Vol. 31 • 2021 Events • Published April 2022
Contents 4
From the Desk of International Programs Staff
8
Study Abroad Returnees share personal accounts
13
Programming 14
Congratulations International Students and Study Abroad Students Receive Scholarships Fifty-Five International Students Graduate
18
Feature Elizabeth Farnsworth
19
International Center of Topeka (ICT) News
Cover Art by Ye Wang
22
Family of the Year 23
Alumni Notes 27
In Memory Two devoted friends of International Programs remembered
20
Phi Beta Delta - PBD Office of International Programs Staff
Kelly McClendon, Coordinator & Lecturer – Intensive English Heidi Staerkel, Associate Director Michala Stokes, International Student Advisor Dr. Andy Vogel, Coordinator – International Student Recruitment & Retention Tina Williams, Coordinator – Study Abroad Baili Zhang, Director 2 | International Accents Magazine
From the President Diversity is not simply an objective we strive for here at Washburn, but an authentic experience we have the opportunity to enjoy. Our international programs provide incredible opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students to broaden their horizons and experience memorable encounters with people from other cultures. The International House provides opportunities for our diverse student body to share their traditions, foods, and holidays with our community, and in doing so, enrich our campus life. The stories in these pages reflect the experiences of a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff, and their encounters with other cultures as they explored new countries, classes, languages, competitions, and shared their journeys with likeminded individuals. The emphasis we put on our international programs have proven crucial to the success of our students and faculty. Jerry Farley, Ph.D., President The following stories have a common thread: the students that took advantage of the international opportunities here at Washburn came away from the experience changed. They gained new skills, new perspectives, new dreams, and new friends. This is the power of experiencing authentic diversity: it has the power to change us for the better.
I hope you enjoy reading about the experiences of our fellow Ichabods abroad, and that you will be inspired to join them.
From the Director The on-going Pandemic made 2021 another challenging year for international education. With persistent delays and restrictions in travels and visa issuance, many students simply could not make it to campus. However, with the unremitting effort of many and, more importantly, the relentless perseverance of the students, we saw encouraging improvements including a rebound in student enrollment and involvement. Most notably, 43 students, among the good numbers in recent year, overcame so much and graduated, many with high honors. Baili Zhang, Director International Programs
Study Abroad programs showed tremendous resilience. Even though the number of outbound students remained modest, some did venture out defying many obstacles. I’m pleased to report a solid foundation has been laid for a healthy return of program offerings in 2022. We were delighted to hear back from many former students, who, through their sharing, confirmed what we already know all along - Washburn is a great place. Their feedback will undoubtedly inspire us to do even better. I wanted to give a shout-out to our generous scholarship donors. Your investment in our students is having great returns and is most appreciated. I hope you will continue supporting our students. They are worthy of your generosity and kindness. Thank you! International Accents Magazine | 3
From the Desk of Kelly McClendon,
Coordinator of Intensive English We are so amazed that we have some brave students traveling across the world during a pandemic to further their English and reach their academic goals. It’s true we have a small number of students, but they have been successful going on to study various majors. Most of our students in 2021 are from Japan and Paraguay, with one student from Bulgaria and one from China! I also wanted to recognize our amazing faculty of 2021. Roger Laubengayer has been teaching in the program for 11 years. JiSoo Abbuehl has been teaching for 7 years. We also have 2 new adjunct faculty members, Elissa Jones and Dr. Crystal Buck. On another front, we gained reaccreditation for one more year from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. The Intensive Englsh Program has been affected by global events and the pandemic just like all Intensive English Programs across the US, but we are still here and going strong.
Heidi Staerkel,
Associate Director of International Programs Although COVID continued to have a significant impact on the number of international students coming to Washburn – and to the US in general – our office is thankful for an increasing number of new and transfer students who arrived on campus in January 2021 and August 2021: 15 and 54 students, respectively. We continue to be amazed by our new and continuing students’ resilience and tenacity during this difficult time! Other highlights from 2021 included: • Finding a new way to teach our experiential IE 091/092 course (Language & Culture in Context). PreCOVID, Kelly McClendon and I took our students on field trips around Topeka, but that wasn’t possible during the 2020-2021 academic year. We instead invited several guest speakers into the classroom, which turned out to be a valuable addition, particularly having current international and American WU students share their experiences, helpful advice and favorite places on campus/in Topeka. We’ll continue inviting guest speakers each semester in addition to resuming our field trips!
