Penn State Global Engagement Report 2023

PENN STATE GLOBAL

ENGAGEMENT REPORT

FOR OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE UNIVERSITY

Our internal partners are critical for Penn State Global to be successful in advancing global engagement and making Penn State a leading global university. This report highlights programs and initiatives in collaboration with units around the University and opportunities for increased engagement.

Overview

Penn State Global leads the transformation of Penn State into a truly global University where global perspectives and global engagement are integrated across the entire University community—faculty, staff, and students—and in all components of the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service.

60 Countries Partnerships with

Partnerships

204 Partner Institutions

International Students

257 Active Agreements

9,671 International students

Across the commonwealth

1,182 Sponsored Students

Across the commonwealth

Education Abroad

50+ Countries

2,660

Students studied abroad

2022-2023

On six continents

A Reflection by Penn State Global Leadership

We would like to begin by recognizing the transition in leadership for Penn State Global during the spring semester of 2024. Vice Provost Roger Brindley will be leaving the university at spring break and Associate Vice Provost Sabine Klahr will take the reins as the Interim Vice Provost.

Recently, President Neeli Bendapudi laid out her five goals for Penn State as we collectively look to the future as a world-class university. These five goals – Enhancing Student Success, Growing Interdisciplinary Research Excellence, Increasing Land-grant Impact, Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), and Transforming Penn State’s Internal Operations – will be paramount to the direction the University takes in the next five to ten years, and a global commitment will play an integral role.

Student success is enhanced when students develop intercultural understanding and communication skills; learn life lessons through global experiences; open their minds through exposure to other cultures, ideas, and people; and venture outside their comfort zone. Providing a welcoming and supportive environment for our international students helps them reach their academic and professional goals and feel at home at Penn State. Supporting Education Abroad experiences, hosting international students, and implementing global learning in the curriculum are all critical practices that support student success.

Interdisciplinary research excellence is at the heart of some of the University’s most exciting global initiatives, including the Water, Energy, and Food Nexus, Dr. Hughes’ ‘PlantVillage,’ the Penn State-University of Freiburg Living Materials partnership, to name just a few.

We often describe Penn State as a “global land-grant university,” to speak to the broad footprint of University impact overseas, but our global initiatives directly improve the lives of Pennsylvanians every day. Visiting international scholars complete extraordinary work in local settings, such as the work of the Humphrey Fellows program with local school districts, and international students have a profound economic impact across the whole state.

Similarly, DEIB work should not only be viewed through a U.S.-based lens. Our international students and scholars bring a wide range of diverse perspectives and worldviews to Penn State which may not otherwise be represented in the American experience. Even within our international student body, our sponsored student population (students who are funded by their national governments or other organizations) brings geographic diversity. Penn State was the largest U.S. host for sponsored students in 2023, working with 40 sponsoring organizations.

Penn State Global constantly seeks to improve and transform internal operations. Recent efforts at continuous improvement include the expanding the reach of the Global Safety Office through customized programming and training for Penn Staters preparing to travel abroad. Our international student and scholar advising unit has completely redesigned its practice to be more available, and efficient, while embracing a case-based student focus where every student is known by an advisor. Working with Penn State Development, we have created an office to reestablish our alumni relationships across the world, and to welcome our global alumni ‘home’ to Penn State.

All these efforts contribute to the vision of creating access to and making Penn State the best it can be for Pennsylvanians, Americans, and people from around the world. As you will read in this report, the impact of Penn State is truly awe inspiring from our global alumni network to our unparalleled research enterprise and partnerships, to the global learning of our students from across the world and to our faculty dedicated to positive societal change. We hope you have as much fun reading this report as we have had in doing our work.

Over the past four years, I am most proud of the relationships we have built across the faculty, staff and administration of the University in colleges and on the Commonwealth Campuses.”

-Dr. Roger Brindley, Vice Provost for Penn State Global

I’m excited to build on Roger’s accomplishments to lead the highly talented team in Global and to continue advancing global engagement by infusing global perspectives into all we do at Penn State. I look forward to articulating a global strategy for Penn State, elevating the university’s global profile, and collaborating with colleagues around the University, our alumni, and our external partners.”

-Dr. Sabine Klahr, Interim Vice Provost for Penn State Global

GLOBAL CAREERS INSTITUTE

Penn State Global and Career Services, supported by the Alumni Association, hosted the Global Careers Institute (GCI) on March 17 and 18. The event, which connects current students with Penn State alumni, was the first iteration of the institute since February of 2020. More than 140 students, representing 12 campuses and 26 countries, attended this year’s GCI, in addition to a litany of alumni speakers.

The Global Careers Institute is a professional development program designed to help Penn State’s international and domestic undergraduate and graduate students prepare for career success in the global marketplace

The two-day event started with a dinner and networking recep -

tion held at the Penn Stater on Friday, March 18. Students also had the opportunity to have professional headshots taken. Saturday saw a full slate of activities, beginning with a breakfast and a plenary session before moving into breakout sessions, selected by students based on their interests.

