Spotlight on International Education at MTSU
Table of Contents
Page 4 Spotlight of MTSU’s Internationalization Efforts
Page 5 Strategic Goals 2021–2026
Page 6 Spotlight on International Student Enrollment
Page 7 Spotlight on Student Outreach
Page 8 Spotlight on Education Abroad
Page 8 Spotlight on Study Abroad Fair and Scholarships
Page 10 Spotlight on Student Success
Page 11 Spotlight on Community Outreach
Page 12 Spotlight on Student Events on Campus
Page 13 Spotlight on International Research
Page 14 Spotlight on Publication and International Collaborations
Page 15 Spotlight on Professional Development
Page 15 Spotlight on Social Media
Page 16 Spotlight on Faculty Achievements
Page 17 Spotlight on International Collaboration
Conceptualized and edited by Matthew Wells
Contributions by Paige Brake, Rehab Ghazal, Cindy Habara, Mei Han, Robert Summers, Matthew Wells, and Guanping Zheng
Spotlight on MTSU’s Internationalization Efforts
Welcome to the Middle Tennessee State University Office of International Affairs Annual Impact Report.
This is our fourth annual publication and as such highlights selected accomplishments and statistics from the 2023–24 academic year. I am proud to share that the Office of International Affairs at MTSU has continued to persevere and dedicate our time and talent to the internationalization of our campus.
In the pages that follow, you will see a visual SPOTLIGHT of the international footprint of the campus. In the third year of our strategic plan, you will see how International Affairs has committed itself to a deeper, broader, and more equitable academic and student life experience. You will see the high impact practices that improve completion, retention, and transfer rates. You will see the work of the Office of International Affairs, which is a critical component of student success. The report reaffirms the significant international work that MTSU was able to accomplish.
We are True Blue!
Robert Summers
Japanese Consul General Shinji Watanabe and his delegation with International Affairs Enrollment Management Director Cindy Habara and graduate assistant Oladimeji Afolayan.
Photo Credit: John Gale
Robert Summers
Vice Provost for International Affairs
Strategic Goals 2021-2026
I. WE WILL EQUIP OUR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
II. WE WILL BE A COMMUNITY LEADER IN INTERNATIONALIZATION
III. WE WILL PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS
IV. WE WILL BE INNOVATIVE AND NIMBLE IN OUR INTERNATIONALIZATION EFFORTS
MTSU International Affairs continues to equip all our students to succeed internationally by providing international experiences and expanding services to support various programs, such as hosting Rutherford Country Schools and MTSU classes at the Center for Chinese Music and Culture and the Center for Asian Studies. In addition, the office offers class presentations, internships, and graduate assistantships to both domestic and international students.
We also strive to be a community leader in internationalization by celebrating internationalism on campus and within the community and facilitating programming, such as the ’Boro International Festival and International Education Week, among others. All of these celebrate the diversity of MTSU’s community and support international competency, inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, and empathy.
Supporting the University at large, the 2023–24 Faculty Learning Community (FLC) offered three unique opportunities for the campus community to engage in research and collaborative work focused on education abroad and intercultural competency. These were:
• Best Practices for Planning and Developing a Signature Study Abroad across Disciplines
• Study Abroad for the True Blue Core
• Intercultural Engagement in Short Term Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs Across Disciplines
Spotlight on International Student Enrollment
Photo Credit:
Spotlight on Student Outreach
We partner with numerous agents worldwide in our recruitment efforts to reach prospective students. These partner agents represent over 45 different countries, from Australia to India. Agents vary from large corporate networks spanning many regions to local offices specializing in their specific communities. One important recruiting event was our partner appreciation dinner in Hyderabad, India. Hosted by Vice Provost Robert Summers, it showed our appreciation to the more than 160 partners in attendance. Kim Sokoya, associate dean for graduate and executive education in the Jones College of Business, also attended and gave a presentation on the college and its programs.
In addition, Associate Vice Provost Rehab Ghazal and MTSU President Sidney McPhee went on a recruitment trip to the Middle East and North Africa region, with the aim of increasing Egyptian student enrollment. Efforts such as these allow us to introduce MTSU to prospective students.