4 | International Accents Magazine
From the Desk of • Hosting Ms. Nashmin Parabi, a short-term scholar from Iran, during Spring 2021, in collaboration with the Department of Social Work. Ms. Parabi is a social worker and researcher from Avizhe Rehabilitation Center in Tehran. • Hosting our second cohort of one-semester BECAL government scholarship students from Paraguay in Spring 2021. • Using Zoom to present and record the semesterly workshop for graduating international students about applying for postcompletion Optional Practical Training/OPT. • Finally having all of our staff back in the office full-time, instead of working remotely. • Being able to host some “normal” in-person events again, such as our WU graduation Riho (center front) and staff ceremonies, OIP reception for graduating international students and International Club events. The best highlight from 2021 for me? Being able to meet so many more of our students in person again! Last but not least, during the Fall 2021 semester, our office had the privilege of serving as one of two internship placements for Riho Inomata. Riho is from Tokyo, Japan, and began her studies at WU in Summer 2017, participating in our International Summer Institute before transferring to a community college in Iowa. She returned to WU in Fall 2018 and graduated in December 2021 with a BA in Communication Studies and minor in Sociology. Our office is grateful for Riho and her numerous contributions during her internship, including serving as our first International Peer Mentor for Language & Culture in Context (IE 091), dubbing three how-to videos in Japanese for our short-term Japanese exchange students and developing and running a social media contest during International Education Week. We’re very proud of Riho and her accomplishments at WU and wish her continued success as she begins a new life adventure!
International Accents Magazine | 5
From the Desk of Tina Williams, M.S., ED,
Study Abroad Coordinator & Washburn Transformational Experience: International Education After a challenging couple of years, it is heartening to once again be working with a significant number of students and faculty on international education programs. The evolution of the pandemic overall resulted in less opportunities for international education and presented significant challenges through travel restrictions. Despite the obstacles, WU continued to support students and faculty in achieving their international education goals. In 2021 students participated in a variety of international education programs. Virtual remote programs provided the opportunity for real-time online participation in German and Spanish language programs in Germany, Austria, and Costa Rica. Individual students ventured out into the world to participate in study abroad programs in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. In addition, WU business professor Dr. Michael Stoica led the International Business Experience program during the summer of 2021. Under Dr. Stoica’ s leadership students traveled safely to Belgium, France and Germany. Another successful faculty-led program was led by WU Leadership Professor Madeline Lambing. With Professor Lambing students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the International Leadership Conference during the conference students worked with global leaders and members of the United Nations. It’s uplifting to see how international education endured and continues to evolve. I’m grateful for the WU administration, staff, faculty, and our worldwide partners who have worked together to navigate the challenges and continue to support WU faculty and students as they engage in international education.
International education endures despite the challenges of the pandemic. Pictured L. to R. Abigail McCrory, International Business Experience in Belgium, Summer 2021, Tina Williams, Study Abroad Coordinator and Shela Pierre Noel, University of Clermont Auvergne in France, Fall 2021.
6 | International Accents Magazine
From the Desk of Dr. Andrew Vogel,
Coordinator of International Student Recruitment and Retention 2021 was a year of resilience and innovation in international education. The year started with great uncertainty in the field of international education. Many US Embassies around the world remained closed. Yet, 23 international students arrived at WU as new students despite COVID numbers in the US peaking and social unrest and protests taking place in cities across the country. On the afternoon of January 6th, I presented the Health and Safety orientation virtually to our new WU international students. Most of them were in quarantine in the basement of the LLC. They participated but were distracted by the capital riot they were simultaneously watching during our meeting. These were genuinely unprecedented times, and these brave international students witnessed history unfold. It was a challenging and worrying semester for everyone, but we preserved and even managed to have some in-person events with the International Club, like our HOLI celebration. As we transitioned into summer, things started to look better. We returned to an in-person format and hosted 22 Japanese students for our 9th year of the International Summer Instituter for six weeks. We were able to have in-class instruction and visit many cultural spots in and around Topeka. By sticking to a rigorous safety protocol, no ISI students or staff contracted COVID, despite visiting many local public locations. We continued to strengthen our long-held partnerships and deepen exchanges and collaborations with our new partners. In the fall semester, we admitted a record number of students from Nepal (37) and international student-athletes (24). The approval rate of our international student’s visas was markedly improved this fall, which is great news for International Programs and Washburn University. Another highlight was an application I submitted to host Russian students through the YEAR Program, which was accepted! Two talented Russian students joined us this fall and will study abroad at WU for the year to learn more about life here and share their culture with our community and campus. The future is looking bright for international education in 2022. We are already seeing a lot of interest in pursuing higher education from international students in many regions worldwide.
Holi Festival photo by AndyVogel
International Accents Magazine | 7
Study Abroad Bonjour from Clermont-Ferrand
By: Shela Pierre Noel, Senior, French and Early Childhood, Clermont-Ferrand Experience 2021 My fall semester study abroad exchange program at the University of Clermont Auvergne in Clermont-Ferrand, France was a memorable experience. At first, I did not think it would be possible for me to go to France for a semester because of many obstacles. After multiple conversations, my French professor, Dr. Sullivan
the Eiffel tower. The second trip was my sister visiting for Christmas. I showed her most of the places I went with my cousins, and we attended the Christmas Mass at Sacré-Coeur, and we went to the Palace of Versailles. I will never forget the things I experienced in Clermont- Ferrand nor anything I did while in
motivated and encouraged me to apply. I received a great deal of scholarship, and I was able to travel to Europe. Without the generosity of the donors, I would not have been able to study and live abroad for a semester. One thing I will forever cherish is the great experience of being abroad in college. I built lifelong friendships while in Clermont Ferrand (CF). I met lots of students from around the world. Additionally, I created relationships with all my classmates. We built a community among ourselves. We went around France together, discovering incredible historical monuments and dining at delicious restaurants. We helped each other out whenever we could and provided support to our fellow international students in whatever ways possible. One of the best parts while studying abroad was my family coming all the way to Paris from Kansas to visit me. On the first trip, my aunt, uncle, and cousins came to spend the American holiday, Thanksgiving, with me. When they came, I got to see Paris for the first time. In Paris we went to SacréCoeur, the Louvre, Orsay, The opera ‘house (Palais Garnier), gallery Lafayette. some restaurants, and
France. I am so thankful that I got this experience and it helped me improve my French greatly. I would absolutely love to go back to France and might even have a better time, knowing what to expect.