Breakout sessions were hosted by speakers and facilitators such as Brandon Short, a former Penn State football player who currently serves as the executive director and portfolio manager for PGIM Real Estate and as a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees; Ken Graham, a senior adviser for the Rowhill Consulting Group who has served on the Penn State Global Advisory Council and is highly active with students in leadership and career

development; and Wesley Payne McLendon, the executive director of McLendon Research Group.

“I’m grateful to you and your team for putting on a phenomenal program. It was a privilege to be a live and interactive resource on offer for students,” said McLendon. “They were an impressive and inquisitive group.”

“It was a rewarding experience and I am looking forward to staying connected for future events,” said Carl Delcato.

More GCI events will be held throughout 2024 across the Commonwealth, including another edition at University Park and a new event at Great Valley, geared towards graduate students.

Students learned and practiced networking skills at this year‘s Global Careers Institute

Enhancing Student Success

At Penn State Global, students are our central focus - both support of international students as well as the cultural and global development of our U.S.-based students. We provide many opportunities for students on this front. From career development to intercultural expertise, Penn State Global supports student growth and success in a variety of ways.

INTERCULTURAL ASSESSMENT

Penn State Global staff are professionals in the areas of both international and intercultural education. Among the many services offered to faculty, students, and staff are the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and Cultural Intelligence (CQ), two intercultural assessment instruments. Users complete questionnaires or inventories, which are then processed, contemplated, and presented to the user as a report that break down their areas of strength and growth when working across cultural difference. This provides users with a new lens to envision their intercultural development journey and goals. Riki Hay (Erie, the Behrend Campus) and

Olga Moskaleva (Abington, Brandywine, and Great Valley) lead these efforts within Penn State Global, supported by many other colleagues within the office. IDI saw 235 participants in 2023, which included faculty, students, staff at University Park and the Campuses. For CQ, the number was 254 participants in 2023, with over 500 scheduled for 2024.

Past projects include intercultural assessments for the Perreault Fellowship program, Abington’s Peer Action Global Learning Network, Lion Ambassadors, Global Learning’s Summer Institute, and the Global Boarders living-learning community at Penn State Behrend. It has also been in -

corporated into courses through collaborations with faculty members and the Virtual Transformational Leadership Development Experience.

“Incorporating IDI & CQ into courses, both in-person and virtual, is a very rewarding experience that is quite unique and impactful. We offer our IDI & CQ expertise for faculty to contribute to the intercultural competency development of their students and internalization of the curriculum,” said Moskaleva. “My favorite part is connecting with the students during the debriefs, learning their stories, and guiding them through the learning opportunities focusing on their potential while utilizing IDI and CQ results.”

“My favorite part is connecting with the students during the debriefs, learning their stories, and guiding them through learning opportunities...” -

Olga Moskaleva

EXPERIENTIAL DIGITAL GLOBAL

Penn State’s lauded EDGE (Experiential Digital Global Engagement) initiative continues to expand. The program has now completed more than 90 EDGE projects led by 43 Penn State faculty across 15 campuses and engaged more than 4000 students globally in more than 25 different countries.

EDGE is a project-based international virtual exchange program adapted from the State University of New York’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program.

ENGAGEMENT (EDGE)

Often referred to as “Internationalization at Home” at some institutions, Penn State refers to it as “experiential digital global engagement” to emphasize the program’s connection to the Penn State strategic priorities, specifically “transforming education” and “empowering through digital innovation.” EDGE provides international education and global accessibility regardless of student resources or limited, unpredictable mobility. We recognize that not all students have the financial or personal flexibility to study abroad. That is the strength of the EDGE program: EDGE

projects are embedded into Penn State courses where Penn State students team remotely with students from around the globe to solve a problem, thereby developing and strengthening their global awareness and perspective.

Penn State Global will offer mini-EDGE grants for new and returning faculty with EDGE projects specifically for SP24 classes.

“Empowering through digital innovation”

Faculty

practices at the Global Learning Faculty Fellows Institute in June.

FACULTY WORKSHOPS

In June 2023, Global Learning launched the Global Learning Faculty Fellows Institute. The institute selected 17 Penn State faculty from across the Commonwealth and a variety of disciplines to participate in the program. This program stems from the belief that global perspectives are vital in every classroom.

Faculty participants engaged in an intensive two and a half day series of workshops co-facilitated by Dr. Hilary Landorf, Executive Director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives at Florida International University and a leading expert on global learning pedagogy.

