Table of Contents
- La Jefa Updates-Michelle Streeter-Ferrari
- Thank You to Our February Collaborators
- March's Major Event: International Women's Day Events
- Transforming Lives: Wright State University's Pilgrimage to the Carolinas (Spring Break 2016)- Dr. Tracy Snipe
- Our Biggest International Festival of the Year
- International Student Highlight:Surjeet Singh
- International Visitors Leadership Program
- Study Abroad Site Highlights: Russia
La Jefa Updates
2016 marks 70 years of the Fulbright Program. Since its founding in 1946, the program has helped foster international understanding, education, and research throughout the world. The program is a wonderful opportunity for faculty, students, and recent alumni and provides both traditional, flex, and short-term opportunities. Fulbright seeks applications from a variety of institutions, so check out more information on the faculty program at http://eca.state.gov/fulbright and the student program at http://us.fulbrightonline.org./#&panel1-2
Other opportunities and deadlines for faculty are coming up in UCIE. The UCIE International Seed Grant Program will fund four grants in the amount of $2,000 each. The deadline is March 11th and more information can be found at https://www.wright.edu/international-education/faculty-travel/internatio.... Also, faculty may want to consider submitting a proposal for a new Ambassador Program. The deadline is April 1st and more information can be found at https://www.wright.edu/international-education/faculty-travel/faculty-pr.... Traveling abroad for WSU? Remember to notify UCIE and receive travel assistance through International SOS,https://www.wright.edu/international-education/faculty-travel/internatio....
Stay tuned for more deadlines and opportunities to internationalize your campus through UCIE!
-Michelle Streeter-Ferrari-Director of the University Center for International Education
Thank You to Our February Collaborators
2016 is well on its way. In the month of February we were able to celebrate our international community at our International Women's Gathering, eight UCIE Convo Club sessions, Chinese New Year, Mongolian New Year, Kuwait National Day, Valentine's Day, and Salsa Samba Night. Thank you to all the offices that used their time and resources to support our endeveors in internationalizing our campus. Some February collaborations include the following:
- February 2nd-International Women's Gathering: With the Women's Center
- February 5th-Global Connections: Ref Works and Chinese New Year Celebration: With University Libraries and the Chinese Student and Scholar Association
- February 10th-Valentine's Day Dance: With the International Cultural Exchange
- February 12th-Global Connections: Healthy Relationships: With Counseling and Wellness Services
- February 20th-Wright State International Festival Auditions: With Chris Hogan from Student Conduct
- February 21st-DACA's Chinese Spring Festival: With the Dayton Association of Chinese Americans and the Chinese Student and Scholar Association
- February 23rd-Private Yoga Session for Women: With the International Women Organization
- February 25th-Salsa Samba Night: With the Office of Latino Affairs
- February 26th-Global Connections: Kuwait National Day: With the Kuwait Student Organization
- February 27th-UpDayton's Free Ice Skating Event: With UpDayton
March's Major Event: International Women's Day
Make this International Women's Day a day to remember with the following great events:
- Women's Center Kick Off Coffee and Tea Tastings-12-2:30pm-154 Millet Hall-Tuesday, March 8th
- UCIE's International Women's Gathering: Make-Up Tutorial Session and More-Note this is a private event only for women-2-4pm-Student Union E190-Tuesday, March 8th
- "He Named Me Malala" Film Screening- Discovery Rooms Student Union 163-Friday, March 11th
Transforming Lives: Wright State University's Pilgrimage to the Carolinas (Spring Break 2016)
Approximately thirty Wright State University (WSU) students, faculty, staff and members from various communities will have the opportunity to participate in a truly once in a lifetime pilgrimage. Several campus leaders will participate, including President Hopkins. This year’s pilgrimage honors the Carolinas still largely overlooked contribution to the American Civil Rights Movement, a Movement which decades later still resonate with broad global appeal. At the height of the unrest in Egypt several years ago during the "Arab Spring," protestors held out a sign that simply included the slogan ‘We Shall Overcome.’ The Bolinga Center Center/Multiracial Affairs and Community Engagement) MACE is officially supporting this event for the third year in a row with the help of several co-sponsors such as University Center for International Education (UCIE). W.S.U. is one of the first schools in the nation to have such an outing to the Carolinas and introduce it in the curriculum. There was a three-fold increase in PLS taught (PLS 4940/6940) by Dr. Snipe. The pilgrimage experience is a class assignment. It is recommended that students take the class but it is not a requirement for going on the pilgrimage. After more intentional marketing and advertising, to our delight roughly a fifth of undergraduate and graduate students participating this year are internationals students from countries such as Iran, Nigeria, India, and Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage will be held during spring break (March 1-6, 2016). Among other outings, it includes a visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum (formerly Woolworth) in Greensboro, NC. This is the city where college students led sit-in demonstrations in 1960 that rapidly spread throughout the South. The WSU delegation will also travel to Charleston, S.C. and tour the historic Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church, which is richly steeped in history. People around the world were touched by the bravery and riveting testimonies of surviving family members of the “Emanuel Nine” in the immediacy of the unspeakable tragedy and violent crime that occurred there on June 17, 2015. Students will have the opportunity to interact with family members, scholars and people from the community. Pre-planning soon gets under way for next year's trip (2017), which may also include an international destination. It will focus on the Midwest with a possible excursion to Toronto, Canada. -Dr. Tracy Snipe, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science
International Student Highlight: Surjeet Singh 
1. Please introduce yourself:
My name is Surjeet Singh. I’m pursuing a Graduate Degree in Renewable & Clean Energy. I'm a citizen of India and I have a permanent residency of Australia. Before coming to Wright State, I successfully completed another Graduate Degree in Engineering Technology from University of Southern Queensland. I worked as an Assistant Professor in my home country India for 3 years in Mechanical Engineering Department.
