Global Kentucky
An International Center newsletter that celebrates the University of Kentucky’s international engagement
WHAT’S INSIDE...
UK’s International Alumni: Friends in High Places - Pg. 4 Anesthesiology Professor Helps Train UK Residents and Staff at Niger Hospital - Pg. 12 Student Speaks to Value of International Experiences in College- Pg. 13
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
IN THIS ISSUE... ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT UK’s International Alumni: Friends in High Places
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International Alumnus Creates Fund to Support African Students
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RESEARCH IN PROGRESS 6 7
A&S Professor Researches Chinese Eco-Cities A Globally Networked Research University
STUDENT SUCCESS International Student Roadmap to Success Venezuelan UK Student Wins Institute of International Education Award Former SGA President Earns Fulbright Scholarship to Teach in Taiwan
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Anesthesiology Professor Helps Train UK Residents and Staff at Niger Hospital
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Student Speaks to Value of International Experiences in College
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UK INTERNATIONAL CENTER NEWS Instagram #TakeoverTuesdays Highlight International Student Life at UK
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Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
WELCOME A Message from the Associate Provost for Internationalization Greetings! I am not sure anyone entering the world of international higher education at a U.S. university in 2017 could have foreseen the tremendous changes that have rocked the field these past few years. I certainly didn’t. Almost every day brings news of a new foreign policy direction that carries implications for U.S. universities with it. From travel bans to investigations of foreign influence, it seems that universities’ international centers are increasingly finding themselves in the cross-hairs of some pretty highstakes politics and geopolitics. It is an uncomfortable and at times very stressful position. We are used to working for the accepted good of what the American Council on Education (or ACE) called “comprehensive internationalization.” Exposing students to the world through internationalizing the curriculum, helping students see the world for themselves through education abroad, diversifying the campus through recruiting and supporting international students, and helping faculty develop international collaborations and partnerships to strengthen their pursuit of knowledge used to be accepted as obviously valuable endeavors. Now, every one of these efforts has been challenged and rewrought – mostly by pressures emanating from Washington D.C.. Of course, our world is dynamic, and we should be wary of ever getting too comfortable with the way things are, because change is the norm. But the pace of change we are currently experiencing is quite dramatic. Some of this has rendered those of us dedicated to international engagement discouraged. Indeed, many days, it can appear that Karin Fischer was right when she wrote recently in The Chronicle of Higher Education that the golden days of internationalization were over for U.S. universities. On the other hand, these changing times
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
are enforcing the realization that nothing could be more important right here and right now than keeping our universities globally engaged. We have to be very clear when we explain why U.S. universities like the University of Kentucky must be global to thrive, and to do right by their students. In other words, we have to make the case for internationalization to increasingly skeptical internal and external audiences. This is not a bad thing. The evidence shows that a more globally connected research university is a better research university. For example, as the article by Tim Barnes in this edition of Global KY notes, papers published by UK faculty with co-authors from universities outside the U.S. tend to be more cited. In terms of our students, UK’s own data show that the benefits of studying abroad are especially significant for those who come to UK with less advantages.
significantly greater than the average. In the University of Kentucky’s International Center we are increasingly using data like these to inform what we do, so we can improve every aspect of our work. We find that we have a wealth of evidence to bring to the table when we make the case for internationalization. In times such as these, universities like ours need to be engaging with the world – not for its own sake, but because this is a key way we can make our university a better university. With best wishes,
Sue Roberts
Associate Provost for Internationalization
Student retention overall is higher for all students who have completed one or more Education Abroad programs but the magnitude of the difference for those with lower high school readiness scores is
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT UK’S INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI: FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
By Sue Roberts
Left: Associate Provost for Internationalization Sue Roberts presents gift to Ali Z. Almayahi, Cultural Attaché at the Iraqi Cultural Office, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington, D.C. and Ottawa. Right: UK alumna Diah Natalisa presents gift to Tim Barnes, executive director of International Partnerships & Research.