The Fellows have been incorporating global learning activities and assessment into their courses over the 2023-24 academic year and will present on the outcomes of their work in late spring 2024. A new cohort of Global Learning Faculty Fellows will be selected for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Institute is jointly hosted by Penn State Global, The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, and EPPIC.

learned and shared best

FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUCCESS, SAFETY, AND CARE

A REFLECTION BY DR. JODY PRITT, ASSISTANT VICE PROVOST FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR ADVISING

It is not an easy thing to do, leaving home and going far to make your dreams a reality. Sometimes the challenge of adjusting to a new place can be overwhelming. But there are amazing realities are on the other side of those difficult times.

International students, scholars, and faculty arrive at Penn State excited, but also nervous, and ISSA (International Student and Scholar Advising) works very closely with the Global Engagement team in Penn State Global to be both a welcoming and helpful presence. As they settle into their routine on campus, sometimes those same feelings can naturally shift to the challenges that come with adopting to a new place. That’s where ISSA is focusing its current strategy.

We know how to handle the scale of immigration support needs for internationals, but now we want to pivot to a more personal and supportive space for students, scholars, and faculty. We’ve started to chip away at this goal by reviewing and improving our internal processes to make requesting immigration needs as easy as possible. In July, we shifted to a paperless environment where most needs requested by students can be done so electronically.

One thing we consistently thought during this

process is that we do not want students to stop coming to see us! So, we updated our advising services so that every single international student has an assigned international student adviser to help guide them from the time they arrive on campus until they graduate (and beyond!).

We’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to make the process of using the iStart system more seamless and intuitive. We’re planning for in-person opportunities in 2024 so we can get to know our students better. We are also developing resources so international scholars and faculty can find access to services both on campus and in their respective communities with ease.

We want ISSA to be a space for students, regardless of their needs, so that they feel comfortable starting with us.

One day recently, I saw an international student sitting in the hallway of Boucke for a long time. As I am known to do, I stopped to ask if they were being assisted and make small chat. After asking just that, the student responded, “I’m all good. I just feel safe here.” That’s ISSA’s primary, and we hope to continue to support our students in 2024 as we continue to seek opportunities to make their home at Penn State the best it can be for them.

DID YOU KNOW?

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ 4-, 5-, AND 6-YEAR GRADUATION RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THE OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATES.

Education Abroad Initiatives

2023 was an incredible year for Education Abroad. Not only were there record numbers of students going abroad, the office continued its commitment to access and success and implemented new sustainability programs.

ALVIN DE LEVIE SCHOLARSHIP FUND

To honor the legacy of his parents, Penn State alumnus and Board of Trustees member Alvin de Levie, who graduated from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts in 1973, has established the Dagobert and Elsie de Levie Student Study Abroad Fund in Penn State Global. Dagobert de Levie, Alvin’s father, was a professor of German at Penn State beginning in 1946 and later established the University’s study abroad program in the 1960s.

Under Dagobert de Levie’s leadership, Penn State’s education abroad program offerings expanded to include various exchange programs and opportunities for students to study foreign languages.

Alvin de Levie’s gift of $50,000 to establish the fund reflects his commitment to supporting students in their global learning endeavors and helping to make education abroad experiences more affordable.

“As a proud Penn State alumnus and a member of the Board of Trustees, I look forward to expanding the impact of this memorial scholarship fund,” said de Levie.

Penn State alumni, faculty, staff and friends can contribute to the Dagobert and Elsie de Levie Student Study Abroad Fund by using the online contribution link through Penn State Giving. Contributions received to this fund will be awarded to eligible students within the same year, meaning members of the Penn State community can have an immediate impact on student educational access and success by donating to the fund at any level.

Dagobert de Levie (middle-left) led the first-ever Penn State study abroad program in Germany in the 1960s. (Credit: Dagobert de Levie)

Alvin de Levie (middle) with recipients of the de Levie scholarsip. (Photo credit: Alvin de Levie)

EDUCATION ABROAD ‘STAY LOCAL’ PLEDGE PROMOTES GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, SUSTAINABILITY

Penn State Global designated two weekends in the spring semester as “Stay Local Weekends” for Penn State education abroad students. During these weekends, students pledged to stay local to their host city and explore the area around them instead of traveling to other cities. Students were also encouraged to avoid inviting friends and family to travel to visit them.

For the first weekend, Feb. 11-12, 45 students in 14 countries signed the “Stay Local” pledge. Ten students received $100 grants to be used toward local activities. In their pledge, students cited many activities they planned to complete during the weekend, such as volunteering by doing city cleanup, going to museums they hadn’t had a chance to visit, taking local cooking classes, and getting to know their international roommates and classmates better.

This initiative is a part of Penn State Education Abroad’s efforts for sustainability. Penn State Global is committed to providing global learning experiences that help students develop critical academic and professional skills while increasing their understanding of sustainability and their impact on the world around them.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE MY EXPERIENCE ABROAD HELPED ME ACHIEVE MY FUTURE AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS. I NOW KNOW THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TRAVELING AND EXPLORING THE WORLD BEYOND COLLEGE AS AN ENGLISH EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS!