2. Why did you chose to study at Wright State?
During my job profile as Assistant Professor, I developed a keen interest in Energy Sector. I started looking for universities that provide courses in Renewable Energy. I started contacting related faculties to get information about the program structure. Dr. James Menart who is the director of Renewable & Clean Energy program in WSU corresponded with me in a prompt manner. I developed an understanding of program structure and its utility for the future development. Moreover, I was provided a good scholarship by the International Office on offer letter. These two factors made my decision stronger that I wanted to join Wright State.
3. In what ways are you (or have been) involved on campus?
At present, I am President of Rowdy Chess Club & Sikh Students Association. I am Vice-President of Hindu YUVA and an active member of a dozen on-campus and off-campus organizations. I am working as a Graduate Assistant in UCIE. Being a designer, I designed the posters for Wright State International Festival for 2015 and 2016. This year’s poster is one of my best creations. I am a Table Tennis winner of IM Leagues 2015. There are many skill based events organized by UCIE for International Students and I have been a part of all these initiatives. I am involved in every possible way that develops leadership skills, team building skills and entrepreneurship skills. These skills helped me get an Internship in DP&L. I believe it is very important for international students to be involved in the activities on-campus.
5. What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I want to be a part of energy industry where I can learn the technologies that can develop healthier living environment. My internship is a good start. My long term goal is to be an entrepreneur where I can have my own business and by god’s grace, I should be able to help the community in a better way. I am very thankful to Wright State University and UCIE for developing a belief and confidence that I require for future success.
International Visitors Leadership Program
On February 24, 2016 the Center for International Education hosted a visiting delegation of police officers from the West Bank. The officers are visiting the United States through the Department of State Program, International Visitors Leadership Program, in hopes to learn about American procedures in different police sectors to work towards a safe and secure world. The delegates were able to learn about best practices in the Fairborn and Dayton Police Departments, as well as the Greene County Agencies for Combined Enforcement (ACE Task Force). We also have an upcoming delegation from Brazil from March 5-9. This delegation is focusing on Public Security and Community Policing Practices. During their stay in Dayton, Ohio, the delegation will have the opportunity to meet with the following organizations: Community Problem Response Team, Neighborhood Assistance Officers Training Program, Miami Valley Crime Association, Miami Valley Crime Stoppers, Huber Heights Police Division; in efforts to learn more about best practices used that could be applied to their efforts in Brazil.
Study Abroad Site Highlights: Russia 
2016 is the year to study abroad and mark adventures off your bucket list. With over 40 countries to chose from the task of narrowing it down can be overwhelming. Here we will highlight one of our spectacular sites for this week's newsletter.
Be awed by the sights and wonders of St. Petersburg as the cultural and historic hub that it is. Going beyond the traditional sense of a classroom, students will engage in cultural and social events every week such as the The Russian Museum, Baltika Beer Brewery, and so much more. Students can take courses in intensive Russian and others focused around Art, History, Political Science, and Sociology.
An additional bonus is that our 3rd party provider, AIFS, is matching our $1,000 scholarship AND additional grants so students are able to get $2,200-$2,400 towards their study abroad program!
Don't forgot with a $1,000 UCIE scholarship, UCIE being a Passport Acceptance Facility, and our open advising hours from 10 am - 4 pm everyday, you can make adventure a reality this year!
