University of Memphis Worldwide

U N I V E R S I T Y

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M E M P H I S

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UofM students travel the world for study abroad

UofM student Carolynn Keane looks out over the Albaicìn quarter of Granada, Spain, while visiting the Alhambra during her study abroad trip.

PRESIDENT M. David Rudd VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS Tammy Hedges ASSOCIATE EDITOR Gabrielle Maxey (BA ‘80) DESIGN Archer Malmo PHOTOGRAPHY Trey Clark (BA ‘89)

MISSION The University of Memphis is a learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high-quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship. The University of Memphis is governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees. The Board consists of eight members appointed by the governor of Tennessee, a faculty trustee elected by the faculty and a nonvoting student trustee selected by students and appointed by the Board. The University of Memphis’ name, seal, logos and Tigers are registered marks of the University of Memphis, and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from the University of Memphis.

On the cover: Allison Bridges spent her study abroad trip in Costa Rica, even finding time for a zipline adventure in a country known for its natural wonders.

C O N T E N T S UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS | 2019

2 Letter from the Director 6

In the News

8

In My Own Words

10 In Person 12 Home Is Where the Heart Is 14 A Look Back 16 On Board 18 Wide World of Sports 24 The Secrets of Ancient Egypt

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26 IEI Program 28 Going Global 32 Q&A with Gabriela Kleckova 33 Reflections 2019 | WORLDWIDE

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LETTER FROM THE Dear University of Memphis readers, welcome to the first magazine of the Center for International Education Services (CIES)!

The past two years have been an exciting period for international programs at the University of Memphis. Three separate units, the Study Abroad Office, International Student Services and the Intensive English for Internationals Program, were merged in January 2017 into an integrated center. The center has a common vision of leading the University’s internationalization goals—especially increasing international student enrollment and promoting global connections.

Our University has always had a strong record of engaging with international partner institutions and providing opportunities for U.S. students to study abroad.

The newly formed CIES will allow us to further promote the University’s unique position in the Mid-South by leveraging our relationships with global companies in Memphis to recruit high-achieving international students to the UofM. Our new center has accomplished much since its inception: In 2018, we enrolled 678 degree seeking students, an increase of more than 62 students from the previous year. Our international students represent more than 75 countries with the highest number of students coming from India, China and Bangladesh, respectively.

The Board of Trustees approved an International Merit Scholarship to boost our efforts to recruit high-achieving international undergraduate students to the UofM. We organized a series of workshops to provide support and resources for international students who were impacted by the Executive Order travel ban.

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REBECCA AND DENNIS LAUMANN

Two UofM students received prestigious Fulbright Scholarships, and we hosted three visiting Fulbright Scholars.

For the third year in a row, the UofM was among the top recipients of the Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship in Tennessee.

The International Student Association (ISA) received last year’s Presidential Phoenix Award, an honor bestowed on registered student organizations that are revitalized after a period of inactivity. The highlight of ISA’s activities was the very successful International Night event on our campus in May 2017.

CIES staff and students hosted a series of free global networking events throughout the academic year, including the monthly Coffee House, a Diwali celebration and a Halloween party, to foster cross-cultural learning on our campus.

DIRECTOR

Rebecca Laumann

We are also moving forward with other initiatives: ⊲ Connecting with our international alumni to serve as ambassadors of the University in their countries.

For example, this issue includes an interview with Dr. Gabriela Kleckova, our first PhD student in Linguistics at the University of Memphis who is now a professor the University of West Bohemia, Pilsen in the Czech Republic.

Please send us an email at studyabroad@memphis.edu if you are an alumni so we may connect with you.

Center for International Education Services Interim Executive Director Rebecca Laumann with her husband Dennis Laumann.

⊲ Identifying international academic partners who will help raise the University of Memphis’ profile in key markets. Recently, I traveled to China with Dr. Thomas Nenon, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Abby Parrill, associate dean of the College, to establish partnerships with five universities. ⊲ Establishing a list of faculty/staff whose research or work involves international travel and are able to recruit students while abroad.

We are excited about the ongoing renovation and remodeling of our home, the Panhellenic Building, which will allow us to host more events and provide students with dedicated study, meeting and relaxation spaces.

My thanks to all of you who support international programs at the UofM. Please do not hesitate to reach me at rlaumann@memphis.edu if you are able to support us in any way.

Go Tigers!

Rebecca Laumann Interim Executive Director

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Student Justin Keith Dodson jumps for joy after reaching the Cliffs of Moher on the southwestern edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland, during his study abroad trip.

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News

UofM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES



IN THE NEWS Nearly $24 Million:

Financial Impact of UofM International Students on Community

UofM students and their tour guide find a little wizardry in the United Kingdom while on a Harry Potter study abroad trip.

The financial impact of international students at the University of Memphis is $23.7 million, supporting 343 jobs—the largest of colleges in Tennessee’s ninth Congressional District and fourth largest of universities in the state. The findings were released in an annual report by NAFSA: Association of International Students.

THE UofM HAS 678 international students from 75 countries, and their economic impact includes tuition, housing, food, transportation, health insurance, phones, dining and retail spending.

“The past decade has seen a dramatic shift in how universities approach the recruitment and graduation of international students,” says Dr.

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Jasbir Dhaliwal, executive vice president for research and innovation.

“The paradigm emphasizes two new aspects—education as a service export and creating economic value by growing a global diaspora for our region. This new understanding informs all our initiatives with regard to international students. This is helping us contribute directly to the success of our city as it modernizes and globalizes for a competitive world.”

International students, who comprise only 5 percent of overall U.S. college enrollment, contributed nearly $37 billion to the U.S. economy last year. These students created or supported more than 450,000 jobs—three jobs for every seven international students. In Tennessee, the economic benefits from international students totaled $333 million, supporting 4,501 jobs.