Almost every week, we come to learn about a University of Kentucky alum who is doing amazing things -- often quite far away from Lexington, Kentucky. Alumni from UK have gone on to build impressive professional lives across the world and in a huge range of fields. UK alumni are leaders in government, industry and many other sectors. Recently the International Center staff was delighted to welcome back to campus two such individuals, Diah Natalisa and Ali Z. Almayahi, each demonstrating what is possible with a UK education. First, in April, the International Center hosted a very productive visit from Diah Natalisa, Deputy Minister of Public Service in the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform in the Republic of Indonesia. Deputy Minister Natalisa is an alumna of the Gatton College of Business and Economics who received her master’s degree in business administration in 1992. While in Lexington, Deputy Minister Natalisa and her delegation enjoyed productive discussions with faculty at UK’s top-ranked Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. Deputy Minister Natalisa is playing a key role in a major national push in Indonesia to reduce inefficiencies in all government departments and agencies. Indonesia, a diverse archipelagic nation of over 240
Global | Fall 2017 Page | Kentucky 4
million people, is in the middle of a 15-year National Development Plan which began in 2010. A major component of the plan is to make the comprehensive reform of government bureaucracy more efficient, accountable and corruption-free. “Our university looks forward to a fruitful relationship between UK and the Ministry – a relationship catalyzed by our dynamic alumna Deputy Minister Diah,” said Tim Barnes, International Center’s executive director of International Partnerships and Research. Late April, UK welcomed back to campus alumnus Ali Z. Almayahi, who is presently the acting Cultural Attaché at the Iraqi Cultural Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington D.C. and Ottawa. His work currently concentrates on the management and administration of the Iraqi Cultural Office including students affairs, authentication, coordination of academic relations between U.S. Universities and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq. Almayahi received his doctoral degree in geology with a specialization in exploration geophysics, and in addition to his flourishing diplomatic career, he holds a distinguished professional record as a faculty member and research scientist
at the University of Basra in Iraq. In his current diplomatic role, he has the scope to implement innovative ideas about how best to support the next generation of Iraqi scholars and researchers. The UKIC team is excited to see how it may effectively partner with Almayahi and his staff to develop and manage mutually beneficial programs that will further enrichen UK’s long-standing relationship with Iraq. UK is proud of its alumni who have gone on to distinguished careers in public service, but it is important to recognize the many other graduates in private businesses, in the non-profit sphere and in other sectors. “No matter where life has taken UK alumni across the globe, the International Center is always excited to highlight and celebrate our alumni’s successes,” Barnes said. “It is always a pleasure to welcome UK alumni back to campus and to hear what they have done since graduating.” Any alumni who would be interested in sharing their story can contact Andrea Gils Monzon, International Center’s marketing and communications manager via email at andrea.gils@uky.edu.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT INTERNATIONAL ALUMNUS CREATES FUND TO SUPPORT AFRICAN STUDENTS By Paulina Zarate
Left: Esias Bedingar (left) poses with a friend on his graduation day at the Rupp Arena. Right: Esias Bedingar, alum from Chad, announced the launch of his Esias K. Bedingar Fund in order to provide scholarship support to international students from Africa.
Esias Bedingar, UK international alum from Chad, in partnership with the University of Kentucky, officially launched the Esias K. Bedingar Fund on April 17 during UK’s first-ever 24-hour Giving Day. The fund was established by Bedingar to provide financial support to international students from Africa throughout their undergraduate studies at UK. In 2014, Bedingar come to the University of Kentucky from Chad knowing no English. Within a few months on campus, he completed the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Three and a half years later, Bedingar graduated from UK with a bachelor’s degree in public health from the College of Public Health and a minor in neuroscience. A year postgraduation, Bedingar is now completing his master’s at Harvard University. During his time at UK as a Chellgren Student Fellow and student in the Lewis Honors College, Bedingar was able to take many opportunities that combined his passion for medicine and global health. “Combining the two really gave me an idea to push my research further and wanting to combine my two interest together for the future to do research on cerebral malaria,” he said. At UK, Bedingar received many awards, including the 2018 Otis A. Singletary
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
Outstanding Senior Award and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Throughout his years as a wildcat, Bedingar was an outstanding student and until this day he continues to show great dedication and involvement in his community. Because of the scholarship support he received as a UK undergraduate international student, Bedingar was able to learn and grow in his career – he presented in conferences and took advantage of a myriad of undergraduate research opportunities. “Without all those scholarships, I don’t think I would have been able to conduct all the research I conducted or even been able to go and present my research to those different conferences that I’ve been to, or been able to travel to different conferences just to learn more about neuroscience or global” he said. One of the events Bedingar had the opportunity to participate in was the Global Health Case Competition, hosted by the UK International Center’s Global Health Initiatives office. “Participating in the Global Health Case Competition really helped me, and gave me the tools to understand how to analyze case studies, mostly Global Health case studies that I would say we do every time at Harvard,” he said.