-SARAH STRENT, TEACHING ESL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM WITH IMMERSION IN CUENCA, ECUADOR (SUMMER 2023); PENN STATE CLASS OF 2024

Growing Interdisciplinary Research Excellence

Penn State Global supports research and partnership initiatives across the university - and the world!

In 2019, the strong strategic partnership with the University of Freiburg, Germany, reached a new level by signing an agreement to pursue a large-scale research initiative of strategic importance to both universities, resulting in the Convergence Center for Living Multifunctional Material Systems (LiMC²). The initiative in Living Materials represents the largest partnership investment to date, led by the Materials Research Institute and Institute of Energy and the Environment at Penn State and the livMatS Cluster in Freiburg, and it is supported and facilitated by Penn State Global and the International Office in Freiburg.

LiMC² has held more than eight webinars, an e-seminar series (LiMTalks) featuring internationally recognized speakers, multiple special sessions in international conferences, and an annual (twice held so far) student-focused webinar with more than forty Freiburg and Penn State graduate students since its inception in 2020. In addition, LiMC2 has initiated a seed grant program which partners researchers at Penn State and University of Freiburg; the seed grant program has so far funded 10 teams of researchers, resulting in exchange of faculty and students, and collaborative research in living material systems.

In the summer of 2023, four undergraduate students from four different departments and two colleges at Penn State investigated new engineered living materials — materials that exhibit life-like features — for eight weeks in Germany. These students are the first cohort of the new International Partnership for Responsive Infrastructure using Sustainable Multifunctional Materials (iPRISM), a program funded by the National Science Foundation and led by LiMC².

For more information on LiMC2 and how to get involved, contact Zoubeida Ounaeis, director of the center, at zxo100@psu.edu.

I GOT THE FULL EXPERIENCE OF BEING A RESEARCHER.

-FIRMELIA YAMONCHE, A THIRD-YEAR STUDENT MAJORING IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING INVOLVED IN LIMC2

SEED GRANTS WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS

In 2023, Penn State Global conducted a third round of a jointly funded collaboration development program with Monash University and a second round with the University of Auckland. These programs have fostered collaborative, sustainable, self-supporting research programs and integrated educational activities between the universities.

Five joint Penn State – Monash teams received funding to collaborate on global challenges and matters of bilateral importance to Australia and the United States, with a particular focus on sustainable cities and communities, climate action, sustainability community development and virtual collaborative engagement.

Penn State and the University of Auckland committed seed funds to support two projects centered on four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG4: Quality Education, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG13: Climate Action.

Over the course of the last six years and rounds of funding, the Return of Investment in external research grants has ranged between $1.2M and $10.6M, benefitting faculty, students, and staff in the pursuit of tackling global challenges.

Funding is available for faculty who are interested in pursuing strategic areas of research. For more information, contact Alexandra Persiko at axp1225@psu.edu.

College of Engineering Dean Tonya L. Peeples shakes hands after agreement signing

University Partnerships and Research Support

Freiburg Rector Kerstin Krieglstein (middle-left) recieves a gift to Provost Justin Schwartz (middle-right) and Vice Provost for Global Roger Brindley (right)

PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

Penn State’s global impact and research enterprise would not be possible without the excellent work of our faculty. The Global Partnerships Team is here to support these faculty who are interested in pursuing global activities, ranging from research to education. This can take numerous forms, such as:

Seed Grants: Funding seed grants to develop connections with researchers at partner institutions, plus faculty travel awards

Creating Connections: Developing connections with researchers at our partner universities & match-making workshops

Agreement Support: Developing and processing agreements and grant development support

Collaboration Development: Assisting faculty with developing education collaborations, such as education abroad, virtual (EDGE), articulation agreements, dual degrees, and more

Funding Sources: Partnering in foreign government funding schemes such as German Cluster of Excellence strategy, EU funding, Erasmus+ exchanges, CSIRO Australia, and finding new avenues for international partner universities

In turn, faculty can also support strategic partnership development by sharing information on existing projects, achievements, and opportunities, as well as hosting of international visitors and delegations from partner institutions.

Interested in hearing more? Contact Alexandra Persiko, Interim Director for Global Partnerships, at axp1225@psu.edu.

FOR A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO THRIVE, WE DEPEND ON A STRONG ENGAGEMENT BY LEADERSHIP, FACULTY AND STAFF.