“The impact of international students goes beyond economic benefits,” says Rebecca Laumann, interim executive director of the UofM Center for International Education Services.

“International students enrich our campus and the Memphis community with cultural diversity and help us to provide a global learning environment for U.S. students.

International students foster networking and research collaboration, and they are our best ambassadors overseas.”

I

nternational students hail from 75 countries. The top 10 countries of origin during the 2017–2018 academic year were: India, China, Bangladesh, Iran, Canada, Germany, France, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Students from these countries fit into three categories: shortterm students who study at UofM for perhaps a semester and return home or go elsewhere; degree-seeking students who stay for four to eight years; and Intensive English students who arrive to become fluent in the language.

While the University is rolling out the red carpet for international students, students who call the United States home are seeking out academic and cultural experiences abroad.

The University of Memphis is boosting efforts to recruit students from abroad and working to ease the transition and hurdles they face once they arrive on campus.

The population of international students has already grown, but officials are working through online promotions and channels in other countries to attract even more international students.

Officials particularly want to recruit high-achieving and fee-paying students from abroad, says Rebecca Laumann, interim executive director of the Center for International Education Services (CIES).

CIES officials will provide advice on student visas, support international collaboration and promote cultural awareness through innovative programming.

About 678 international students are enrolled at the UofM—some 100 more than during the 2014–2015 year.

STUDENTS WHO ARE U.S. citizens with limited financial means may get assistance to study abroad. Named for a late New York Congressman, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has been administered by the U.S. Department of State since its inception in 2001.

Seventeen UofM students were awarded the scholarship during the 2016–2017 academic year.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, the number of students who experienced a classroom in another country ranged between 285 to 387. The top 10 destinations for abroad students during the 2017–2018 academic year were as follows: Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, China and Czech Republic.

CIES—HOME TO THE UofM Study Abroad Office, Intensive English for Internationals program and International Student Services Office—is a new one-stop service center for students coming from outside the country. Officials consolidated international student services located in four different buildings to create the centralized office, housed in the Panhellenic Building.

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In my own words 

UofM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

R E B E C C A LY N N A L B E R S O N ( C L A S S O F 2 0 1 9 )

R

ebecca Alberson realized only on the return trip from Russia exactly how successful her trip abroad was. A world languages major, she had hoped to learn Russian better and immerse herself in the culture during the stay. She lived in a dorm, interacted with local students, spent a weekend in St. Petersburg, hung out at favorite restaurants and met people from all over the world who were in Russia for the 21st FIFA World Cup.

Alberson, at right, at the World Cup.

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WAVED GOODBYE TO my parents at Memphis International Airport on May 19 and began a twomonth experience to study in Moscow, Russia. The next eight weeks would be spent in intensive Russian language classes and cultural excursions. I was terrified to live on the other side of the world, to be separated from everything I had known for two months, but I knew I needed to do it. My degree is Spanish and Russian with a minor in music, and I intend to bring my experiences abroad to the next generation of students. I want them to learn the importance of making real connections with myriad other cultures in our huge, diverse world.

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One of the best memories of the trip was the weekend we took an overnight train to St. Petersburg. Our train left Moscow Station at midnight and took us on an eight-hour trip past woods, lakes and small towns to the north. Imagine Venice.

Same architecture and basic feel, but with the harsh, cold and brutal winds of Finland.

That’s St. Petersburg. Our hostel was a boat on the Neva River, which runs through the heart of the city. We went to the worldfamous Hermitage Museum that weekend, toured the Petropavlovskaya Fortress and took a walking tour

of the city, where we visited all the key places in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

If you have any interest in classical music, go to Russia. I’ve been studying classical clarinet since I was 12 years old, so making a pilgrimage to the incomparable Bolshoi Theatre was a must. On the best night of my life, Katie, a harp performance major, and I stood amazed as an attendant pulled back the red velvet curtain of the first balcony to the first swells of the overture to Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, and we stepped into a room of glittering gold. The historic stage of the Bolshoi is a temple for the performing arts.

Just seats away from the imperial box, we sat down in the same seats Russia’s nobility occupied in the days of the tsars and heard some of the world’s finest performers. Dividing my time between being lost in the performance and being lost in my luxurious surroundings exposed me to the kind of awe you can only feel a couple of times in your life.

In my own words 

UofM INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

RICHARD EBENEZER (CLASS OF 2019)

As a business administration and business information technology student, Richard Ebenezer headed to South Korea to study at a top business university, but he also wanted to socialize with the citizens.

And he did—on so many levels.

Ebenezer taking part in karaoke.

S

OUTH KOREA is one of the most connected places in the world, and as a Business Information Technology major, I wanted to check this out firsthand.

The country has 4G network connectivity available everywhere. On the train, in small villages—even in the underground subway—it was possible to get access to the internet. I learned a little more Korean and a lot about business strategy, globalization and emerging markets.

I selected Korea University largely because of its reputation as a top business school. I took an upper-level class dealing with business strategy, and I enrolled in a Korean language class. The business class, taught in English by an American professor, consisted of reading relevant case studies about mergers, acquisitions and globalization, but we also took a trip to the Samsung Innovative Museum where we saw the

Samsung R&D facilities. The Korean class was, of course, in Korean. Our instruction included a lot of new vocabulary, and the grammar was seamlessly interwoven into the lectures. We covered topics like daily routine, food, travel and ordering food at a restaurant. I especially loved practicing my Korean at restaurants. On a typical weekday, I grabbed lunch with friends at one of the 30 restaurants nearby.

The class also was useful at coffee shops I frequented to study.

South Korea also was a lot of fun. I danced to popular Korean music, visited cultural landmarks and tourist attractions, shopped in crowded markets, tried street foods or practiced the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.

I also learned I really like to sing karaoke and that maybe I’m not as introverted as I assumed. I often went to norebang (karaoke room) with friends. It was totally something I never imagined myself doing. I liked it so much, I even went alone. My favorite activity, however, was watching

baseball in Korea. I had never seen a game before, and I enjoyed the energy of the crowd as we cheered together.

