teaching English as a second language in Latin America, Japan, and Africa, and running ELI Centers across the globe.

“I’m excited to see this center begin to grow,” Boersma said. “I look forward to having students from all over the world enroll in our center.”

As of the spring 2023 semester, the ELIC has seen students from Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Latin America, Afghanistan and Bolivia.

Boersma has goals for the ELIC to become a bridging center for students who didn’t have high enough Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores to gain admission to OSU. If the students complete a 12-week course with the center, they could be admitted to OSU.

She also wants to develop the intercultural side of the unit and provide workshops across campus and state to help instructors, professors and lecturers accommodate non-native speakers in their classrooms.

For more information, visit global. okstate.edu/elic/

Dr. Emily Boersma director, ELIC

STORY KELLI NORTON | PHOTO KELLI NORTON

CHANGE THE WORLD? Whose graduates

ORANGE IS THE ANSWER.

Oklahoma State University graduates are prepared to address society’s most pressing needs.

With the knowledge gained from our topranked faculty and programs to broad experiences on campus — they’re prepared to share our land-grant mission and give back to the state, nation and world.

We’ve seen them learn, strive and grow. Now our graduates are poised to join the evergrowing number of esteemed OSU alumni who make a difference every day.

No matter where our graduates give back, they will always be part of the Cowboy family.

100 countries sent students in fall 2022 for a total of 1,519 students.

$516,803, the estimated amount of grants OSU Global received in Fiscal Year 2022.

15,000 students have been sent on high-impact global learning programs over the past 30 years.

96 countries sent students in spring 2022 for a total of 1,380 students.

87 local and active members of Phi Beta Delta, the honor society dedicated to promoting international understanding and to recognizing individuals who have demonstrated scholarly achievement in international education and exchange.

>70 partnering universities that OSU sends and receives students from.

7 students for the 20232024 academic year have been recommended for a Fulbright Scholarship.

72 Afghan refugees were resettled in Stillwater with help from OSU Global.

1st accredited Korean Language course at OSU was offered in 2022.

Center for International Trade Development Highlights

Through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) unit, the CITD assists Oklahoma companies with trade facilitation and advising services. In addition to fielding technical requests, their role is to find companies that are potential exporters and help to get them export ready, assist companies that are new to exporting by guiding them through international inquiries and helping them develop a more consistent export strategy and make exports an integral and substantial part of their business.

Here are a few examples of companies the CITD has assisted in recent months:

OLIVANDO: AMANDA FORMAN

Through a collaborative effort, CITD assisted Amanda Forman with the complex logistics of getting her specialty olive oil from Italy to Tulsa for distribution. Forman, an OSU alumna, cultivates artisanal and sustainable olives and oversees their harvesting and milling to produce her unique Olivando Italian olive oil.

Success Stories

RPX: MIKE FOX AND STAN CANNATA

Through CITD, research was conducted for the Stillwater-based high-tech manufacturer, RPX, whose product offerings include optical technology that is used by emergency response teams. The research helped RPX connect with a prominent manufacturer in Australia which has led to a partnership agreement that will take their product into Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Amy Malek joined the School of Global Studies. An internationally recognized scholar in migration studies and the Iranian diaspora, Malek joined OSU as an assistant professor in global leadership and development. She also holds the endowed chair in Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies (IPGS).

OSU Alumnus Sydney Stewart named a 2022 Fulbright Alumni Ambassador. Stewart — who earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2017 and an animal science master’s degree in 2020 — will serve as a representative, recruiter and a voice for the Fulbright Program.

MOZZIE STYLE: HEATHER BOLES

A research project was also conducted for Mozzie Style, a local specialty apparel manufacturer, that provided insights for a planned expansion into the Canadian market. Heather Boles, Mozzie Style’s co-founder, said she was thankful of the effort.

OSU student Jeremey Hicks was awarded the Gilman Scholarship. He will study at Soongsil University in South Korea for the 2022-2023 academic year. Hicks is an undergraduate global studies student and works in the Center for Global Learning as a peer advisor. In 2019, he was also selected for the prestigious State Department-funded David Boren Scholarship to study in Japan. After completing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to attend graduate school and work toward becoming a Foreign Service Officer.

Dr. Bruce Noden, associate professor, medical and veterinary entomology, accepted for a project proposal as a Fulbright Specialist. Noden will be on a project-based exchange at a host institution in Namibia.

School of Global Studies Master’s Internships

The School of Global Studies requires each master’s student to complete at least one internship during their time in the program if they are not completing a thesis. OSU Global is proud of the students below for their completed internships.