Shela Pierre Noel in Paris, France. 8 | International Accents Magazine
Study Abroad BU 406 International Business Experience Faculty-led Study Abroad Program Adapts to a Changing World By Abigail McCrory As once said by Saint Augustine, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Students within the School of Business taking the International Business and Entrepreneurial Experience class, BU 406, get to travel and ‘read the multiple chapters about the world’ that life has to offer. BU 406 was designed to provide Washburn students with a unique experience, in the classroom and the business world around them. 2007 was the first time BU 406, International Business and Entrepreneurial Experience was offered. Washburn students worked virtually with Wuhan students from China, on mixed teams, for Chinese business clients. After a semester of hard work, Washburn students traveled to China to connect with their classmates at Wuhan, present their findings, and experience Chinese culture firsthand. Since that first trip in 2007, the School of Business has taken students on numerous programs abroad, helped facilitate relationships with international corporations, and taught over 100 students about international business. Over the years, BU 406 has evolved to include other countries and provide the most value for Washburn students. I was a student in BU 406 during the spring semester of 2021. We spent two weeks traveling through Belgium, France, and Germany. We toured several historical sites: Of course, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, several castles and museums of war and art. In Belgium, we visited UC Leuven Limburg and met Robrecht Van Goolen, the professor who had taught a portion of the coursework virtually. Being immersed in other cultures was an incredible experience, one I will never forget. I am so grateful that a course like BU 406 is offered at Washburn. It is truly a life-changing experience. As the world returns back to ‘normal’ post-pandemic, we are hopeful that the future of international programs continues to shine bright. Dr. Stoica shared, “I am eager to take more students across the world and watch them grow and experience new things.” As for me, I would challenge all students to travel abroad and complete a study abroad program, after all, there is a whole book left to read.
Professors and students from Washburn University and University College Leuven Limburg in Belgium participate in remote learning prior to onsite study abroad program. International Accents Magazine | 9
Study Abroad The Bod Pod To promote international education on National Study Abroad Day Feb. 22, 2021, Washburn Student Media interviewed Teal Tobin for an episode of the Bod Pod. As a Spanish major Teal studied abroad her junior year in Asuncion, Paraguay during the fall semester of 2019. To listen to the interview visit: https://soundcloud.com/ washburnstudentmedia.
#BodsAbroad Instagram Takeover Abigail McCrory captured a day of the life of a study abroad student in Paris, France during her participation in the BU 406 International Business Experience program. To view her Instagram Takeover visit: https://youtu.be/ qbjYfeRCsMg. Follow us in Instagram at @ Bodsabroad and on Facebook @Washburn University Study Abroad.
10 | International Accents Magazine
Study Abroad School of Business Features a World of Study Abroad Opportunities In the spring of 2020, the School of Business unveiled a world map in the first-floor lobby of the Business School located in the Henderson Learning Center. The map features the destinations of study abroad programs for WU business students. Highlighted on the map are the locations of Dr. Michael Stoica’ s BU 406 International Business Experience program offered in alternating countries every year including Belgium, Brazil and China. Also featured are the locations of the semester exchange programs through the Magellan Exchange, including university partners in Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, South Korea, and Spain. The resource area next to the world map is stocked with scholarship opportunities and program information to help students find the program that meets their interest and needs. Students in the BU 406 International Business Experience program show the locations of the partner universities they collaborated with during the semester course. Pictured L to R: Blythe Landon, Laura Rivas Wright, and Abigail McCrory. Photo by Tina Williams
Study Abroad Voices “My experience abroad is one I will never forget and never regret. I was able to learn and see so many new things.” - Petra Gay, Belgium, France & Germany, WU International Business Experience. “The study abroad experience has impacted every part of my life in ways I never thought it could. It pushed me to work harder and to learn how to clarify my ideas when there is a cultural barrier.” - Kera Hicks, Belgium, France & Germany, WU International Business Experience. “Over the course of the program I learned a lot about myself, my peers, and international business. I now have a better understanding of the world which will benefit me in all areas of my life.” - Abigail McCrory, Belgium, France & Germany, WU International Business Experience. WU Business students in Paris, France. Left to right: Petra Gay, Kera Hicks and Abigail McCrory. International Accents Magazine | 11
Study Abroad
Visiting the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain with classmates. WU students Nicolas Flores, backrow forth from the left and Payton Rice, front row third from the left. Photo by: Pilar Taboada, Director of Spanish Language Program at the University of Santiago de Compostela.