The highlight of my visit was a trip to Pohang to see a friend from middle school.

She introduced me to several Korean college students, and we conversed about the typical life of a Korean college student.

I think this is the aspect of Korea that I really wanted to experience during my time abroad—to spend time with as many native Koreans as possible.

I’m unsure about what I will do after graduation, but studying abroad has given me a broader perspective on what I can do. South Korea is a country that is hyper-focused on education. Seeing that in person made learning seem “cool.”

While I may apply to some international companies and try to work in global strategy departments, I might instead apply for graduate school to further my studies.

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IN PERSON

By Toni Lepeska

Aminat a Agne , ( C l a s s o f 2 0 1 9 )

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n international business studies student, Aminata Agne selected Strasbourg, France, for an experience abroad in fall 2017. She relished the idea of the independence it would give her, and she liked the idea of encountering a culture and pace of life different from America.

A

MINATA AGNE

catering to international students

encounters kept happening. Now

selected France for

from all over. On her first day in

I have friends from all over.”

her study abroad

the city, a young man stopped her,

experience, but her

Though she faced obstacles—

apparently realizing due to her

including a missed flight,

attire that she wasn’t from France.

lost baggage and unexpected

diversity and more nationali-

“I had on shorts and an oversized

expenses—Agne relished the

ties than she ever imagined. A

shirt,” Agne says. “I guess we

trip’s lessons on self-reliance.

trip exposed her to more

native of Senegal,

“I definitely grew as

Africa, Agne moved

a person,” she says.

to Memphis at the

“I’d say I became even

age of 11 as a refugee

more independent,

with her parents. She

even more confident.

had learned to speak

Everything I had to

French in school in

do I had to figure it

Senegal. She also

out and do it alone.”

knew a tribal lan-

With graduation

guage and a “street

expected in 2019,

language” native

Agne isn’t sure exactly

to Africa, and she’d

what sort of job she

learned English as a

wants, but she knows

girl in the Bluff City.

“I will most likely be

In deciding where

traveling and meeting

to study abroad, the

Agne, at center, with friends.

international business studies major considered China to practice Mandarin, her minor.

new people. I don’t want a new language to

only do that here in America.”

be just something I do in school.

She quickly discovered the

I also am interested in business.

She decided, however, that France

individual was also from Senegal.

I want to work for a global

would offer her a better under-

She met Chinese students who

company. I have been wishing

standing of French culture. After

offered to help her practice

and hoping for an internship

all, the French had once ruled

Mandarin at lunch. She made

with International Paper. I think

Senegal.

fast friends with Chula, a student

the company is a good fit, and I

from Germany, and with Izabella,

think there’s a lot I can bring to

2014, Agne selected Strasbourg,

a student from Poland. “I spent

the table as diverse as I am.”

near the German border and

Christmas with her in Poland. Now

the formal seat of the European

we’re like family. Her mom calls

Parliament, for its reputation of

me her daughter,” Agne says. “The

Having become a U.S. citizen in

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HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS By Toni Lepeska

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Ewe Leng ”Willie” Lim of Malaysia, center, had only been in the U.S. for two days when he was welcomed by Stephanie Beasley and Dan Beasley in 1987.

D

ANIEL AND STEPHANIE Beasley don’t feel the least bit uneasy about inviting strangers from the other side of the world to drop in and hang out at their two-story home in Midtown Memphis.

Once a University of Memphis international student “sits and comes over—they’re not strangers anymore,” says Dan, a UofM professor and director of donor relations.

In fact, many of the students have become part of what the Beasleys describe as a blended family, one that shares holidays, weddings and photographs of milestones on Facebook.

The UofM doesn’t have a formal host program anymore, but families like the Beasleys continue to host students from other countries.

The connections come through word-of-mouth.

The students live elsewhere, but may hang out anytime they wish at the Beasley home.

“We include them in all kinds of holidays,” says Stephanie, who works in University President Dr. M. David Rudd’s office. “We take them to experience Memphis, American life. But we’ve learned more than they have, I’m sure.”

The Beasleys began hosting international students in the 1980s.

Their first student was Ewe Leng Lim from Malaysia. He adopted the name “Willie.” They were introduced at a social gathering for international students to be paired with host families. Lim had been in the States for two days.

“Willie was staying off by himself,” Dan says. “He’d never been out of Malaysia.”

“It was an amazing meal,” Lim recalls.

“The holiday was a big eye opener in terms of learning the culture, learning the tradition.”

Now he sees the Beasleys at least once a year.

“He still comes to our house, with his family, for Thanksgiving,” Stephanie says. “He

become to know many more as young people tagged along with their friends to the home.

Several students have maintained the bonds they formed with the Beasleys. The couple became godparents to one of their former student’s children.

And an Austrian girl, Sabrina, asked Dakota

Celebrating Thanksgiving with their international “family” has become a tradition in the Beasley home. From left, Stephanie Beasley, Quentin Dixon, Quinlin Dixon Lim, Ethan Dixon Lim, Ewe Leng “Willie” Lim and Dakota Beasley helped set up the family Christmas tree in 2011.

Louis Asser of Australia visited the Beasley home during his first week in Memphis in 2014. Also pictured are Dakota Beasley and Stephanie Beasley.

Lim got his bachelor’s degree in 1989 and then his master’s degree in 1991. Today, he’s a civil engineer who owns his own software company near Houston. His most memorable moment with the Beasleys was his first Thanksgiving. He arrived at their home and scooted up to the table, topped with all kinds of food.

sends me flowers on Mother’s Day.” Dakota Beasley, 24, born a few years after her parents began hosting international students, considers Lim her brother. And Lim, who lost his father when he was 11 years old, considers Dan a father figure. Lim fondly remembers their in-depth discussions that challenged him as a fact-based engineer to look for the human element. It’s a concept that still impacts him.