Bedingar emphasized the importance of collaborating and working with different teams as being key to his interdisciplinary experience at UK. “That experience at UK of working with different organizations and also doing different research experiences really equipped me to be successful at Harvard.” Now, Bedingar said, it’s his turn to give back and open opportunities to other students like him. “I think scholarships are really crucial today because it’s a financial help that really helps you achieve your goals,” he said. Bedingar also mentioned how it is harder for international students in the U.S. to qualify and receive scholarships. “Those small scholarships can really help international students go and present their studies and their research projects,” Bedingar added. “I feel like this is what helped me get into Harvard today.” Bedingar said that by creating more scholarships like the Esias K. Bedingar Fund, UK is providing prospective students the chance to focus on their academics, allowing them to participate in more research and conferences, which can add value to their work. “It’s really important to support those students so that they can achieve great things later in their life whether it’s professional schools or even graduate schools.”
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RESEARCH IN PROGRESS A&S PROFESSOR RESEARCHES CHINESE ECO-CITIES By Steven Sommer
With estimations suggesting that roughly half of the world’s population is now residing in major metropolitan cities, concerns are rising daily about the role of urban areas in the world’s environmental health. While these concerns continue to grow, one University of Kentucky professor is finding a way to analyze large cities’ environmental impacts, with a little help from the other side of the globe. Ernest Yanarella, from the Department of Political Science in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences, was one of 10 scholars worldwide who received a Shanghai Elite Collaborative Research Grant in 2018. Yanarella was supported in his grant application by UK’s Office of China Initiatives and the UK Confucius Institute. Yanarella used the grant to support research he was conducting on eco-cities, or cities modeled on sustainability and low-carbon use. These cities enhance the well-being of their citizens by using benefits of the ecological systems in order to protect and nurture assets for future generations. While some U.S. cities are beginning to trend towards greener habits, China boasts true eco-cities, which Yanarella saw first-hand. This collaborative research project has inspired multiple chapters in an upcoming book, along with several papers, including one in Sustainability: the Journal of Record, on eco-cities. “I had an opportunity for quite a while to immerse myself in Chinese cities, culture and cuisine, and it was quite valuable for me,” Yanarella said. “As opposed to my experiences in the past, it gave me an opportunity to extensively walk the streets of these cities and engage with Chinese public officials and get a sense of the ‘real’ China. It was very enlightening and helped me better understand the strengths and weaknesses as China strives to become a developed country and to come to grips with assuming its
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environmental problems.” The Shanghai Elite Collaborative Research Grant Yanarella received allowed him to collaborate with faculty members from Shanghai University. In Yanarella’s case, the partnership with Lu Chao, Ph.D. was a strong fit, granting both parties a new approach to the familiar subject. “Dr. Lu Chao stood out because of his interest in low-carbon development and the circular economy, which clearly overlapped in significant ways with the sabbatical project I had in mind,” Yanarella said. “I was also intrigued by his departmental structure that combined engineering and business management.
“I had an opportunity for quite a while to immerse myself in Chinese cities, culture and cuisine, and it was quite valuable for me.” According to Yanarella, Lu Chao’s research focus complemented his background in public policy and environmental sustainability policy, which was an interesting hybrid for him. “The first few days I met with him [Chao] and a few of his graduate students and peppered them with questions about the marriage of his two subjects of expertise. The way he explained it made them seem to be an obvious synthesis of the two programs, which really challenged my way of approaching the work moving forward. It was clear it would be a positive relationship.”
Ernest J. Yanarella, of the department of political science in the College of Arts & Sciences, receives Shanghai Elite Collaborative Research Grant.
“In some cases we had staff who helped in the development of eco-cities in one way or another who spoke only Chinese, and between he and his graduate assistants I was able to collect a great amount of information that greatly enhanced the quality of the research.” The UK Confucius Institute and Office of China Initiatives work together to identify collaborative research opportunities for UK faculty. One of the ways to connect UK faculty and Chinese faculty is through the two offices’ UK Faculty Teach in China Program. Yanarella participated in the first UK Faculty Teach in China Program at Shanghai University. “We understand the need and see the value and impact of international collaborative research in today’s academic world,” said Huajing Maske, executive director of Office of China Initiatives and Confucius Institute. “The Shanghai Elite Collaborative Research Project was a perfect example of how working together across the borders can benefit both faculty and universities. Just imagine the number of citations this joint publication will bring.”
Over the course of June 2018, Chao and Yanarella worked to undertake field work that allowed him to go to Suzhou and Wuxi, two of China’s growing number of eco-cities.