WU Leadership students at the International Leadership Association (ILA) conference. Left to right: Abby Trautman, Elizabeth Pendergrass, Shayden Hanes, Chloe Chaffin. Photo by Shayden Hanes
“I will truly cherish my experience forever. I think that this opportunity allowed me to get a second view on life with the cultural experiences that I had while in Spain…I think that this has definitely given me a wider view on how another country functions as a whole.” - Nicolas Flores, fall semester at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.
“Overall, this transformed me as I became more aware of the world outside the US and potential career paths that could be involved with global aid.” - Shayden Hanes, Geneva, Switzerland, WU International Leadership Program.
“My trip abroad really helped me to practice my Spanish skills. It also gave me the confidence I needed.” - Payton Rice, fall semester at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. 12 | International Accents Magazine
“Studying abroad in Geneva Switzerland for the International Leadership Association global conference was a great opportunity that allowed me to develop my sense of globalism and the importance of diverse groups working together to make sustainable change.” - Elizabeth Pendergrass, Geneva, Switzerland, WU International Leadership Program.
Programming 2021 Brown Bag International Lectures The Brown Bag International Lecture series is a forum where the Washburn and Topeka Communities come together to share international experiences and perspectives. The series were canceled for much of the year due to the Pandemic. However there was a window of opportunities opened up for a few of them to be delivered during the fall semester, as summarized below. September 15- After Afghanistan by Tom Prasch & Kris Ailslieger As the American military departs from Afghanistan and urgently tries to arrange the exit of Americans and American allies still in the field, it is worth providing key background on the recent history of Afghanistan, the initial impetus for American involvement and the changing mission over time, as well as to consider what was (and was not) accomplished and how enduring (or not) the accomplishments of the last two decades will be in the wake of Taliban takeover of state. October 6 - “International Travel in the Midst of the Pandemic” by Michael Stoica, Tina Williams & Abigail McCrory When Europe opened travel to Americans in June, the WU Faculty-led Study Abroad Program “BU406 International Business Experience in Europe” was cleared for departure. Unsurprisingly, travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic had an impact on the destinations visited. Michael Stoica, Tina Williams & Abigail McCrory will share some of the key takeaways and useful lessons learned while navigating travel during the pandemic. October 20 “UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Hearing Children’s Voices” by Linda Elrod In 1989 the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is a comprehensive scheme of rights specifically tailored to children. It is the most rapidly and universally accepted human rights document in the history of international law. Only the United States has not ratified it. This program will discuss the political and practical reasons why, including the requirement to hear children’s voices. November 3 - What is it like to be a student in Russia? by Vladislav Baidin & Anastasiia Iurkova What is it like to be a student in Russia? With varying and rich cultures, Russia is getting very popular among international students. Two visiting students from Russia will give you background information on what to expect in student life in Russia.
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Congratulations International Student Scholarship Recipients 2021 Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2020-2021 International Programs Scholarships! This year a total of $35,000 were awarded. A big thank-you to the many generous donors and friends of Washburn International Programs, whose support makes the Washburn Experience even more rewarding and memorable for our international students. Non Nobis Solum – Not for Ourselves Alone! William H. Guild International Programs Scholarship Acharya, Nancy Bhatta, Manish Dhimal, Avinash Alcantara, Luiz Bhattarai, Ankita Dicu, Raul Alin Bajracharya, Alisha Crohn, Svea Flores, Marco Barrientos Pereira, Nuria Dangi, Nilam Ghimire, Saimon Basnet, Ajar Dhamala, Nagendra Hashimoto, Kinjitsu
Hidaka, Yumi Isobe, Minami Kharel, Ashmita Lai, Ka Yin Le, Anh
Dr. David Thurston Memorial Scholarship Liao Chenxi Limbu, Sumnima International Education Endowment Fund Marini, Raul Nguyen, Khue Mori, Tsubasa Oi, Kenya Neupane, Sanskar Pyakurel, Alisha
Rana, Ojashwi Regmi, Sambridhi Rivas Wright, Maria Laura
Lauranna Russell Clothier International Programs Scholarship Roura Casi, Marc Saeki, Shiori John M Duggan Memorail Scholarship Saito, Junnosuke The Rev. William & Susan Kraus J. International Scholarship Sanz Gistau, Irene Stanley Curyea Memorail Scholarship Sawaki, Kasumi Scardanzan, Virginia Allyn O. Lockner & Barb McCandless Internationalist for the Future Scholarship Shrestha, Simran Sun, Yueyi ICT/William O Wagnon Thapa, Dipesh 14 | International Accents Magazine
Congratulations ICT/Betty Jo “Bo” Sheafor Scholarship Tsuneda, Naoki Wang, Shuang Francine Pomerantz Memorial Scholarship Ying, Yixin Yogi, Sangya Hula International Student Fund Zermiani Hoffmann Bassanesi, Larissa
