Table of Contents
- El Jefe Updates-Bill Holmes
- Highlighting October Collaborations: WSU Scare Fair
- Students Abroad: Learning from Abroad Conference
- International Education Week 2017
- Upcoming Events: November
El Jefe Updates: Bill Holmes
October has been a busy month for the UCIE!
This month, we were able to help the Indian Student Association (ISA) celebrate Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. More than 500 students, faculty, and community members joined our Wright State Indian community in an evening of celebration. Our ISA leadership truly rose to the occasion to share their culture with our community. I would like to thank them very much for the honor of an invitation and being able to say a few words.
For November, UCIE has numerous events and celebrations planned as part of International Education Week. This week is a celebration of International Education with national efforts led by the US Department of Education and the US Department of State. In this newsletter, you can save-the-date for many programs offered during the week of November 13-17th.
Today, I hosted my final Open Forum for the fall semester. I look forward to more in the spring term so please be looking out for the dates. I have enjoyed learning about Wright State and gathered information on the many international efforts that have taken place prior to my arrival, as well as ideas for the future. The UCIE will be announcing several other forums shortly for spring semester and I hope to begin preparing for the future of International Education at Wright State together with you!
Now that I have had an opportunity to learn more about WSU and gather data on the work that has been done, I see there is still a lot to do in the coming months. We are finalizing the development of an international recruitment committee that will work to not only increase numbers but increase the diversity of countries represented. I would welcome your input along the way as we get moving on this work. International markets are rapidly changing and it is important for WSU to become a more active participant on the world stage to a degree not before managed. Stay tuned for more as we develop the plans.
Wright State is committed to diversity and certainly international students contribute to the richness of our campus culture. I am greatly heartened by the positive relationships that I see between the UCIE staff and so many of you and I look forward to increasing our international population and bringing more of the world to us here in the Miami Valley!
In the coming weeks and months I will also turn a bit of my attention to our domestic students and faculty as the desire for increased Education Abroad opportunities is a continual thread. I am pleased to find such a high level of interest among our students for getting outside of their comfort zone and engaging with the world. I see no reason why WSU cannot provide a meaningful - and affordable – experience abroad for all of our students regardless of major. I am here to help make this a reality.
My best to you all and I look forward to continually getting to know all of you better.
Highlighting October Collaborations: WSU Scare Fair
The University Center for International Education collaborated with the University Activity Board (UAB), Indian Student Association (ISA), and International Cultural Exchange (ICE) to bring a favorite Halloween pastime to campus, pumpkin carving at the WSU Scare Fair. The event's mission set out not only to encourage students to get involved on campus, but also to expose international students to American culture. For some international students, this was their first experience celebrating Halloween. The event included education on the history of Halloween, pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, mummy bowling, and other Halloween treats that brought many different cultures together. A flash mob, led by ISA, brought awareness of the upcoming Diwali, Festival of Lights, event that would take place a couple days after on campus. The UCIE thanks UAB, ISA, and ICE for their contribution to a successful event.
Some other October collaborations included:
- Winter Preparation Session with Dr. Eustace's Clinical Nursing Students, October 5th
- Immigration after Graduation with Varun Luthra, Immigration Lawyer, October 6th
- Young's Dairy Trip with International Friendships Inc., October 7th
- International Women's Gathering: Sip and Paint with International Women's Organization and Club of Canvas and Art, October 11th
- Global Connections with University Libraries, October 13th
- Mock Job Interviews with the Career Center, October 20th
- Hocking Hills Trip with International Friendships Inc. and International Cultural Exchange, October 21st
- Diwali with Indian Student Association, October 29th
Students Abroad: Learning from Abroad Conference
Wright State University Center for International Education took 9 Study Abroad alumni to the Learning From Abroad Conference on October 21, 2017. This conference, held at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, was the first conference of its kind to be held in Ohio. Conferences like these help Study Abroad alumni prepare for their future careers by teaching them how to use their Study Abroad experiences in the job market. Our nine students Emma Peterson (France, Chile), Michael Manning (Spain), Nicole Arnold (Japan), Amber Daniels (Poland), Stephanie Patino-Garfias (India, Morocco), Olivia Howar (France), Robert Johnson (Italy), Brandon Keener (Thailand), and Erin Renslow (Italy) enjoyed the conference and from it they have gained valuable knowledge that will help them long after college.
International Education Week 2017
November 13-17th marks the 18th anniversary of International Education Week (IEW), an annual celebration of international education and exchange worldwide. Institutions across the United States and around the world are hosting events throughout the week to recognize international students, education abroad, and internationalization. Join us at the following events:
Upcoming Events: November