-ALEXANDRA PERSIKO, INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS

A photo from the campus of Monash University

Water, Energy, Food Nexus - Colombia USA Alliance

Penn State has been focused on issues of water, energy, and food (WEF) for the better part of a decade. The first WEF-Nexus activities took place in West Africa in the summer of 2018; since then, the University has embraced WEF activities, expanding to South America through the Colombia - USA WEF Nexus Alliance. The Alliance was established in the summer of 2022 to engage a variety of partners in implementation of WEF Nexus projects and advancement of policy innovation for sustainable development and climate-resilient solutions. The Alliance’s five founding members include The Pennsylvania State University, Fundación Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano (UTadeo), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and Stockholm Environment Institute (Latin America Center).The Alliance addresses major challenges in Colombia and the US through partnerships in research, education, and sustainable development. It serves as a platform to build and sustain a community of researchers, provide technical infrastructure, coordinate policy engagement, and integrate education at different levels.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED? EMAIL

SIELA MAXIMOVA AT SNM104@PSU.EDU

During 2023, Alliance activities were mainly focused on:

LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS

The Alliance conducted four collaborative, transdisciplinary, high impact projects in Colombia in the Departments of La Guajira, Magdalena, and Cundinamarca and on Isla Fuerte. The projects were supported by awards from the 2022 Colombia-USA WEF-Nexus seed grant program, with contributions of all Alliance partners. This phase of the seed grant projects engaged more than 45 faculty, researchers, and graduate students from different disciplines, and each project included active participation of external stakeholders. In total, there were 21 graduate students from all partner institutions engaged in the projects. The students are conducting thesis research and learning to work in an international collaborative environment.

SUMMER GRADUATE RESEARCH

Six Penn State graduate students participated in summer research internships in Colombia with support from National Science Foundation (NSF) Award No. 2105726 to Rachel Brennan and Meng Wang titled IGE: Stakeholder-Driven Sustainable Development Experiences for Enhancing STEM Graduate Education).

Camilo Younes-Velosa, vice rector for research, National University of Colombia, gives a presentation in Foster Auditorium

FUNDING SUCCESSES

COLOMBIA

During 2023, different Alliance teams submitted proposals for extramural funding to the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, the Intern American Development Bank, Ministry of Science in Colombia, and others. Some successes include:

Corporate Sponsorship from Amazon: One of the Alliance’s most important projects is focused on the Chingaza Paramo, a nationally protected park and the most important Bogotá watershed, which provides the water supply for over 20% of Colombia’s population. Amazon has provided a grant to the alliance to support this project, which will promote water security and will also benefit local communities.

Amazon’s grant for the Chingaza Paramo project constitutes the first corporate sponsorship of the Colombia-USA WEF Nexus Alliance.

NSF Program: DEB - BOCP-Biodiversity on Changing Planet. Award amount: $433,800

Upcoming Potential Projects: Other Alliance research projects include a multilateral Penn State, SEI, UTadeo, and World Wildlife Foundation NSF project studying tropical glacier-fed rivers (led by Christopher Scott, Penn State) and research around how climate change is affecting the functional biodiversity of soil in the Paramos. The latter project is co-led by Siela Maximova, Jose-Luis Machado (Swarthmore College), and Johanna Santamaria Vanegas (UTadeo).

BRAZIL

The 1 00,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund awarded Tamy Guimarães, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, a yearlong $34,000 grant to optimize amphibious aircraft for operations in the Amazon Rainforest. The project, in partnership with Brazilian institutes Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and Centro Universitário SENAI CIMATEC, received roughly $125,000 in total funding.

BELIZE

Penn State has also been engaged in activities in Belize with the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) Initiative. A group of 14 Penn State faculty as well as Sabine Klahr, Associate Vice Provost, visited BFREE to explore opportunities to develop long-term collaborative research, education, and outreach projects. The multidisciplinary group included faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences, Eberly College of Science, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and School of International Affairs.

Also included in these activities is the Penn State – BFREE Seed Grant Program. Three projects were awarded seed grants as part of the Penn State-BFREE Research and Education Initiative. The program support was provided by the Penn State Cacao and Chocolate Research Network, the Hershey Co., Penn State Global, the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Ag Sciences Global in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and a private donor.

Image from WEF-Nexus Alliance Presentations

A group of faculty and staff on a site visit to Belize. (Photo Credit: Mauricio Jimenez)

Penn State Named #1 Producer of Fulbright Scholars

Increasing Land-Grant Impact

In Penn State Global, we view Penn State’s land-grant mission in two ways: local to global, and global to local. Penn State can impact the world, but is also impacted by the phenomenal international students and scholars at the University.

FULBRIGHT

Penn State has been ranked first in the nation in faculty Fulbright Scholar awards by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The University tied with the University of Arizona, with 17 faculty members offered Fulbright awards for academic year 2022-23.

This is the second time in the last four years that Penn State has been the No. 1 producer of Fulbright Scholars, with the University having also achieved this status in 2019. Seventeen scholar awards are the most Penn State has ever received in an awards cycle.

“The Fulbright Program at Penn State continues to be robust and productive,” said Provost Justin Schwartz. “The experience garnered by Fulbright Scholars directly benefits the University community. Our faculty members continue to elevate Penn State’s global reach through teaching, research and service as they represent the University on all continents.”