President McPhee speaking to the Legacy Tours group of Bahamian students when they visited campus.
Photo Credit: John Wilson
The Legacy Tours group of Bahamian students with President McPhee and his wife, Elizabeth.
Photo Credit: John Wilson
Vo Hu Ha, agent partner from Vietnam, with International Affairs staff, deans, and representatives from MTSU’s colleges.
Photo Credit: Matthew Wells
Spotlight on Education Abroad
The Office of International Affairs has significantly expanded its program offerings for students. New agreements with providers, alongside ongoing collaborations with partner universities, are enriching both semester-long and short-term study opportunities. Many of our renowned faculty-led programs during the summer now include visits to partner universities, facilitating direct interaction between MTSU students, local students, and faculty.
From fall 2023 to summer 2024, a total of 246 students participated in overseas studies, representing six MTSU colleges. The College of Liberal Arts led with 67 students. Looking ahead, the Office of Education Abroad aims to boost participation across all colleges while maintaining strong engagement from the College of Liberal Arts.
Notably, the largest increases in student participation between 2022–23 and 2023–24 were seen in University College with an 83.3% rise and in Behavioral and Health Sciences with a 23.3% increase.
These programs spanned the globe, offering diverse experiences in countries such as Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Senegal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, and the UK.
Above: “London Calling” Recording Industry Study Abroad Photo Submitted
Above: New Zealand Study Abroad at Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Photo Credit: Ray Wiley
Study Abroad Fair
The annual Study Abroad Fair, held on November 15, was a highlight of International Education Week in 2023. Featuring over 30 tables staffed by faculty leaders and provider partners, the event was highly successful. Hundreds of students and community members had the opportunity to inquire about study abroad programs, gather information, and receive travel-related swag such as stickers, pens, luggage tags, buttons, and other giveaways. Notably, the event featured major giveaways, including five Education Abroad scholarships totaling $1,250 and one flight scholarship valued at $2,000.
Scholarships
As part of its strategic goals, the Office of International Affairs supports domestic students to go abroad. During the 2023–24 academic year, 349 scholarships were awarded to MTSU students. The scholarships awarded totaled over $370,000. In addition, eight MTSU students were awarded the esteemed Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in summer 2024.
Students at the Study Abroad Fair
Photo Credit: Paige Brake
Spotlight on Student Success
MTSU currently has 114 students participating in post-completion Optional Practical Training or the STEM 24-month extension. These students are employed across the United States by technology companies, hospitals, accounting firms, consulting firms, health care laboratories, and other universities. Across the United States, wherever these talented individuals go, they will always be ambassadors for MTSU and international education.
The Fifth International Student Media Arts Festival
The Fifth International Student Media Arts Festival (ISMA) ran from May 27 to June 1 in Seoul, South Korea. This year’s festival, themed “Climate Change and Cities,” brought together a diverse array of talent from universities worldwide to explore global issues through digital media art. Over 150 students and professors from 25 universities participated in the festival, showcasing their innovative digital media art pieces.
MTSU in the 2024 Paris Olympics
MTSU’s Track and Field team had two international students compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics running for their home countries. Alaba Akintola, a 2023 MTSU graduate, competed in the men’s 4x100 meter relay for Nigeria, and Leonie Beu competed in the women’s 100-meter race for Papua New Guinea. There was also one domestic student, John Sherman, who represented his family heritage and ran for their home country of Liberia in this year’s Olympics.
Alaba Akintola running for MTSU
Photo Credit: MT Athletics
Professors Kevin McNulty and Guanping Zheng with three of the students from the team that created Bubbles.
Photo Credit: Kevin McNulty
Spotlight on Community Outreach
The MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture continues to expand its service to students and the community over the past year, increasing its presence and popularity. The center’s involvement in a recent economic impact study conducted by Americans for the Arts revealed that Rutherford County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry had generated $52.4 million in revenue in 2022, a 68% increase in economic growth compared to the 2017 study. As an integral part of MTSU’s arts and culture initiatives, the center takes pride in its role within the local arts community and its contribution to economic growth.