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS A GLOBALLY NETWORKED RESEARCH UNIVERSITY By Tim Barnes
In modeling the values of global citizenship and intercultural understanding, advancing cutting-edge research on the biggest, inherently transnational scientific questions and challenges facing our world today and exporting the “landgrant” mission through service and extension activities not just all across Kentucky but world-wide, the University of Kentucky sits at the center of a rich web of connections that spans the world and encompasses all aspects of the university’s core missions, values and enterprises. The launch of the “Kentucky Can: the 21st Century Campaign,” emphasized that “we take seriously our role as the University of Kentucky and the University for Kentucky,” and while remaining firmly rooted in this local context, it is important to also recognize that this context—the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is very much a part of an increasingly interconnected and interdependent global economy and culture. To truly be the University for Kentucky, recognizes that the quality, visibility and impact of UK’s research, education and public service is considerably amplified when it is conducted within this global context. It’s all about connecting the local to the global—developing, maintaining and leveraging UK’s institutional connections to the world. This web of connections informs and enhances UK research, and prepares UK students for success in an increasingly global economy, even if they never leave Kentucky. Consider, for example, that in 2017, the Commonwealth of Kentucky set a new record with 30.9 billion dollars in exports, a 5.8% jump from the previous year. What is the largest export industry sector for Kentucky? Perhaps surprisingly, it isn’t bourbon, or thoroughbreds, but aerospace products and parts, followed by motor vehicles and automotive parts, and pharmaceuticals and medicines. Here at home, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is host to more than 500 foreign-owned businesses and manufacturing facilities, owned by companies based in 34 different
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
nations and employing more than 110,000 Kentuckians. Lexington and Fayette County alone, is home to more than 70,000 bilingual or multilingual speakers who are native speakers of more than 180 different languages, representing an increase of 361% in the percentage of non-native English speakers living in this community since 2006. With this being said, it is clear that a global mindset is required in order to effectively live, thrive and work in Kentucky today. Currently, UK International Center’s office of International Partnerships and Research manages more than 260 formal inter-institutional agreements with more than 180 partner institutions based in 57 different countries around the world. These agreements support inbound and outbound student mobility, cooperative degrees, internships and experiential learning abroad, collaborative research and clinical placements for medical students and residents. But these agreements, while significant in supporting and tracking the university’s global engagement, are just a part of the story. At the heart of each lies one or more interpersonal connections among UK faculty, staff and students, and many such connections—particularly in collaborative research, may be developed and maintained for years before needing an institutional agreement to support them. Over the past five years, University of Kentucky faculty have published more than 23,000 scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals. Of these publications, 7,220, or about 31%, involved international coauthors—a good indication of cross-border research collaboration. Notably, this 31% of UK faculty publications with international co-authorship generated 65% more citations and a 36% increase in field-weighted impact when compared with publications featuring only U.S.-based co-authorship. So, less than one-third of the total scholarly publication output by UK faculty is accounts for well over half of the total citations of this output.
UK faculty publications with international co-authorship generated
65%
more citations compared to publications featuring U.S.-based co-authorships Collaborative publishing with international co-authors reaches more people, and has greater impact in its field of study. International collaboration in research— working in partnership across borders— makes for better science, with greater visibility and impact. These international partnerships and connections—or UK’s “global footprint”— are varied and extensive. At the institutional level, there are partnerships dating back nearly half a century, with Indonesia, Ecuador, Germany and France, for example. Through these partnerships and agreements, students come and go, faculty come and go, research is sponsored by companies and agencies based around the world, and technologies developed here at UK are licensed to companies around the world. UK Healthcare serves a growing population of immigrants across Kentucky, and trains future practitioners to work in increasingly diverse cultural contexts. As it does with international collaborative research, so, too, working in partnership across borders enhances the education and service missions of the university. All of these activities contribute to the rich web of connections that make the University of (for) Kentucky a truly global institution.
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BEYOND ORIENTATION: TH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ROADMAP TO SUCCESS The International Center is the launching pad for international student success. International Student & Scholar Services takes a holistic approach to supporting students throughout their UK experience and partners with key university stakeholders to build campus-wide initiatives. Our students’ journey does not start at orientation - it begins even before they apply to UK and extends through the application process, admission, matriculation, and then on through their years as students, all the way to graduation and beyond. By thinking of the student’s timeline in terms of a continuous journey, rather than in terms of dates such as arrival, the right information, resources and support can be offered at just the right time. By adopting a sustained and tailored approach to supporting students achieve their very best, our ISSS staff are making sure international students from all over the world are on the road to success.
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Arrive in Lexington
Airport Meet Up Meet your First Friend from our International Hospitality Program at the airport who will pick you up and help you get to your new home.
Participate in K Week Join the Big Blue Nation and meet your new classmates for a fun week.