The Fulbright competition is administered at Penn State through the Faculty Fulbright office, led by Faculty Fulbright Adviser Sylvester Osagie. The University also sponsors discipline-based panels, which help to support faculty applications for Fulbright awards.

“I am proud and delighted to see so many awards for our well-deserving faculty,” said Osagie. “Even more important is the level of enthusiasm displayed by those faculty willing to give their time in guiding their peers through the application process.”

Our office would be thrilled to work with any faculty member who is seeking to apply for a Fulbright experience!

The University recognized incoming Fulbright scholars at a reception in November 2023

HUMPHREY FELLOWS

Coordinated by the College of Education, the program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from designated countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East to selected universities in the United States for public service, advanced study, professional training, and work-related experiences. Currently, the College hosts 10 Fellows.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program, established in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter to honor the late Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, is a one-year non-degree program of combined academic and professional development opportunities. As the fellowship was being founded, Carter received encouragement from a key advocate: former Penn State President John Oswald.

Penn State has been hosting Humphrey scholars since the program‘s inception and now boasts 475 Humphrey Fellow alumni from 131 countries since 1978. During their time at Penn State, the Humphrey Fellows engage in seminars, graduate courses, professional development, community service, work experiences, and attendance in the Washington Global Leadership Forum, a four-day leadership seminar in Washington, D.C.

The Fellows are accomplished professionals who uproot their lives to come to the United States to both learn and teach. They are exemplary scholars who add tremendous value to the Penn State community while they are here and to their home countries when they return. Penn State is grateful for their efforts!

10 475 131

Humphrey Fellows hosted at Penn State Since 1978

Countries Represented by Penn State Humphrey Alumni

Humphrey Fellows in the 2023-2024 Cohort

Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference

As part of International Education Month, Penn State Global and Penn State Sustainabiltiy hosted the Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us conference. Global Engagement Coordinators Nikki Rosario (Penn State York) and Anna Mousaw (University Park) coordinated the event, which hosted a day of workshops, presentations, and site visits around the university sustainability efforts if the students, faculty, and staff from across the Commonwealth.

“Having these opportunities enable students to build their networks and inspire them to dream big,” said Mousaw. Many of the sessions were hosted by students and showcased their work on their campuses. Site visits included the Penn State greenhouses and the Student Farm.

Student-led sessions included “Approaches to a Healthy Life,” a panel discussion on holistic and alternative ways to ensure healthy lifestyles; “Breaking Barriers: Personal Insights into Sustainable Entrepreneurship,”a session about the barriers to enacting social change through entrepreneurship; “What’s the Tea on the SDGs: A Gen-Z Take on the SDGs,” an interactive session which connects the history of the SDGs to their current (and future) contexts; and “Quality of Education in South Korea,” which connected the role of international education as a tool for sustainable development.

“It is very important for students to have the chance to connect with their peers on problems that will develop as time moves forward,” said one student participant. “A network of students is produced from these events, and all of us realizing the problem early is massive for young generations. These conferences provide the opportunity and tools for the students so we feel we can act, otherwise, we will be disconnected and nothing we ever be achieved.”

The organizers of the conference are already working on planning the next iteration and hope to have more student participation from across the Commonwealth.

Picture from this year's Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference run by Global Learning

Increasing Student Access to Education Abroad

In 2023, Education Abroad undertook a broad effort to increase student access and success in education abroad programs. As a reflection of Penn State’s position as a public land-grant university, Penn State Global announced new and increased scholarship opportunities, including guaranteed scholarships to students receiving Federal Pell Grants, in the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester.

Student Access and Success Grants: More than $300,000 is available for the new Student Access and Success grants, funding available for students studying abroad during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years on Penn State-approved, education abroad programs.

Federal Pell Grant and Gilman Scholarship Guarantee: Effective spring 2024 and beyond, Penn State Global Education Abroad will guarantee a minimum $1,000 scholarship for every Federal Pell Grant recipient that is approved to study abroad through any Penn State-approved education abroad program. Federal Pell Grant recipients who submit a completed application for the national Gilman Scholarship Program will automatically increase their Penn State Global guaranteed scholarship amount another $500, to a minimum of $1,500.

Embedded Programs Scholarship: Students who enroll in an embedded course will be automatically considered for a $1,000 grant ($500 for graduate students) based on financial need and academic merit. For academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25, Penn State Global will award twice the number of students as in standard years.

Strategic Partner Mobility Initiative: Effective spring 2024, fall 2024, and spring 2025, students who commit to participate in the Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Kuala Lumpur: Monash University Malaysia, or Melbourne: Monash University outbound exchange programs will receive a guaranteed minimum scholarship of $3,000 per semester.

For more information on funding opportunities, find the Study Abroad Scholarships page on the Penn State Global website. .