Zhang, Guoshuai
Sturm/Workman Family International Fund Zheng, Yuxin Diversity Scholarship Recipient Gupta, Rohan
Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients The International Programs Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to students participating in 2021 study abroad programs. Programs ranged in length from 2 weeks to a semester. Students who completed their study abroad program as an International Education Washburn Transformational Experience received IE-WTE scholarships. Additional International Programs Scholarship awards were made possible through the Geneva Seybold Scholarship Fund. We thank our donors and sponsors for their generosity, vision, and support for study abroad. Washburn Transformational Experience Scholarship Petra Gay Abigail McCrory Kera Hicks Kenya Oi
D’Mya Valdivia
International Programs Scholarships - Geneva Seybold Fund Chloe Chaffin Shayden Hanes
Elizabeth Pendergrass Abby Trautman
Lila Twist
D’Mya Valdivia visiting the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain. “Studying abroad has transformed not only the quality of my education but also the quality of my life experiences.” Photo submitted by D’Mya Valdivia
Chloe Chaffin attending The International Leadership Conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland “Getting the chance to shake hands and chat with global leaders and members of the United Nations was nothing short of transformational and I am so grateful I chose Washburn because I can’t imagine how I would have had this experience at any other institution.” Photo submitted by Chloe Chaffin International Accents Magazine | 15
Congratulations International Students Graduate Congratulations to the following students, who overcame challenges and obstacles during the past year and graduated! We are so proud of you! Go Bods! Spring/Summer 2021 Graduates Name Sami Alalwani Mohammed Alarki Tariq Alenzi Abdullah Alshabrami Nuria Barrientos Pereira Raul-Alin Dicu Bradley Eidenmueller Paul Haase Xiaoyu Han Xinyue He Matheus Honorato Ling Huang Kaede Iinuma Nelson Ikharia Jiamin Jiang Paul Mismaque Nha Chi Nguyen Kevin Norville Shaowei Peng Virginia Scardanzan Fumihiko Segawa Rijen Singh Maria Soler Valverde Alejandro Valarezo Plaza Hongyu Wang Kun Xie Sota Yoshikawa Ruijie Zhou
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Country
Degree & Major/s
Latin & Department Honors
Saudi Arabia
BBA in Finance and Management
Saudi Arabia
MBA
Saudi Arabia
BCJ in Law Enforcement
Saudi Arabia
MBA
Spain
BBA in Marketing and Management
Magna Cum Laude & School of Business Scholar
Romania
BBA in Finance and Marketing
Summa Cum Laude & School of Business Scholar
Germany
BA in Kinesiology
Cum Laude
Germany
MBA
China
BBA in Finance
China
MCJ in Criminal Justice
Brazil
J.D. in Law
China
MAcc in Accounting
Japan
BBA in Marketing and International Business
Nigeria
LLM in Law
China
BA in Art
France
MBA
School of Business Scholar/Honors
Vietnam
BS in Biochemistry
Magna Cum Laude & Chemistry Honors
St. Lucia
MBA
School of Business Scholar/Honors
China
BA in Computer Information Science
Italy
BS in Kinesiology
Summa Cum Laude
Japan
BIS in Integrated Studies
Cum Laude
Nepal
BBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Spain
BA in Kinesiology
Ecuador
MBA
China
MBA
School of Business Scholar/Honors
China
BA in Computer Information Science
Summa Cum Laude
Japan
BA in Mass Media
China
BBA in Finance and Economics
Summa Cum Laude & School of Business Scholar
Congratulations Fall 2020 Graduates Name Nagendra Dhamala Riho Inomata Gemima Joseph Ka Yin Lai Sajan Lama Tsubasa Mori Chika Murakami Aavash Nanju Marc Roura Casi Samrat Shahi Sulav Shakya Naoki Tsuneda Shuang Wang Guoshuai Zhang
Country
Degree & Major/s
Latin and Department Honors
Nepal
BS in Computer Information Science
Cum Laude
Japan
BA in Communication
Haiti
BPA in Public Administration
Hong Kong
MBA
Nepal
BS in Physics
Japan
BBA in Finance and Economics
Japan
BA in Mass Media
Nepal
BA in Computer Information Science
Spain
BBA in International Business
Nepal
BS in Molecular Biology & Biotech
Nepal
BBA in Management
Japan
BBA in Marketing and Management
China
MAcc in Accounting
China
BA in English
Summa Cum Laude & School of Business Scholar
Cum Laude
Magna Cum Laude & School of Business Scholar
Summa Cum Laude & English Honors
International student graduates
International Accents Magazine | 17
Feature Elizabeth Farnsworth Bewstowed Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Elizabeth Fink Farnsworth grew up in Topeka, graduating from Topeka High School in 1961. She graduated with high honors from Middlebury College in 1965 and received a master’s degree in history from Stanford University. Many members of Farnsworth’s extended family, including several cousins and two of her grandmothers, graduated from Washburn University. Farnsworth is former chief correspondent and principal substitute anchor of the PBS NewsHour. She has reported from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Cambodia, Vietnam, Haiti, Guatemala and Chile, among other countries, and in addition to her television work, her writings have appeared in Foreign Policy, World Policy Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, Mother Jones and numerous other publications. Earlier this year the Berkeley Review of Latin American Studies published interviews by Farnsworth with Chilean human rights activist and journalist Monica Gonzalez Mujica.