Attend Orientation Our orientation team will help you register for classes and adjust to life at UK through campus tours, shopping trips and social events.
Meet ISLT The Internationa Student Leadersh Team peer group c answer any questio about life at UK.
Second Year - Sophomor
Join the Sophomore Success Program Cultivate your leadership skills and build your network across campus.
Get Involved Explore over 500 student organizations – there is an organization for everyone.
ISLT Programs The ISLT hosts many cultural, academic and social programs throughout the year.
Fourth Year - Senior
Research on GoinGlobal Learn about career opportunities, internships, hiring trends, networking associations and cost of living in the global marketplace, including an H-1B employer database.
Sign up for Handshake Visit one of the many Career Fairs to talk with potential employers about internships and future employment.
Financial Wellnes Learn how to be financially responsible.
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Attend OPT Workshop Learn about employment options, including Optional Practical Training, which allows you to get experience in your field for 12 months. *Duration varies by major.
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Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
HE ROADMAP TO SUCCESS 1 First Year - Freshman Live On Campus Hang out with friends in the International Village LLP where you’ll live and learn with people from all around the world.
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Meet Your International Academic Coordinator During your first semester meet your International Academic Coordinator for individualized academic support.
Connect with ISLT An ISLT member will be your peer mentor during your first year at UK.
Register for UK 101 Join an internationally focused section that will help you be successful at UK.
Use Campus Resources Visit the Writing Center for help with research papers, Presentation U! for your public speaking skills and the Study for 1-on-1 tutoring.
3 Third Year - Junior
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Connect with Faculty Use the Office of Undergraduate Research to develop a research project with a faculty mentor.
Meet New Friends Our Cross-Cultural Workshop takes a group of international and U.S. students to learn from one another in one of Kentucky’s beautiful state parks.
Visit the Career Center Get help to edit your resume, write a cover letter and practice your interview skills.
Life as a UK Graduate
TERNATIONAL STUDENT ROAD TO SUCCESS Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
Make Global Connections Build your international network by joining the Facebook, LinkedIn and WeChat alumni groups.
Join UK’s Alumni Association Stay connected with the UK Alumni Association.
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STUDENT SUCCESS VENEZUELAN UK STUDENT WINS INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AWARD By Paulina Zarate
Left: Sofia Gonzalez holds recognition plaque for founding of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter along with her colleague Amanda Melendez. Right: Gonzalez presenting her research at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers National Conference Poster Session, where she won first place.
UK international student Sofia Gonzalez was awarded the Emergency Student Fund Grant funded by the Institute of International Education (IIE) this year. This grant was funded to help students from Venezuela who are experiencing financial struggles due to the current political crisis in their home country. Gonzalez was one of the 59 outstanding Venezuelan students enrolled in a U.S. institution to receive this award for showing great dedication and involvement in the community.
field and improve living standards for everyone.” As a chemical engineering student, Gonzalez has made the Dean’s list multiple semesters proving herself academically. She also started to get involved as soon as she arrived on campus.
“With my studies and research, I want to be able to impact my field and improve living standards for everyone.”
Throughout her years at the University of Kentucky, Sofia has grown to become a leader not only among her international peers but also among her female, Hispanic engineer classmates.
First, she joined the International Student Ambassador program with the International Center.
“All my involvement on-campus has been directed to impacting people in a positive way,” Gonzalez said. “With my studies and research, I want to be able to impact my
Since then, she has also been the public relations chair of the Society of Women Engineers, a resident advisor in Woodland Glen IV and in Lewis Hall, member of
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the International Student Leadership Team (ISLT) and is now the president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), an organization she founded her junior year. Karen Slaymaker, assistant director of International Student and Scholar Services, had been following Gonzalez’ journey and knew she could be a welldeserving winner, so she brought the IIE award to her attention. Gonzalez expressed gratitude toward the International Center’s staff, for believing in her and advocating on her behalf for this scholarship. “This award will allow me to finish my education at the University of Kentucky and follow my next educational journey as a doctoral student in chemical engineering,” Gonzalez said. “Without their support, I don’t know where would I stand now. I am forever grateful for their support and encouragement.”