Fostering DEIB

Penn State Global is committed to fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging - for our students, our partners, and within our own office.

PENN STATE GLOBAL STAFF DEIB EFFORTS

A

reflection by Dagmara Karnowski, Vice Chair for Diversity

Since the inception of the Penn State Global DEI Subcommittee in 2020, marked steps have been taken to be more intentional around DEIB issues.

We contracted the services of a professional within the sphere of Global DEIB who helped us with identifying areas of growth and gaps in understanding, and mapped the DEIB needs within our unit. Dr. Chrystal George Mwangi of George Mason University created a report and gave a lecture (to the University community) and a workshop (to Penn State Global staff) based on its findings.

Based on the customized report, the current DEIB focus is on addressing micro-aggressions in the workplace and enhancing sense of inclusion and belonging.

Thanks to collaborations with units across the university, we can provide meaningful workshops that do more than just “checking a box.” For example, on December 6th we had the honor to host our colleagues from Diversity & Educational Equity Committee from Penn State Harrisburg for an introduction to neurodiversity.

Our goal is to incorporate DEIB strategies in daily work. The highlights of the programming include the DEIB Social Club, a monthly meeting of staff around a specific DEIB topic (which sometimes includes inviting inspiring speakers); a quarterly staff-wide DEIB-focused talk; a physical lending library for staff, focused around topics of DEIB; and an annual lecture and workshop from an outside expert.

One example of an incredible speaker: we invited Dr. Mamphela Aletta Ramphele, a South African politician, anti-apartheid activist, medical doctor, and author to our meeting. We were honored to introduce her as a guest speaker this year.

We are proud of our efforts thus far, while still recognizing that the work always continues, and we always have more to learn.

Sponsored Students

Penn State University places immense value on its international sponsored students and global community. Cultural diversity promotes social empathy and empowers students’ perspectives through positive life experiences. Our large community of over 1165 sponsored students dramatically contribute to our student body by providing fresh insights in the classroom and strengthening critical thinking and creative skills.

Fostering cultural diversity is more than a mission; it is a necessity. The U.S. Census has predicted that over half of our nation’s population will be ethnically or socially diverse by mid-century. Furthermore, current globalizing trends

The University welcomes international students every year at the Presidential Welcome Reception

show a globally-minded generation willing to travel, relocate, and experience foreign cultures.

Penn State’s multicultural student body directly results from Penn State Global’s and the Office of Sponsored Relations’ efforts to increase cultural diversity. Our university has the largest sponsored student population in the United States and handles the accounts of over 40 sponsoring organizations, including foreign government agencies, NGOs, and non-profits.

Sponsored Relations plays a fundamental role in increasing Penn State’s networking community by adding students from all over the globe. It is our profound belief that each student has a unique background that inherently defines their personal worldviews. Including these distinctive perspectives matters, as their experiences will continue to redefine our understanding of social interactions. Having the honor of accepting students from all over the world grants us the privilege of experiencing a slice of these students’ realities while informing us about different cultural norms, struggles, and perspectives. An ever-growing global community enhances our efforts to provide high-quality academic experiences, as each global member can teach us more about empathy, better prepare our future workforce, and arm us with tools to fight prejudice and cultural misunderstandings.

Education Abroad Funding Opportunities

“Finances are the top reason that Penn State students choose not to study abroad, and we are actively developing ways to support students with the highest level of financial need so that an education abroad program can be part of every Penn Stater’s experience,” said Kate Manni, director of Education Abroad. “We are thrilled to provide additional certainty to Pell grant recipients and their families, who will able to plan for their education abroad experience with a guaranteed scholarship commitment from Penn State Global.”

Our commitment to diversity also goes far b eyond global student acceptance. Diversity at Penn State means a commitment to support our students and sponsors. With a dedicated staff, Penn State aims to lead the Sponsored Program administration field by offering tailored, individualized solutions to each of our sponsor’s needs. Sponsor Relations provides a wide range of financial, administrative, and advisory services in subjects such as immigration and student account management.

Our commitment to global diversity should be summarized in a single word: Belonging.

Transforming Internal Operations

Penn State Global seeks to empower the University to achieve its international goals by making processes more effective and efficient. Our Global Safety office is a University-wide resource - but it does not stop there!

Travel risk is perceived as the convergence of the traveler, the threat, and the traveler’s vulnerability to those threats. During travel, the individual or group participants and the hazards present at locations are typically fixed variables that are challenging to influence. In response, Penn State Global Safety concentrates on diminishing the traveler’s vulnerabilities through the implementation of novel training methodologies, innovative programs, and the modernization of operational processes, aiming to effectively mitigate travel risk.

Every Penn Stater’s journey commences the moment they decide to travel abroad, encompassing various aspects such as transportation, funding, location, and housing. Global Safety adopts the International Organization of Standard’s four elements of travel risk management to offer robust support.