“I’ve had discussions with him that I didn’t with my dad,” Lim says.

“I treasure the friendship.”

The Beasleys have hosted a dozen or more students and have

to be in her wedding.

The whole family flew to Austria to attend.

While they hope to be a part of the growth and development of each student, the Beasleys say they’ve definitely learned a lot from the young people to whom they’ve opened their doors.

“We repeatedly learned, don’t make assumptions,” Dan says. “Don’t make assumptions about other people, about other cultures. And you really see the commonalities of other people, rather than the differences. We all have the same issues. We all have to pay the bills.”

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A LOOK BACK Former Study Abroad Participant Reflects on His Experiences a Decade Later

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By Dr. Zachary Nahmias

Za c h a r y N a h m ia s ( C l a s s of 2 0 1 0 )

I decided to step outside my comfort zone during the summer of 2007. I was from the suburb of a Southern city, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of Africa. What I got was of more significance than I could have ever imagined.

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A

S A FORMER British colony, Ghana and her people speak English. I was pleasantly surprised by the politeness and friendliness of the culture— it struck me right away and left a lasting impression.

During the trip, my small group of classmates and I encountered the colonial history of Ghana, but also realized the richness of Ghana’s African history. We learned about the varied approaches people have taken to achieve fairness for the individuals of Africa, the realities of the transatlantic slave trade and the tribal traditions of groups across Ghana.

I tried to master a few of the simple phrases of the Twi dialect of the Akan language, spoken by many in Ghana. Although I failed admirably, I enjoyed the challenge. We lounged on beaches, toured the rainforest and danced to rhythmic music from a traditional Ghanaian group.

During a trip to the eastern edge of Ghana, we visited a town that straddled the international border between Togo and Ghana. The people spoke English on one side of the street while on the other side they spoke French. The cultural intersection was fascinating. Several middle-aged women

were creating quilts on a loom in the village.

I purchased a marvelous black and white quilt. After recently moving to upstate New York, I found that quilt as I unpacked. Happy memories came flooding back. The taste of the fish. The crispness of the water. The heartiness of the plantain. The sound of the rainforest.

It was a return to a way of life I remembered from my childhood in Tennessee—a time without constant intrusion from the Internet and cell phones. It was a time when we had been fully immersed in the moment.

I had arrived in Ghana with a narrower view of the world than when I left the country.

I had been relatively sheltered growing up and needed to expand my perspective.

Four weeks abroad proved I could thrive and learn wherever I found myself.

My experience in western Africa facilitated my development as a medical volunteer abroad. As a physician, I have completed two international medical volunteer missions: one to the Philippines and one last year to Botswana. In southern Africa, Botswana has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. I worked with medical problems related to dermatology during my visit.

Traveling abroad has allowed me to see other people’s perspectives, a highly useful skill not only as a physician but as an empathic human. My thanks to the University of Memphis and the study abroad program for shaping me into the person I am today.

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ON BOARD

By Toni Lepeska

ROTC CULP Program Offers Cadets International Experiences

In the summer of 2015, UofM Army ROTC cadet True Merritt traveled to Lithuania as part of the Cultural Understanding Leadership Program (CULP). The highly selective program placed her squarely in the center of history.

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C

ULP IS ONE of the ways ROTC students may end up abroad, learning new military, social and cultural skills. “It was an amazing experience to visit a beautiful country that I never would have gone to otherwise,” says Merritt (BA ’17). “My favorite experience was just interacting with the Lithuanian soldiers, hearing about their lives and what it was really like to live there. Many of the soldiers who were in the English class we taught had joined the army right after the fall of the Soviet Union, so it was amazing to hear about the lives these men and women had lived. It was an incredibly transformative experience, and it continues to help me in my everyday life.”

Now a fire direction officer with the Army’s Second Cavalry Unit, Merritt is stationed in Vilseck, Germany, where her unit performs many NATO missions. In her seven months there, she has participated in two major NATO exercises.

“It was amazing knowing what it was like to work with a NATO partner before even arriving at my unit, and it definitely made me feel more prepared for the work that I currently do,” she says. “I would 100 percent recommend this program to every ROTC student because it highlights a perspective and worldview that you may otherwise never see.”

Matthew Rush, an international studies major, discovered a little bit of America within the Poland military during his CULP experience.

As he learned Polish air force cadets’ affinity for the American science fiction sitcom Rick and

Morty, he learned something about the world. And it became a smaller place.

“In the end of the day, you realize people are people,” says Rush. “Some of us watch the same TV shows. I told them I like the Rolling Stones. Some of them liked that. I would love to go back to Poland someday. I have someone to stay with now.”

In addition to CULP, ROTC cadets can also gain

ROTC cadets travel to such locales as Bulgaria, Lithuania and the Middle East for study abroad experiences.

international experience through the Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT), in which they are paired with an active duty unit on a military post, sometimes abroad, to shadow a leader for a few weeks.

Capt. Reed M. Ziegler, executive officer of the UofM Army ROTC and assistant professor of military science, said CULP meets the strategic cooperation objectives of the U.S. Army.

The program also provides student cadets cultural training and awareness.

Last year, 959 cadets were chosen from across the U.S. and sent to 26 countries.

“We’ve had several cadets selected in the past and two cadets this past summer,” says Ziegler. “They’ve gone to

Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central America—locations all over the place. For a lot of them, it’s the first time they’ve ever left the U.S.” ROTC cadets apply for slots. They’re evaluated based on several skills, including physical fitness, language ability, leadership potential and grade-point average.

They also consider any second language abilities in placement, orientating the cadets to a region that uses the language.