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
STUDENT SUCCESS FORMER SGA PRESIDENT EARNS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP TO TEACH IN TAIWAN By Steven Sommer
Ben Childress, a former Student Government Association president at the University of Kentucky, was awarded a Fulbright to teach English in Taiwan last summer. Childress began the yearlong program teaching in primary and middle schools in August 2018. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program places Fulbright scholars all over the globe to not only teach English, but also to serve as cultural ambassadors for the United States. Childress’ first experience in China was through the Young Leaders Understanding China Field Study fellowship, funded by the Confucius Institute and Gaines Center for the Humanities. The program provides Gaines Fellows access to an affordable, two-week trip to China. “It is obvious that Ben is a natural leader and, as he describes himself, a ‘connector’ — one who inspires others not only through his obvious abilities, but through his easy-going likeability and his pleasant and unusual inattention to the demands of self,” said Phil Harling, former director of the Gaines Center for the Humanities. “On UKCI’s Young Leaders Understanding China Field Study last May, I had the privilege to travel to China with the Gaines Fellows, and I deeply relished the opportunity thus afforded to see Ben at work as a cultural ambassador,” Harling said. Harling said they met with student groups from four different Chinese universities and one high school, and spent time in Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing. “All of our students hit it off remarkably well with their Chinese counterparts, but none more so than Ben, who went out of his way to seek out as many Chinese students as he possibly could,” Harling said. “The trip inspired Ben so much that he started learning Mandarin and applied for the teaching Fulbright to Taiwan. It’s deeply gratifying to see that the Young Leaders trip kindled a passion in Ben to continue to promote Sino-American cultural understanding in significant
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
ways.” Childress expressed his gratitude for the UK Confucius Institute for making the rare opportunity possible. “UKCI basically paid for everything except the plane ticket,” Childress explained. “I only spent about $2,000 total for a lifetime opportunity.” The UK Confucius Institute’s goal is to support UK students in learning Chinese language and culture and create opportunities for them to study, teach, or complete research in China. The Confucius Institute awards 40 grants exceeding $45,000 total in funding each year for undergraduate and graduate students alike. “Ben was so interested in Chinese history during the trip that he followed me, always asking great questions,” remembered Huajing Maske, executive director of the Confucius Institute, who co-led the Young Leaders program for the Gaines Center students. “I am always amazed by how much of an impact trips like this can have on our students. I feel it is our responsibility to open paths like this for our students to be immersed in other cultures and to discover new possibilities. We are very proud of what the Confucius Institute does to enable many of these international journeys of discovery.” “The fellowship brought back a lot of interests in Asia that I had earlier in life,” Childress said. “The chance UKCI gave me to have a brief taste of Chinese culture actually contributed to my initial interest in Fulbright.” Upon further researching the program, Childress decided to apply. “Fulbright goes beyond just teaching a language — it also involves the community,” he said. “I love being an active part of the community on campus and this is really no different for my hopes
Ben Childress (right) teaching English to a student in a Taiwanese school.
in Taiwan. I really want to be a bridge between two cultures while I am there.” When asked why Taiwan specifically, Childress cited numerous reasons including positive reviews from students in the program before him and its beautiful, cultural environment for both learning and touring. He also noted that the emphasis on intensive language learning played a large role, stating his personal goal to become comfortable using the native language during the year. He hopes that by the end of the program he can tour China without relying on English. Childress, who plans to attend law school upon completion of his year as a Fulbright ETA, is excited to carry what he has learned to Taiwan. His experience will not only add another exciting chapter to his personal story, but also leave a lasting cultural bridge between the U.S. and China. UK students interested in applying for a Fulbright ETA should contact UK’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. For more information visit: h t t p s : //w w w. u k y. e d u /c h e l l g r e n / competitive-awards/resources
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT ANESTHESIOLOGY PROFESSOR HELPS TRAIN UK RESIDENTS & STAFF AT NIGER HOSPITAL By Paulina Zarate
UK professor of Anesthesiology, Dr. Paul Sloan, has established a new rotation site for UK anesthesiology residents at CURE International in Niamey, Niger. This opportunity allows residents to receive hands-on professional training in their field. During their time in Niger, the hospital was also the site of an innovative solar energy project implemented earlier this year. CURE International was founded in 1996 and is a non-profit based in the United States that operates charitable hospitals and programs in 26 countries worldwide. Through CURE, patients are able to receive surgical treatment regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnicity. The organization’s work focuses on pediatric orthopedic surgery and promotes a holistic approach to healing which addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of disability. CURE has served children with conditions like clubfoot, bowed legs, cleft lips, untreated burns and hydrocephalus. In the past 20 years, they have performed over 200,000 life-changing surgeries across their network. Dr. Sloan first became aware of CURE about 20 years ago through Dr. Ben Warf, a surgical colleague at UK. Dr. Warf, from UK’s Department of Neurosurgery, started the second CURE hospital in Mbale, Uganda. Dr. Sloan’s wife Maureen, qualified nurse, has been visiting CURE hospitals for over a decade, volunteering her time. Dr. Sloan and his wife have been able to visit many of the CURE hospitals around the network. Dr. Sloan has helped support and train anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians, while Maureen has helped develop CURE’s nurse training program. When offered the chance to have a sixmonth sabbatical, Dr. Sloan decided to take the opportunity to visit CURE’s site in Niger and help establish the Global Health elective through UK. This elective allows residents from UK’s College of Medicine’s anesthesia program to rotate through the CURE hospital in Niger and work with a local surgical team, under Dr. Sloan’s supervision. Through this