This includes comprehensive assistance, pre-emptive planning, communication protocols, collaborative frameworks, rigorous assessment and analysis, and effective emergency response protocols. These measures are meticulously designed to proactively address and mitigate potential pitfalls and risks, ensuring the safety and well-being of Penn State travelers throughout their journeys.

Global Safety Network

Penn State’s Global Safety Network is a tool and a resource for Penn Staters going abroad. It is required for all Penn Staters traveling on University business as a way to keep track of University travel for the reasons of safety, security, and support. The adoption of the GSN by the University means that response to emergency situations can be quick, accurate, and effective.

The Global Safety team in Penn State Global. L to R: Jeffrey Thomas, Monique MacAllan, Mauricio Jimenez, Claire Preston

PENN STATE GLOBAL STAFF PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

Penn State Global staff are dedicated international education professionals. Throughout the year, we provide opportunities for our staff to learn and grow within their field to better support the University’s mission.

In May 2023, Penn State Global sent two staff members, Chisato Tada and Wendy Moynihan, to visit Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in South Korea.

The purpose of the staff exchange program is to observe administration, collaborate with university staff to support international students, foster intercultural learning, and facilitate relationships among partnership institutions.

Chisato Tada works as an international student adviser for the International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) Office within Penn State Global. In this role, she provides guidance and support to international students, helping them navigate immigration regulations, cultural adjustment, and academic programs. Tada’s expertise in the field of international student advising contributes to the success of international students at Penn State.

“In my extraordinary journey to SKKU in South Korea,” Tada said, “I witnessed firsthand the pivotal role played by SKKU in fostering collaborative relationships and shaping intra-cognitive understanding.”

Moynihan serves Penn State Harrisburg as the global education coordinator in the International Students Office. With her expertise in supporting international students and fostering global connections, she plays a vital role in enhancing the international student experience and promoting cross-cultural understanding at the university.

“Korea has a profound history, and this trip to SKKU served as a wonderful introduction for me to gain insight into the culture,” she said.

The staff exchange program is expanding in 2024 and will include two rounds of exchange with SKKU as well as the revitalization of a similar program with Freiburg University in Germany.

“Empowering Penn Staters to Explore the World”

Images courtesy of Chisato Tada (top) and Wendy Moynihan (below)

BIG TEN ACADEMIC ALLIANCE (BTAA)

SENIOR INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS' STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ON INTERNATIONALIZATION

The Big Ten Academic Alliance Senior International O ffi cers' Sta ff Development Program on Internationalization is an opportunity for early-to-mid-career sta ff to deepen their knowledge about the internationalization of higher education, and the international partnerships and global organizations that are a part of this work. In 2023, two Penn State Global staffmembers participated in the program. The "field" portion of the program took place in Germany.

Pat Corbett (left) on his field experience portion of the program in Germany.

Image of field experience portion of the program in Germany.

PAT CORBETT - Senior International Agreements Administrator

This program provided me with valuable insights and experiences in a fun and rewarding manner. One exciting aspect of the program was the opportunity to attend webinars by the Big Ten SIOs, who are leaders in our field. After each presentation, the cohort members met for further discussions in which we shared our impressions and considered how the topic intertwined with our positions. Through this process, we gained a better understanding of internationalization efforts at Big Ten institutions.

The field experience provided an opportunity for us to learn from our German counterparts by identifying similarities and differences in internationalization approaches. The scope of partners with whom we met included German universities, outreach facilities operated by Big Ten partners, study abroad program providers, non-governmental organizations, and government officials. Beyond the meetings and networking opportunities, I gained an appreciation of issues encountered by our students and faculty (whether inbound or outbound) while traveling internationally: getting a passport, flight delays, language and currency differences, etc. Overall, it was a fantastic program and I am thankful to have been selected to represent Penn State.

SARA PALIGA - Education Abroad Adviser and Incoming Exchange Coordinator

The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Senior International Officer (SIO) Professional Development program was a wonderful opportunity to build out networks and get to know a wider range of contributions towards the goal of internationalization. Throughout the spring semester, we were introduced to different types of institutions through their SIOs through virtual webinars and coffee hours. Each of the SIOs was able to introduce us to different topics and challenges that leadership positions at universities help to manage such as Global DEI, the intersection of internationalization and DEI, political influences on research and partnerships, and different higher education systems.

The field experience to Berlin and Hamburg, Germany was an opportunity to learn more about Germany’s approach to similar topics through their various institutions and organizations. I was able to learn about what DEI meant in a different context and who were the typically underserved and underrepresented individuals for their country while learning more about my cohort’s roles as well. This experience really expanded my understanding of the complexities the lead to internationalization efforts and how context and environment can impact resources needed. This was a truly wonderful experience.

CONTACT

@penn-state-global

@pennstateglobal

@PSUGlobal

@pennstateglobal

Penn State Global

global.psu.edu

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