Throughout this period, the center garnered important media attention. The center and its director, Mei Han, were featured in Chinese Puzzle: Learning Chinese in the US, a documentary by Shanghai Eastern TV Station. Articles on the center’s activities were published by MTSU News (Oct. 25, 2023, and January 26, 2024), Murfreesboro Pulse (Feb. 2024), and MTSU Sidelines (Sept. 29, 2023, and April 2, 2024). The media coverage highlighted the center’s commitment to serve and engage in cross-cultural dialogue and education.
Director Mei Han and members of the MTSU Chinese Music Ensemble after performing in Washington, D.C.
Photo Credit: Mei Han
“Heralding the Dragon: Celebration of the Lunar New Year” Concert
Photo Credit: Mei Han
Spotlight on Student Events on Campus
Many events were hosted on campus to celebrate and highlight cultural diversity. The Office of International Affairs hosted many successful events, including our annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner in collaboration with the Muslim Student Association and the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs. This is just one of many events that help bring cultural involvement and awareness to our diverse student population on campus. Also, each semester ends with our Celebration for our International Graduates and Exchange Students. It’s always an immense honor that these students choose MTSU to further their education, and we’re proud of every one of them.
Nowruz celebration
Photo Credit: Mohammad Meerzaei
Above: Ramadan Iftar Dinner
Photo Credit: Matthew Wells
Celebration for our International Graduates and Exchange Students
Photo Credit: Matthew Wells
Spotlight on International Research
ACE Internationalization Wrap-Up
One of the key goals for Middle Tennessee State University’s latest strategic plan, the Academic Master Plan (AMP) 2015–2025, titled “The Reach to Distinction,” Strategic Direction 1, focuses on enhancing the internationalization of programs and partnerships to support learning, scholarship, and student success. To achieve this, MTSU joined the 19th cohort of the American Council on Education (ACE) Internationalization Laboratory to develop and implement effective internationalization strategies. This involved a comprehensive, multiyear, campuswide dialogue, engaging administrators, faculty, and students to assess current internationalization efforts and identify strengths and opportunities for growth. The process was organized around six strategic priorities:
• Institutional Commitment and Policy
• Leadership and Structure
• Curriculum and Co-Curriculum
• Faculty and Staff Support
• Partnerships
• Mobility
In November 2023, a Peer Review Team visited MTSU, resulting in a report with recommendations, including updating the international student recruitment plan, enhancing support for international students, embedding internationalization in future strategic plans, improving communication, strengthening risk management, and increasing faculty engagement in international activities. The Peer Review Team believes MTSU is poised to become a leader in internationalization among similar institutions.
Above: Robert Summers and International Affairs staff members at our Fall 2024 Welcome Event
Photo Credit: Juvy Burns
Above: Paige Brake and Juvy Burns, International Affairs staff members, at our Fall 2024 Welcome Event
Photo Credit: Matthew Wells
MTSU Publications with International Collaborations
Below are some data on recent MTSU publications with international collaborations. Professor Mary Ellen Sloane from MTSU’s James E. Walker Library analyzed data from two scholarly indexes, Scopus and OpenAlex, and found the following: From January 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, over a quarter of all the MTSU publications (157 of 586) were done with an international collaboration, totaling 52 countries.* The top three countries were China (41), Poland (16), and Canada (15).
* The numbers are slightly different in OpenAlex: 571 MTSU publications between 1/1/23-7/1/24, of those 131 MTSU publications with an international collaboration.
Spotlight Professional Development
MTSU International Affairs at NAFSA
The Office of International Affairs had seven staff members attend the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference and Expo held in New Orleans, Louisiana. NAFSA is the world’s largest and most diverse nonprofit association dedicated to international education practices that ensure a more interconnected, peaceful world. Members from more than 100 countries convene for the conference every year.
MTSU representatives and Qatari delegation at the Academic Bridge Program signing
Photo Credits: John Wilson
Spotlight Social Media
Our Instagram has experienced consistent growth over the first half of 2024. We currently have more than 1,600 followers, and our content strategy on the platform has molded into a mix of content focused on student engagement and announcements for webinars and events our office is doing that current and prospective students should know about. Our top performing posts have been posts highlighting events such as International Celebration for our Spring Graduates, International Welcome Event, and our Ramadan Iftar Dinner. Also, videos, such as both of our graduate assistants appearing on Out of the Blue, reached a wider audience than expected.