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program, residents had the opportunity to work in an under-resourced setting and learn about the challenges facing the medical profession in Niger. Dr. Sloan’s responsibilities at the hospital went far beyond hosting UK residents. Most of his mornings in Niger were spent in the operating theatre, where he would provide anesthesia and instruction for both the UK residents and CURE staff. He also managed to visit several teaching hospitals and connect with local anesthesiologists, both at the National Hospital and at the University School of Medicine. He also had the opportunity to travel and teach at Galmi Hospital, another mission hospital in Niger. On his last trip to the Niger hospital, Dr. Sloan witnessed the implementation of one of the largest solar energy projects in the country. CURE staff believed that Niger had an ideal climate for running the hospital on solar energy, and they put a plan in place to make it a reality. “The electricity supplied by the municipal power source is expensive and inconsistent. There are frequent power cuts,” said Josh Korn, former executive director of the CURE Niger Hospital and now with the head office of CURE in Michigan. “These power cuts make it difficult to run and equip a surgical hospital, especially because the electricity that is provided often comes in surges which can be very damaging to sensitive medical equipment.” CURE applied for a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and received funding for the project through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program. Although Korn was the main administrative officer for the solar energy project, Dr. Sloan was able to see the final result, which he said was of great benefit to the hospital and has kept the power from failing in the middle of patient procedures.
Dr. Paul Sloan, professor of anesthesiology at the CURE hospital in Niger.
“To see the local anesthesiologist gain competency in new pain management techniques was wonderful,” Dr. Sloan said. “To see our residents represent UK so well in another continent and completely different surgical environment was very gratifying.” Dr. Sloan worked with CURE’s Niger hospital many times in the past. “I have been drawn to the idea that with further training and education, the perioperative management of pain can be improved for the children,” he said. “The use of ultrasoundguided local anesthetic nerve blocks for postoperative pain is essential in a country where the use of opioids for pain relief is not encouraged.” Korn believes that making this global elective opportunity available to residents is important and helpful for research development and growth. “It was very helpful for the UK residents to see how anesthesia practice can be achieved in a setting of limited medical resources,” Korn said. “Perhaps the short-term elective for the residents will encourage them to return to low-income countries for future educational projects after graduation.”
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT STUDENT SPEAKS TO VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN COLLEGE By Amaya DeVicente
As the world continues to become increasingly interconnected, employers are seeking graduates who have crosscultural competence, experience with real-world applications of their knowledge and transferable skills. UK students who go abroad gain these life skills, preparing them for success in their education and in their careers. National research shows that students who study abroad tend to be better performing students upon their return to their home campus. For example, students who study abroad tend to be more engaged in the classroom and more likely to complete their degrees. Employers also recognize that certain competencies come with international experience. Education abroad opportunities can foster indemand skills, such as adaptability, confidence, ability to work with a team, global perspective, resilience and leadership qualities. When Kendall Hitch came to the University of Kentucky from Michigan, as a freshman in 2014, she was nervous about making it “on her own.” After all, she was in a different state, a different community and in many ways, a different culture from her northern home. But she said she quickly learned to manage after her abroad experiences with UK. Through UK International Center’s Education Abroad & Exchanges office, Hitch studied, researched, interned and volunteered in Argentina, China, Mexico and South Africa. “Internationalization is important to me because we become more socially and emotionally intelligent when we learn new ways of doing things, new ideas and new languages. Everything is becoming more globalized, if we don’t educate ourselves about other cultures and how other people live and do things, we become sort of ignorant. I think that puts us behind in terms of our economy, our jobs and the
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
companies we work in,” Hitch said. Hitch maximized her college experience by immediately beginning to give back to others — in the UK and Lexington communities and beyond. She spent her four years advocating for human rights and education, teaching English and working to empower people all around the world. Hitch said English education is growing in importance around the world due to the increasing interconnectedness of the global economy. “These experiences brought me extremely important and valuable connections around the globe that showed me the true beauty of genuine cultural exchange and appreciation,” she said. Hitch believes internationalization efforts make the University of Kentucky more attractive to students. “Sometimes when you’re in an institution like a university, it’s easy to feel like you’re on an island and isolated,” Hitch said. “Without internationalization efforts at an institution, faculty and students alike can begin to ask themselves - ‘Why am I actually teaching these things, how does this relate to what’s going on in the world?’ It helps us see how we really are connected to the world and what specific role that we play,” she said. Hitch graduated from UK in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the UK College of Arts and Sciences and the UK Lewis Honors College. Hitch is currently the director of international outreach for a nonprofit school in Guatemala called VIDA, where she provides translations and organizes fundraisers. During her time at UK, Hitch started founding her own nonprofit, Abroadband Connections. Hitch’s nonprofit provides online tutoring
Kendall Hitch (middle) meets with community stakeholders in Cape Town, South Africa.