 Anahita Badkoubeh Hezaveh , Arak, Iran — YA Coffee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 Elaheh Eshragi , Tehran, Iran — Enterprise Grain Company in Kremlin, Oklahoma

 Forrest Hair, Norman, Oklahoma — Center on Religion and the Global East in West Lafayette, Indiana

 Michael Johnson , Houston — Raytheon Technologies

 Lisa Leon Islas , Puebla, Mexico — Autoneum in Novi, Michigan

 Calvin McKinney, Texarkana, Texas — Airbnb in Bangkok, Thailand

 Emilio Ramirez Ramos , Puebla, Mexico — The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in San Salvador, El Salvador

 Mitchell Wolf, Keller, Texas — Lobo Institute

Top 11 Home Countries of OSU Global Students

These nations sent the most students to OSU based on 2022 data:

 India (1030)

 China (573)

 Kuwait (276)

 Bangladesh (230)

 Iran (186)

 Saudi Arabia (154)

 Nigeria (150)

 Nepal (138)

 South Korea (118)

 Ghana (69)

 Mexico (69)

Top 10 Study Abroad Destinations

These countries have the most OSU Global students visit for study abroad based on 2021-22 data:

 Spain

 United Arab Emirates

 Mexico

 Ireland

 Iceland

 Costa Rica

 Greece

 Finland

 United Kingdom

 Czech Republic

Rankings

QS* WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

 OSU placed in 10 academic disciplines. Hospitality and Leisure Management; Petroleum Engineering; Agriculture and Forestry; Economics and Econometrics; Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing; Environmental Sciences; Business and Management Studies; Physics and Astronomy; Biological Sciences; and Medicine.

 In Academic Reputation, OSU’s Hospitality and Leisure Management scored the highest among OSU disciplines with a 51.6 rating.

 In Employer Reputation, the university’s best performance came in Agriculture and Forestry where it earned a score of 68.9.

Faculty Journal Publication Highlights

The School of Global Studies faculty had a great year in scholarly achievements.

The following includes a list of papers in journals that School of Global Studies faculty members have been published in, followed by a list of journals where OSU faculty have been published this last year. OSU faculty are listed in bold.

School of Global Studies:

Abdi, K., Fullerton, J. , Deheshti, M., Kavand, R., Monibi, H., & Talebpour, M. (2022). Identifying the conceivable diplomatic outcomes of Sport Diplomacy initiatives. International Area Studies Review, 25(4), 322–337.

McKinnon, L., Fullerton, J. & Kendrick, A. (2022). A Test of PR Students’ Ability to Differentiate Native Advertising from Editorial Content in Online Media. Public Relations Journal, 15(1).

Schoeneman, J., Fullerton, J. Exploring relationships between nation branding and foreign direct investment. Place Brand Public Dipl (2022).

Schoeneman, J. Corporate connections: how centrality, structural dependence, and transnationalization relate to lobbying activity. Int Groups Adv 11, 443–465 (2022).

Schoeneman, J. , Zhu, B., & Desmarais, B. (2022). Complex dependence in foreign direct investment: Network theory and empirical analysis. Political Science Research and Methods, 10(2), 243-259.

Schoeneman, J., Brienen, M. (2022). The COVID-19 Pandemic and Export Disruptions in the United States. In: Benito, R.M., Cherifi, C., Cherifi, H., Moro, E., Rocha, L.M., Sales-Pardo, M. (eds) Complex Networks & Their Applications X. COMPLEX NETWORKS 2021. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 1015. Springer, Cham.

*Quacquarelli Symonds is the established world leader in higher education performance and insights.

An Orange World

OSU awarded the IIE American Passport Project Grant

Oklahoma State University students now have the opportunity to take the first step on their international journeys: obtaining a free passport.

OSU and the Center for Global Learning (CGL) were recently selected by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to receive an IIE American Passport Project grant.

The grant enables 25 OSU students to obtain a free U.S. passport and support their study abroad journeys. In the second year of the program, IIE awarded 40 institutions for this opportunity, which will help 1,000 Pelleligible U.S. students obtain their first U.S. passports.

For many students, studying abroad requires long-term planning and involves up-front financial hurdles which could bar them from moving forward.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity for OSU students, as we recognize that passports can be an

initial barrier to considering studying abroad,” said Dr. Jeff Simpson, assistant dean for OSU Global. “Simply having a passport shifts individual mindsets on willingness to travel outside the United States. With the support of the Institute of International Education and our campus partners, 25 OSU students will now have the passport they need to access opportunities to gain global perspectives within their field of study while obtaining new skills that will impact the way they learn, work and live.”

Upon receipt of the grant, the CGL, under the guidance of OSU Global, actively collaborated with campus partners to nominate 25 first-year students to apply for the IIE grant.

Once accepted, students have been working with CGL staff to secure their passports, including educating and assisting the student nominees on the overall application process, providing passport photographs courtesy of the Spears School of Business Center for Advanced Global Leadership and

Engagement team and collaborating with OSU Mailing Services to remove any financial barriers to passport application processing.

The IIE American Passport Project provides one critical piece of the multifaceted effort needed to reach students who are traditionally underrepresented in studying abroad: a passport.

The grant is intended to promote diversity, inclusion, access and equity in study abroad and to support IIE’s global membership network in their efforts to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education.

The CGL will provide innovative programming, engagement efforts, advising and support for students receiving the grant with the goal of sending them on a study abroad program during their college experience.