We also started a LinkedIn page earlier in 2024 in hopes to capture the growing audience of prospective students, alumni, and agents. In the short time the page has been active, we’ve organically grown it to 57 followers, and we hope that, with a bit more focus put into it, the page will take off. Some top performing posts on LinkedIn so far have been posts about our agent event in India, Guanping Zheng’s Fulbright Award, and President McPhee’s recruitment trip to the Middle East.
Above: Screenshot of our Instagram post with the highest engagement—800 impressions and 126 engagements
Below: Screenshot of the LinkedIn post with the highest engagement—498 impressions and 33 engagements
Scan the QR code to find links to all of our social media!
Spotlight on Faculty Achievements
Fullbright Scholar
Guanping Zheng, director of Center for Asian Studies at Middle Tennessee State University, was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for 2024–25 for the U.S.-Taiwan International Education Administrators Seminar.
As a part of the IEA seminar, Zheng spent two weeks in Taiwan learning about their higher education system, built MTSU’s capacity for international education, and opened doors to collaboration with colleagues and students in Taiwan.
President Elect of AIRC
Robert Summers, vice provost for international affairs at Middle Tennessee State University, was elected the new president of AIRC, the Association of International Enrollment Management. Summers, who began his term in December leading AIRC’s 10-member Board of Directors, will serve three years—first as president-elect, second as president, and third as past president. Summers will strive to uphold the AIRC’s mission to promote ethical, standardsbased international recruitment strategies.
Guanping Zheng
Robert Summers
Spotlight on International Collaboration
President McPhee’s Recruitment Trip
At the request of MTSU President Sidney McPhee, International Affairs organized a strategic trip to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, visiting three countries—United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt. McPhee, a seasoned leader with over 23 years at MTSU, had not previously focused on this region but was eager to establish a stronger presence for MTSU and foster long-term partnerships with local institutions. The trip took place May 5–18 and included Andrew Oppmann, vice president of marketing and communication, as well as Rehab “Rubie” Ghazal, associate vice provost of international affairs. During the visit, the delegation met with over 200 stakeholders including government officials, U.S. Embassy officials, and different university senior leadership.
STEM with UKRAINE
Hanna Terletska, associate professor and head of the Quantum Science Initiative at MTSU, coordinated with Khrystyna Voitovych, associate dean from the Ukrainian Drohobybych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, to launch the “STEM with UKRAINE” initiative in spring 2024. The initiative helped democratize access to quantum education and foster cross-cultural connections for a more inclusive and interconnected future in STEM. In the end, 100 students from six countries participated in the initiative.
President McPhee and Rehab Ghazal with MTSU alumna
Anna May Yacovone, senior director of international programs and services, and Ahmed Abdel-Meguid, associate provost of enrollment management, at The American University of Cairo on their MENA recruitment trip.
Photo Credit: May Gad
Above: International participants from the “STEM with UKRAINE’” initiative.
Photo Submitted
Right: President McPhee and Rehab Ghazal on their MENA recruitment trip with USAID Global Scholars who planned to come to MTSU this fall.
Photo Credit: May Gad
Japanese Consul General Visits Campus
In June 2024, MTSU had the honor of hosting Consul General Shinji Watanabe and Consul Shoko Matsuoka, along with their delegation, for a special visit. This visit underscored the strong and growing relationship between MTSU and Japan, highlighting opportunities for future collaboration and cultural exchange.
Academic Bridge Program MOU
The Academic Bridge Program (ABP), part of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, is a leading pre-university program designed for high school graduates from Qatar and neighboring countries. In May, during the NAFSA conference, ABP signed a memorandum of understanding with MTSU, marking a significant step in both institutions’ commitment to international collaboration and student success.
Right: International Affairs management meeting with consul general of Japan
Photo Credit: John Gale
Right: Rehab Ghazal and Saheim Al-Temimi signing the Academic Bridge Program memorandum of understanding at NAFSA
Photo Credit: John Wilson
Below: President McPhee and MTSU Board Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak Vanek with Japanese Consul General Shinji Watanabe.
Photo Credit: John Gale