and mentoring to students at VIDA. Throughout the development process, she learned to leverage the network of friends and colleagues she made throughout her education abroad experiences, connections she never would’ve formed without her extensive international travels. “I have this huge network of people who are speaking four different languages in six different countries; they’re also my friends who contribute to my life personally and I feel my life is a lot richer because of this network of people,” she said. Hitch said Abroadband Connections’s next phase is developing cultural exchange programs. The first exchange will take place between VIDA in Guatemala and a school in Italy where Hitch previously taught, focusing in cultural literacy and international education. “Intercultural education was a transformative experience for me, and I hope I can get more people involved in my mission,” she said. This past May, Hitch began an online Master of Arts in Bilingual Education program through The University of Texas of the Permian Basin while living in Mexico. She’ll do coursework for half the week and continue growing her nonprofit.
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UKIC NEWS INSTAGRAM #TAKEOVERTUESDAYS HIGHLIGHT INTERNATIONAL STUDENT LIFE AT UK By Elizabeth Leibach
Left: Sepideh Dadkhah, doctoral biology student shows her day in the lab researching sperm production in fruit flies. Center: Rahaf Abualsoud, International Student Council president answers a question from the Instagram audience following her takeover. Right: Marco Clementino, doctoral toxicology student shows part of the Western blot research technique where he separates proteins in an electrical field.
Recently, the UK International Center (UKIC) has been pleased to see the positive impact “Takeover Tuesdays” have had on UK’s campus. UK, along with many other universities, now promotes Instagram takeovers, encouraging students, faculty and staff to share their photographic abilities and present a personalized view of life at their university. At UK, the UKIC Marketing & Communications office arranged for students to take over the International Center’s Instagram account for a day each. The Instagram posts, developed and curated by the students themselves, are posted to the Stories section of the account and disappear after 24 hours. The posts commonly feature a student’s experience at UK in a way that allows the audience to learn more about their lives, interests, hobbies and educational pursuits within a very personable setting. Takeover Tuesdays have proved to be a fun and informative way to showcase the many facets of life as an international
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student at UK. Some of the highlights of recent Takeover Tuesdays include learning about the various projects and specific educational endeavors of our international students. Amazing students like Sepideh Dadkhah, a Ph.D. student in Biology from Iran, who is successfully juggling her fulltime studies with being a mother, shared her story. International Student Council (ISC) President Rahaf Abualsoud shared pictures from a popular karaoke event sponsored by ISC. Some students shared more scholarly aspects of their lives, such as Marco Clementino, doctoral student in toxicology, who gave a demonstration of a research technique called Western blot to identify and separate proteins on his Takeover Tuesday. International students have willingly contributed their creative skills, sharing their experiences and perspectives. In a survey the International Center conducted in late 2017, 37% of participating international students and scholars said they were active on Instagram, which led the International Center to launch its own Instagram
account. Within in a short period of time, the community grew rapidly, reaching over 1,000 followers. The International Center has been pleased to see how these Takeover Tuesdays have facilitated cross-cultural engagement. Today’s students might feel nervous about engaging face-to-face with someone they have never met before, yet they are very comfortable engaging in conversations on social media channels like Instagram. Follow the International Center on Instagram @ukyinternational and tag along for a day by tapping on the Stories section every Tuesday. To see previous takeovers, visit the International Center’s YouTube channel, where highlights of the Takeover Tuesdays are featured. If you know of an avid Instagrammer who would enjoy showcasing their life at UK, please contact Andrea Gils, Marketing and Communications Manager at andrea.gils@uky.edu.
Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
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Global Kentucky | Summer 2019
Tim Barnes Amaya DeVicente Elizabeth Leibach Sue Roberts Steven Sommer Paulina Zarate
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