Rush, a native of St. Louis who is minoring in Russian studies, took a Polish language course when he learned of his assignment. He saw the typical tourist sights and places “off the beaten path.” By living in Poland, even briefly, he gained a perspective that tourists don’t get, he says, and he got to see how the regular Army functions overseas. One of his most profound experiences, though, was a remnant of the past, of the last World War. “We saw Auschwitz,” recalls Rush, referencing the largest death camp operated by Nazi Germany to exterminate a whole race of people, the Jews and other people they wanted to extinguish. “It’s really somber when you realize what a massive, almost industrial operation it was.”

A primary purpose of cadet time abroad is the practice of basic soldier skills such as land navigation and use of equipment. Paired with a host nation for a few weeks, they work and share tasks with their foreign hosts to learn from one another.

The cadets also might be assigned to participate in humanitarian missions.

“They’re helping build schools, or they’re feeding a population at a refugee camp,” Ziegler says. “The experience is diverse, which helps us understand other countries when we’re called to serve.”

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WIDE WORLD of

SPORTS UofM international student-athletes bring first-rate playing skills—as well as diversity—to the University.

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Chris Patzanovsky

H

e might just be one of Memphis’ staunchest ambassadors, someone not even from the city—much less the United States.

When German-born University of Memphis tennis player Chris Patzanovsky first landed in Memphis, he had a bit of trouble with the language—especially in lecture classes and with Southern accents, but it didn’t keep him from falling in love with the city.

“While it is nice to have the campus in the middle of a relatively large city, it was the people of Memphis that fascinated me the most,” says Patzanovsky, of Teublitz, Germany.

“Their passion about the city and how proud they are of being from here made me want to get behind the program as well—to be a part of the story that the city writes every day.”

Patzanovsky has spent the past four years doing his best to blend in and become a Memphian—even if it is for the short term. At Memphis’ first regular season home basketball game under Penny Hardaway, he was on national

TV holding up a “This one is for Karim” sign in honor of Tiger basketball player Karim Azab, who recently passed away from leukemia.

He’s taken part in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital fundraising events, been a rabid Tiger football fan and is often spotted at local festivals such as the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

“The U.S. and especially the South are unique in their own ways,” notes the senior physics and mathematics major. “The friendliness and openness to a stranger coming from a different country to study here is unmatched.”

The German native, who plans to go pro after graduation, points out that there is not a collegiate athletics system in Europe like there is in the United States.

“While there are university teams, there is no fan base behind it whatsoever,” he says. “It would be unimaginable to have 100,000 people come to a football game between two universities. But that is what makes studying in the United States so exciting. The love for sports is unmatched.”

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P

atzanovsky is among nearly 70 international student-athletes who attend the UofM, including 25 Canadians (14 on the women’s soccer team alone). There are players from England, Iceland, Isle of Man, Germany, Aruba, Brazil, Norway, Finland, Italy, Nigeria, Estonia, Australia, Spain, Israel, Venezuela, South Africa, Cyprus, Bahamas, Netherlands, Wales, Mexico and France.

Most identify having to adapt to a different culture and the English language as the biggest challenges.

“Acknowledging and adapting to the cultural difference has been the toughest challenge thus far for me,” says women’s golfer and fifth-year senior Michaela Fletcher of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

“I am constantly learning about the American culture as well as the Southern way of life. In general, college is known to be the place where young adults find themselves, and this created a further struggle for me. Having an upbringing completely different to that of Americans meant that I had to deal with the pressure to fit into a new culture while still understanding and maintaining my own core values.”

She says that her association with other foreign athletes has been an educational experience in itself.

“The UofM is a school that attracts students and athletes from all around the world,” the marketing major says. “With this, I have had a great opportunity to work alongside individuals from completely different backgrounds and cultures. Listening to others talk about their home countries has been eye-opening and serves as a great way to create appreciation for what each of us has. It creates a sense of awareness of what else is out there, the trials and tribulations of other societies as well as their successes.

It’s a perfect learning tool. We are able to learn from the experiences of others and show support for them.”

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Men’s soccer player David Zalzman of Maracay, Venezuela, had a two-fold challenge his first semester.

“My first year here was very challenging as I wasn’t very fluent with the language and communicating with anyone was taking longer than usual,” says Zalzman, who earned American Athletic Conference First-Team honors this past season. “I wasn’t eligible to play that year, either, so it was a very frustrating first year. But fortunately, my teammates had my back and supported me throughout the entire process.

“It’s been great coming to Memphis and getting to know a different culture, adapting to the food and cold weather, too. But most importantly, it was great getting to know new people from all over the world.

“As to athletics, the UofM has great resources for their athletes: fields, equipment, staff and travel accommodations that make it easier for us to prepare and be ready for competition, whereas back home things could get a little more challenging. We lack many of these resources, but we work hard every day to keep improving,” says Zalzman, a senior supply chain management major.

Women’s tennis player Laura Bente of Hannover, Germany, also had trouble with the English language

Lina Hohnhold & Laura Bente

her first semester, but soon overcame it.

“I have learned English since third grade and had it as a focus for my 11th and 12th grade years, but I obviously was not a perfect English speaker when I came here,” says Bente, a sophomore international business major. “I remember my freshman year when I switched a class just after one lesson because the words were so overwhelming and confusing that I knew I would not have done great in that class. I took the class this semester and I am totally fine with it and do great in it.”

Bente, like fellow German Patzanovsky, has become enamored with the Southern lifestyle.

“I feel like people here— especially in Memphis—are very nice and courteous.

I feel like everything in Germany seems very busy, and the everyday life is stressful and determined by output. Memphis seems more relaxed and not as busy.

“When I look back, I would never change my decision of studying abroad, because it will be a part of my life and an unforgettable time,” Bente says. “The relationships I have already made and the experiences I have gained cannot be taken from me. It has shaped my personality, and I feel like I have become a more independent and self-confident person. I am so thankful for the opportunity to play tennis on a scholarship for the UofM.” One adjustment Bente had to make was large American food portions. “You can get huge bags of candy and containers of milk and

other groceries for a single household. We don’t have that in Germany,” she says.