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Farnsworth’s 2008 documentary, “ The Judge and the General”, co-directed with Patricio Lanfranco, aired on television around the world, winning, among other honors, the Alfred I Dupont-Columbia Award, which is often considered the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. Farnsworth has also received four Emmy nominations for her PBS reports and documentary films. In 2017, Counterpoint Press published her memoir, “A Train Through Time: A Life Real and Imagined”, which explores how childhood experiences influenced her commitment to reporting from danger zones. Farnsworth serves on the advisory board of the Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law, and the advisory committee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband, attorney Charles E. Farnsworth, who graduated from Topeka High School and the University of Kansas. They have two married children and six grandchildren.
Background photo by Marek Piwnicki on unsplash.Com
ICT ICT News International Center of Topeka, Inc, consists of community volunteers interested in promoting global cooperation and understanding through cultural activites and support for international students. Dr. Sanford Pomerantz is a Board Certified Psychiatrist currently in private practice. He is a distinguished life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He was the past president of the Kansas Psychiatric Society. He has been with Washburn for the last 15 years as a senior audit student. He has been a host to the international students over the years. He is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine with an M.D. in 1970. He finished his residency in Psychiatry at the Menninger Scool of Psychiatry. He is the author of an Amazon EBook “Vortex of the Mind”. I’ve had quite a few international students in my math classes over the 23 years I taught at Washburn. Their backgrounds and abilities were always impressive; I sympathized with their much higher non-resident tuition cost and hoped that they received scholarships to defray their costs. I look forward to helping award deserving international students scholarships as they pursue their studies. Now that I am retired, I have more time available for important committee work such as this; I’ve known Baili, Azyz Sharafy and Courtney Sullivan for many years and enjoy working with them. -Dr. Kevin Charlwood
Staff News…
International Programs colleagues celebrate milestones in years of service to WU. Pictured L to R: Kelly McClendon (10 yrs), Heidi Staerkel (20 yrs) & Tina Williams (15 yrs). Photo by Peggy Clark
Heidi Staerkel began working at Washburn in January 1998 as a part-time adjunct instructor in the Intensive English Program. She was only planning to stay for the Spring semester, but the Lord had
a different – far better – plan! Even after more than 20 years in the field, Heidi continues to be passionate about helping and supporting the international students at WU and is humbled to be referred to by her unofficial title of “American mom.”
for international education since her experience abroad during her junior year at WU. She returned to WU in 2005, after a career in secondary education to serve as the Study Abroad Coordinator. In over 15 years of working with students to achieve their dreams Kelly McClendon started in the of traveling, living, and studying IEP at WU as a part-time adjunct in another country she still instructor 22 years ago. She has finds it to be a transformational been working to help students experience. In addtion, Tina coachieve their goals of adding authored “Fostering Diversity & English language skills for more Inclusion: Academic Collaborations than 30 years, including 5 years in on Campus and Abroad” with China and one summer in Japan. Dr. Judith McConnell-Farmer She has recently finished a term of (Mikkelson). The chapter is president of MIDTESOL. published in the textbook Education Trends (V4): Diverse Tina Williams has been an advocate Learning in 2020 and Beyond. International Accents Magazine | 19
PBD PBD - Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars Phi Beta Delta was established to recognize the achievement and contribution of faculty and staff, who are involved in international scholarship and / or activities.
In October 2021, a group of PBD members and international faculty caught a much-needed break from the Pandemic and enjoy some camaraderie.
Pamela Hollie Inducted as Honorary Member “No one escapes the commercial and cultural reach of the media. It chronicles and shapes our lives, reflects our history and propels us into the future,” says Pamela G. Hollie, a former editor of the Washburn Review, who became a reporter at the Wall Street Journal the summer before graduating from Washburn. Following graduation, she took a job at the WSJ starting in Philadelphia and then moving to New York City. Later, during a ten-year career at The New York Times, she was a national correspondent in Los Angeles, a columnist in New York City and a foreign correspondent in Southeast Asia. She is the editor of the Knight-Bagehot Guide to Economics and Business Journalism (Columbia University Press) and a former professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in NYC. Her experience also includes corporate jobs at Kraft Foods (Chicago) and consultancies at Microsoft/Asia (Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore) as well as nonprofit jobs at the Nature Conservancy (Asia/ Pacific) and at The Asia Foundation, as representative to the Philippines and Pacific Island Nations. She has had Fulbright Awards in Malaysia and in the Czech Republic and spends several months each year in Asia, the Pacific and Europe. Hollie was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Delta in Novemeber 2021. 20 | International Accents Magazine
Background Photo by Kier In Sight on Unsplash
PBD Retiring after Teaching World Literature: What to Do Now?