Mona Jaidi, a thrower on the women’s track and field team, hails from Bergen, Norway.

She was heavily recruited by several universities, but says it came down to “coaching philosophy” when she chose Memphis.

“I talked to some of the throws coaches from the U.S. on Facebook, but it was Memphis coach Kevin Robinson who stood out to me the most. I didn’t know how it would be moving to a different country to pursue track, but Coach Robinson seemed like he had similar philosophies and thoughts as my coach back in Norway. Another athlete that my Norwegian coach had mentored had gone to the UofM and thrown very well. I felt like it was a good fit.”

Jaidi says universities in Norway don’t have sports teams per say, and that is another thing that drew her to Memphis.

“Back home, we have clubs, and we don’t have teams that represent the different colleges. There are no school-sponsored sports back home, and the fact that they combine the two so well here in the U.S. was interesting to me,” says Jaidi, a junior business major.

What do they miss most about home? The word “family” surfaces often.

David Zalzman

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Mona Jaidi

“My grandmother’s food!” says Patzanovsky.

“I am an only child and therefore have a close relationship with both of my parents and grandparents. Luckily, we live in a world full of technology and video chat, and I am able to see and speak to them almost every day. While I do miss them, I know what a great time I am having here and am always happy to see them over winter and summer break. And please don’t tell the coaches this, but when I come back to the U.S., I bring some good German chocolate with me to remind me of home.”

Bente says one of the things she misses is biking. “Memphis is a big city and biking is not as popular as back home. The only time I use my bike here is when I go to class or go to a friend’s house in my neighborhood.” She said she also “really misses just having a coffee in

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my favorite coffee shop with my friends.”

For Zalzman, it is also about family. “It is difficult leaving my family and friends back home, but I always take advantage of the little moments I have to see them and spend a good time with them. I brought a Venezuelan flag that’s posted on the wall of my bedroom, so I get to see it every day and remember my home.”

Missing family is a common theme with Jaidi as well. “I really miss my family when I am here because they are very important to me,” she says. “I go home for Christmas and summer every year, and I always bring food back with me that I like that they don’t have here. My roommates spend time with me and my family during long breaks and often request that I bring specific Norwegian foods back with me when I visit.”

Fletcher also says family is “without a doubt the one thing I miss most.”

“Family has always been a major part of my life,” she says. “I make sure to keep in contact with them as much as possible to ensure they stay involved in my life. I brought a South African flag with me when I moved to the States. It hangs above my bed and serves as a daily reminder of where I come from and my family and motivates me to push a little harder each day. It keeps me grounded and connected to my roots and reminds me of the reasons I have come to America.”

Coaches at the UofM have enjoyed success going the international route, with women’s soccer coach Brooks Monaghan and his Canadian-stocked roster capturing the American Athletic Conference tournament title in November while advancing to the NCAA tournament. Track coach Kevin Robinson has mentored several NCAA outdoor track and field national medalists such as Pauls Pujats (pole vault) of Latvia and Ashley Pryke (javelin) of Canada. And then there’s Paul Goebel, whose Top 25 men’s tennis team—a perennial NCAA tournament participant—includes players from Germany, Wales, Aruba, England, Australia and Spain, as well as the U.S. Even associate head coach Chris Doerr is from England.

“It is a trend more and more in sports like track and field, and even in some of the larger sports such as football, to bring in foreign players,” Goebel says. “In a lot of countries, tennis is the number one or number two sport, so there are a lot of good tennis players from around the world. There are a lot of good tennis players in America, but with the hundreds of universities that we have, there’s not enough really good ones for all the schools to get and stay competitive.

“We keep a good mixture—we try to get people who will appreciate living in Memphis and who are going to represent the city in a real positive manner.”

As most international student-athletes’ careers draw to a close, they often become reflective of their time in the States—just ask Fletcher, who will soon graduate.

“As my time at the UofM closes, each day I am made aware of what a remarkable experience I have been given,” she says.

I have. I value this opportunity because it has been a platform where I have grown as a person, golfer, teammate and sister to my team. I have become a better athlete, student and person. There have been ups and downs and successes and failures. However, through all of this, one thing has stayed prevalent—the University of Memphis is filled with loving, caring and supportive people who are by our side unconditionally, and for that I am ever grateful.”

(Check out the team rosters at gotigersgo.com for more information on our international student-athletes.)

Michaela Fletcher

“It has been such a privilege learning, growing and experiencing the things

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The Secrets of Ancient Egypt:

A Look at UofM Study Abroad Research

T

HE MYSTERIES of ancient Egypt have intrigued researchers for hundreds of years; Hollywood has captivated audiences all over the world with tales of mummies come to life who wreak havoc on tomb excavators in all sorts of vile ways. Right in the middle of it all are University of Memphis study abroad students along with UofM professors studying ancient tombs and artifacts dating back to the time of Ramesses II and the Roman era.

The location? Luxor, Egypt, at a centuries-old tomb, among other ancient sites.

Among the participants?

UofM history doctoral student Elizabeth Warkentin and Dr. Suzanne Onstine, associate professor of history and director of the UofM’s mission to Theban Tomb 16.

The study abroad experience has allowed Warkentin to conduct world-class research at ancient Egyptian sites—as well as to pursue personal sleuthing related to her dissertation.

“In addition to being a team member of Dr. Onstine’s excavation at the tomb of

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Former anthropology student Danielle Phelps (MA ’09) collating epigraphic drawings inside Theban Tomb 16.

Panehsy and Tarenu in Dra Abu el-Naga, I also conducted my own research while in Egypt that focused on collecting evidence related to my dissertation topic—a topic that focuses on the role the cults of Hathor played in the political sphere during the New Kingdom,” Warkentin says.

“My work in Egypt also allowed me to study various temples in the Luxor area, including Deir el-Bahri, the Ramesseum, Sety I’s Qurna temple, Luxor temple and the Karnak complex. I also got to study other sites around Egypt including the Temple at Dendera, el-Kab, Hierakonpolis, Abu Simbel, Elephantine, Philae and Gebel el-Silsila. This provided me with a data set that was useful for my dissertation, as well as future avenues of research.”

So to say students who take part in Onstine’s study abroad program just lay around like mummies in a tomb would be a gross misstatement—they get real hands-on experience.

“We are studying a 19th dynasty tomb and the secondary burials in it through excavation, translation, epigraphy, bioarchaeology and forensic studies of the human remains,” says Onstine.

“Among other things, we study secondary burials in the tomb, and have unearthed hundreds of bones and mummy fragments.”

Group photo from the first season of Dr. Onstine’s excavation project in 2011: Front row: Abu Rostam, Suzanne Onstine, associate professor of history, foreman Omar Farouk, history doctoral student Virginia Reckard, Mohammed. Back row: Mohammed, Talat, history doctoral student Elizabeth Warkentin, Kamal Helmi and Abdel Hadi.

Since 2008, the UofM’s Department of History has been engaged in the archaeological field project in Luxor, Egypt, at the tomb that was used for more than 1,000 years between the 19th dynasty (ca. 1250 BC, the reign of Ramesses II) and the Roman era (32 BC).

“The findings of this mission have been published and presented internationally, and the project has allowed the department to offer graduate students hands-on experience in their chosen field of study, many using study abroad money for their travel expenses,” Onstine says. “Each year, promising UofM Egyptology graduate students are chosen to accompany this mission and contribute to the ongoing work.”

She said that nine students have participated in the project and three have co-authored a paper about project results.

“My study abroad experiences in Egypt not only went toward my dissertation research, but also afforded me the opportunity to meet professionals within the field—many of whom I would

not have met otherwise,” says Warkentin. “Some of these contacts have even evolved into new projects that I am now a member of—for example, the Gebel el-Silsila expedition.”

Study abroad students on Onstine’s trips also find time for breathtaking adventures of their own, including a hot air balloon flight over the tombs at dawn.

“There is still so much work that needs to be done,” Warkentin is quick to add of the research. “It is exciting to know that any day someone could find something that may change the way we understand ancient Egypt.”

She says studying abroad is an activity she highly recommends to other students.

“It is something that I hope to help foster for future students when I find employment at a university or college. I think studying abroad brings people into contact with new societies and cultures and different ways of life, and provides them a better understanding of the world outside of the United States,” she concludes.

Current history doctoral students Elizabeth Warkentin and Dustin Peasley take measurements to create an accurate map of the tomb shaft in Theban Tomb 16.

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Intensive English for Internationals Preps Foreign Students for U.S. Studies

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

T

he Intensive English for Internationals (IEI) program at the University of Memphis offers a comprehensive study of the English language to students from around the world. Because of the highly academic nature of the curriculum, IEI prepares students for entry into undergraduate and graduate programs throughout the United States.

Additionally, the IEI program offers courses to international professionals living in the Memphis area to improve their working knowledge of English.

Students have many opportunities

to interact with other participants in a friendly and professional learning environment, and to become an integral part of the University community.

“IEI is a cosmopolitan environment,” says Dr. Daniel Harper, instructorcoordinator for IEI. “It is a place where students’ home cultures are valued, and where they can express their ideas and opinions through the arduous process of English language learning. Our students often comment on the friendliness they encounter on campus. They return home not only with better English, but also as more open and confident individuals.”

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In Xi’an, Kelly and Bob visit the Terracotta Army, a collection of sculptures representing armies of the first emperor of China.

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GOING GLOBAL I

N 2015, BOB SHENNETT landed a dream assignment of working for Apple in China. But this opportunity of a lifetime left another dream unrealized—the dream of earning a college degree.

Enter UofM Global, the University’s online degree program. UofM Global offers 60 fully online programs, including degrees and graduate certificates.

“I live and work full-time in China and do not have the opportunity to attend classes,” says Shennett, who is general manager of Apple’s retail operation in Shenzhen.

“Online courses are a perfect fit for me because they provide the flexibility that I need to work around my busy schedule.”

The professional studies major (with a concentration in organizational leadership) says that while his studies align with his job, the endeavor is not about his career.

“I’m 54 years old and have had a successful career with several executive

roles and the opportunity to have countless professional experiences,” he notes. “I want to finish what I started over 35 years ago—to earn my college degree. At this stage of my career, whether I have my degree or not will have little impact, though it’s an obstacle that I will always need to overcome. I have accomplished much without my degree, achieving success in the eyes of the world, yet I’ve felt incomplete and even inadequate without it.

“I have two daughters who will graduate university next year, and one of my main reasons for doing this is to set an example for them that anything is possible, and that it is never too late. It is never too late to take a first step. It’s never too late to start over. It is never too late to improve yourself. It is never too late to learn.”

Shennett says that while life in China can be challenging and his family misses home, they look at it as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. “There are many cultural differences and language barriers that make things that would be simple in the

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Bob and Kelly cycling on the city wall in Xi’an.

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U.S. difficult here in China,” he says. “We no longer take for granted the conveniences we have in the U.S., and we have gained a greater appreciation for the rights and freedoms in our home country. We recognize that it is a blessing to be here.

I never dreamed that I would live and work in China.”

There’s a personal connection to China for the Shennett family (wife Kelly and daughters Taylor and Nicole), as well. “We adopted Taylor from China 21 years ago and we always had the desire to bring her back to visit her home country so she could see where she was from—yet didn’t know how we would ever be able do this,” Shennett says.