Through the long, cold winter you will find me cuddled up with a gnome (as they’ve hit the American market by storm!), warm and cozy by Mary Sheldon (“varmt og koselig”), noting another Norwegian winning yet another gold After I retired on August 1, 2021, I gave medal at the Olympics; viewing The myself until year’s end to discover a focal Twelfth Man, Kon-Tiki, Insomnia, point. Rushing through the world every Near Winter, Wisting (season 1), semester for two decades had left me frazzled, or The Worst Person in the World, so I eventually decided to immerse myself in - Mary Sheldon, inducted in this year’s Norwegian Academy one culture. Finally I leapt all the way back 2016, served the university Award nominee; reading from Lars 1988-2021. to my childhood interest in fjords and WWII Mytting, Jo Nesbø, or Per Petterson Scandinavian resistance. I would immerse stories, or Norwegian folk tales and myself in Norway! sagas; listening to music by Jonas Fjeld, Mari Ulven, Plumbo, or Trygve Seim; or perusing krakenSt. Olaf ’s College offers a free on-line Norwegian bordered maps. language program, as does Duo-lingo, so I joined. I soon discovered all present tense verbs have an Does my family approve? My daughter contributed -er form, regardless of person (I am/jeg er, you are/ a Bergen replica of The Oseburg ship (800 A.D.) du er, he is/han er). When I then noticed “squirrel” which she discovered in an antique store; my sontranslates as “ekorn” and nut as “eikenøtte,” and in-law passed on his Norwegian fisherman’s sweater bear as “bjørn” and blackberry as “bjørnebær,” I was with the northern lights shot through the grey convinced: Norwegian could be my third language! wool, though only fully visible in the sun; and my As I learn, I suspect passages I read in translated daughter’s dad contributed his story of a cousin who Norwegian literature will deepen. Detective Hole perished on a liberty ship sunk in the Norwegian (hoo-lah) promises Rakel Fauke that he will move Sea on a return convoy from Murmansk, early “heaven and earth” to be with her in Jo Nesbø’s The 1940’s. Redbreast (Rødstrupe), and I am looking forward to finding this English idiom shifting to a Norwegian Viewing the seasons through Norwegian eyes, I idiom with more oomph, maybe “flytte berg gjøre await as “en engel” (angel) returns to heaven and “en alt some er mulig.” sommerflug” (butterfly) appears. And I couldn’t be happier!
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Special Family of the Year Each year, the Office of International Programs selects a local family for the “Family of the Year” award, which recognizes the family for their generous support for our students. This year’s award goes to Dr. Ken and Lynda Gimple. Congratulations! Thank you!
Dr. Ken and Lynda Gimple with international students
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Alumni Fu Chenning studied at Washburn from 2009-2010 as an exchange student from Zhejiang International Studies University. She graduated in 2011 as an English major. She thinks her time at Washburn broadened her horizons and enriched her understanding of American culture. She attended interesting courses and made friends at Washburn. It made her believe that life is full of possibilities. In April 2017, Chenning earned top ten honors in “The Reciters’ League” an English Reciting Competition hosted by China Radio International.
In June 2018, she earned the “Viewer’s Choice” award of the Shakespeare works reciting competition hosted by China Radio International. In June 2021, she passed the written translation section of Band 2 of China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters. During that same year, Chenning felt the urge of contributing her share to environmental protection and participated actively as a volunteer in second-hand items swap events hosted by a local Shanghai environmental protection
My name is Greg Osuji and I am an international student from Nigeria who attended Washburn University between 2017 and 2020. I graduated in Spring 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Sciences along with a minor in Mathematics. Shortly after graduating, I took up a job as a software developer at Midwest Health Inc.
organization. Further, she promoted green lifestyle at her workplace, and created a “green corner” where all the staff members could recycle their food delivery bags for people who need bags for daily use. Fu Chenning is currently working at U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai.
here in Topeka, and have been developing custom applications as well as helping develop a larger Software Engineering presence at my company since then. I am currently continuing to develop myself professionally in my field, and have plans to pursue higher degrees in Analytics and Cybersecurity in the near future.
My time at Washburn was a delight and I have made many long-term friendships as a result of it. The international house particularly left me with a great impression as having served as a presidential ambassador, I got to meet so many interesting people from all over the world, and I got to participate in many of the culturally diverse events around campus. I loved every second of it!
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Alumni My name is Joacim and I studied at Washburn as an exchange student from Örebro/Orebro Sweden for one semester in the fall of 2016. During my time at Washburn I studied courses like American civil war history and Native American history which was close to my major in becoming a teacher in history and civics. Today I’m currently working as a high school teacher regarding those two previous subjects. My main goal right now is to get more involved in a political party regarding the Swedish school system since this is a passion of mine. Although it has been some time since I left Washburn it still feels like yesterday when I came to the campus and met everyone, my friends, teachers and host family who took me in and made a huge importance for my time in Topeka, it all made a big and positive impact in my life and still does. I have only fond memories of my time as a student at Washburn, it made me grow as a student and as a person in life. I’m really happy to hear from you again and hope you are all doing well.
I am Sayaka Kine, a police officer in Osaka, Japan. I graduated WU on May, 2019 with bachelor of Science in Criminal justice with law enforcement emphasis degree. I worked in a law office in New York as part of my Optional Practical Training for a year after my graduation. I came back to Japan and I started my police training in Osaka police academy in April, 2021 and I graduated the police academy in September, 2021.
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Now, I’m working in a Koban(police box) and I’m responding to calls, traffic enforcement, and community policing. WU helped me in many ways. I was shy and had difficulty asking for help, but because of the kind staffs on campus, I became confident asking for help and became more outgoing. Also, the police cadet program and CJ’s internships allowed me to meet my role models as a police officer.
Alumni My name is Manuel Tábora, I attended Washburn for violin performance starting in 2006, and I graduated in 2011. From there I moved to Iowa City, IA to pursue graduate studies at the University of Iowa. I graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2015. I was also married while a student at Iowa (in 2014). My wife, Joanna, is the sister of my best friend Samuel Cho, also a Washburn music alum. Since graduating from Iowa I’ve been serving as minister of instrumental music at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. The Lord has blessed my family with 3 children and one more now on the way, as well as 6 years of fruitful and rewarding ministry here at the church. I am grateful to Washburn University, in particular the music
faculty and International Programs, as well as my host family, Joel and Connie Davidson of Topeka, for investing in me. I came from Honduras and was generously blessed with scholarship monies the whole time I was at Washburn. It still wasn’t easy, being on very tight resources, I had to work hard, but with a lot of people believing and investing in me, I was bound to make it. The Davidsons have become family to us and we still see them often, despite the distance. I’ve been blessed beyond measure to have studied at Washburn. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it. I KNOW that I have a huge debt of gratitude, and some day I hope to pass forward some
of all that I have been given. For now, if I can encourage even one person to consider hosting an international student, or giving towards scholarships at Washburn, I can assure you that a life, possibly many, will be affected in tangible and intangible ways.
My name is Rohit Shakya, I am currently working as a Data Engineer in Moody’s. Currently I am here in Dallas, TX. I am working remotely. I really appreciate Dr. Farley and Dr. Vogel whom I met in Nepal at a USEF presentation even before coming to Washburn University. It is all where it was started. I have not seen the support they provide for the International Students anywhere else. My days at Washburn in the MBA program were really fruitful. I met good pals on campus who I still keep in contact today. Thank you all! Mr. Rohit Shakya (MBA 19) and Ms Siska Pradhan tied the knot in 2021.
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Alumni Aftert graduating from Washburn with her Bachelor of Music degree and teaching license in 2015, Valeriya Kanaeva set out to explore the professional world in Illinois and North Carolina. In 2017-2018 Valeriya served as a Piano Coordinator for Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale, IL. Her piano method books reviews were published in American Music Teacher (AMT) magazine in the Spring of 2017, 2019, and 2021. In December 2019, Valeriya served as one of the judges in the final round of Peter Perret’s (Maestro Peter Perret, conductor emeritus of the Winston-Salem Symphony) Youth Talent Search auditions. From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Kanaeva served as a Director of Operations for Charlotte Music School in Charlotte, NC, during which time she also taught violin, beginning cello, piano, and started Music Theory group classes. Presently, Ms. Valeriya serves as a Chair of the Piano and Strings Division at CMS and enjoys teaching students of all levels. In December of 2021, Ms. Kanaeva received her Master of Music diploma in Piano Performance Arts at SIU, Carbondale IL.
Accolades
Washburn pole vaulter Virgi Scardanzan has added to her outstanding 2020-21 school year by earning first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America® track and field/cross country honors. Scardanzan becomes the first Ichabod track and field member to be named to the Academic All-America squad and the 37th Washburn athlete overall to be honored. After being selected as a finalist for the MIAA’s 2021 Spring Student-Athlete of the Year award, Scardanzan would go on to finish second earning a silver medal at the Italian National Championships on the international stage in July.
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In Memory
“A life that touches others goes on forever.”
W
e were very sad to have lost two of our most ardent supporters. Their positive impact on international education at Washburn will live on.
P
rofessor Rick Ellis died Sept. 23, 2021. He will be missed by his coworkers and students at Washburn University.
In his time at Washburn, he was a part of starting the organization called Learning in the Community and became the director in 2006. The center helped students pursue a poverty studies minor, become a Bonner Scholar, and/ or complete a Washburn Transformational Experience in Community and Civic Engagement, which is how many students have come to know Ellis. Rick led many student service trips to Equador and Nicaragua, which had positive impact on Washburn’s internationalization.
A
nna Sophia Marie Siemers Hula, 91, passed away Friday, July 16, 2021, in Topeka.
Anna was a long-long educator. She taught piano lessons in high school and served as the pianist and organist for the First Presbyterian Church in Blue Rapids. She taught English at Ozawkie Rural High School for a year before completing a Master’s degree in Library Science at Florida State in 1953. For the most of the next four decades she taught and served as a school librarian at numerous schools in the Topeka Public Schools, including Holliday, Jardine, Avondale West, Boswell, and Robinson. She was later an active member of the Topeka Area Retired Teachers Association and served as its president. Anna, along with her husband Dr. Harold Hula, enthusiastically supported Washburn’s international education. They endowed the “Hula International Student Fund” to benefit international students year after year.
unsplash.com Background Photo by Faye Cornish
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