“In 2015 God opened the door through Apple for this to happen. This is the reason we moved to China. As a family, we were able to visit the orphanage where Taylor was left on the door step over 20 years ago. We saw Taylor’s ‘hometown’ and the village where she is from, and Taylor was able to connect in a personal way with her heritage. This experience was more meaningful than any job assignment and it will have a lasting impact on Taylor and our family.”

The Shennett family: From left, Kelly, Bob, Nicole and Taylor.

Taylor is a senior at the UofM, where she is a member of the Emerging Leaders Program.

More than 7,000 students enroll in online courses at the UofM each year, with more than 2,600 completing their degree program fully online. The programs are exactly the same as those delivered on campus. Several sources have ranked the UofM as the No. 1 online program in the State of Tennessee, and the UofM program is the only public one in the state ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

The Shennetts take part in Chinese New Year festivities.

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America on the World Stage: A Q&A with a Former International Student

Q+ A

GABRIELA KLECKOVA GREW UP IN PLZEŇ, CZECH REPUBLIC, AND IS CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AT THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF WEST BOHEMIA. SHE TEACHES SECOND-LANGUAGE METHODOLOGY COURSES TO STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. KLECKOVA CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1999 TO STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, AND AFTER RECEIVING A MASTER’S DEGREE IN ENGLISH WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, SHE OBTAINED A PHD IN ENGLISH IN 2004. SHE OFFERS AN INSIDERS-OUTSIDERS VIEW OF AMERICA ON THE WORLD STAGE.

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the woman who would become the first female U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, and her family. To me, the United States has been an example of democratic values and freedom. Despite the stable relations, however, the most recent years in U.S. politics and its international activities are perceived less positively.

W H AT A BO UT YO UR P E R CE P T IO N S ? The United States

GABRIELA KLECKOVA

HOW I S T H E UN IT E D STAT E S P E RC E I VE D IN T H E CZ E CH RE P U B LI C? H AV E T H E R E BE E N AN Y N OTABL E CH A N G E S IN T H E YE ARS S I NCE YO U R E T UR N E D F RO M YO UR ST UD IE S H E R E ?

The general perception of the United States has always been positive in my country, and Czech-U.S. relations have been important through our history. In fact, the United States played an important role in the founding of the Czechoslovakian state in 1918.

The process of Czechoslovakian independence from the AustroHungarian Empire is tied to a document signed in Pittsburgh by prominent Czechs and Slovaks.

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak president, used the U.S. Constitution as a source of inspiration for the first Czechoslovak Constitution. The U.S. Army liberated a part of the country, including my hometown, in 1945. The United States then accepted many Czechs who emigrated from Czechoslovakia for political reasons, including

is a highly developed, diverse and democratic country with opportunities for anyone seeking them. During my seven-year stay, I realized that like any other country or society, the United States offers to its people a lot of positives, but also faces a lot of challenges and problems. There is not just one ideal place to live in the world.

IS T H E WO R L D BE CO M IN G A S M A L L E R P L ACE BE CAUS E O F T E CH N O LO G IE S L IK E T H E IN T E R N E T A N D G LO BA L IZ ATION O F BUS IN E S S ? Technologies

have interconnected the world in such ways that everything seems to be within a reach of one click, but they haven’t changed the distances between cultures that still need to be overcome and bridged.

A S A N E W ST UD E N T IN A M E R ICA , W H AT W E R E A CO UP L E O F T H IN G S A BO UT T H E Uo f M O R M E M P H IS T H AT H E L P E D M O ST W IT H YO UR A DJ UST M E N T ? The guidance and

support of the Applied Linguistics faculty in the English department played a pivotal role in my adjustment. The friendliness and helpfulness of those in the library, administration, international office—you name it—made me feel welcome and at ease. I always felt accepted, appreciated and respected as an international student. No question was a stupid question. And, of course, the everpresent sun and thousands of trees in Memphis also helped.

REFLECTIONS By Toni Lepeska

U

niversity of Memphis students each year expand their academic, cultural and social education by studying and living abroad. As part of the Center for International Education Services, the Study Abroad Office offers more than 200 semester, academic year and short-term programs in more than 60 countries. Students stretch their independence in places like Russia, South Korea and Italy. They practice second-language skills, try exotic foods and mingle with locals and other students who sometimes become their friends. As they expand their minds on overseas academic programs, students enlarge their perspectives in foreign cafés, shops and at sporting events. They return with a perspective that coats their lives forever.

A S H TO N D E L AV E G A The ideal place to practice a language is in its country of origin, so Ashton Delavega (’20) headed for Japan. The Japanese and anthropology major who “wanted to experience the country I had read and learned about for so long” lived about an hour’s train ride from Tokyo. She spent her days hunting thrift stores and nights under Fuchinobe station, where people congregate to share stories and socialize. She looked for “cool temples or shrines” where she experienced peaceful quiet. For a solo trip to Hokkaido, she booked her own flight for the first time, found a hostel to stay in and relished how free and independent she felt. “I learned to be more adventurous, and if something seems scary to do, do it! I came back in one piece with precious memories,” Delavega says.

OLIVIA JOHNSON A biomedical engineering student, Olivia Johnson (’19) traveled abroad to work in her major, and she picked New Zealand for its lure of adventure. She found herself stepping out of her comfort zone immediately. She lived in a dorm-like apartment and learned valuable lessons sharing a small space. At a hospital joined to a medical school, Johnson worked with a surgical and anesthesia team on processing blood and tumor samples. In her free time, she sipped hot chocolate at a café and watched the stars over Lake Tekapo. She took her first bus and stayed in her first hostel.

“My biggest takeaway from New Zealand was perspective,” Johnson says. “From the time I landed in the country, it did not match my preconceived ideas. I learned to simply be present in each moment.”

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The University of Memphis Division of External Relations 303 Administration Building Memphis, Tennessee 38152-3370

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Driven by Doing

UofM study abroad student Kenny Myers at the Louvre in France.

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