David Van Slyke (left) and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan

David M. Van Slyke, dean of the , met with alumni, partners and dignitaries, including India’s minister of education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, during a recent visit that celebrated the school’s and its 70-plus-year partnership with the country.

Dean Van Slyke was in India along with Maxwell’s Director of Accelerated Learning and Global Engagement Dan Nelson to celebrate the centennial and highlight the global impact of the school’s students, faculty and alumni. The ��began more than��. That history started soon after India’s independence, grew stronger in the second half of the last century, and has recently focused on Maxwell’s educational expertise in public administration and international affairs. Over the decades, Maxwell has hosted thousands of Indian students, citizens and civil servants.

The meeting with Minister of Education Pradhan was made possible by the long relationship between Maxwell and India, and it represented the hope for even more collaboration and partnership with the world’s largest democracy and most populous country.

“Meeting with Minister of Education Pradhan was truly an honor, and it put an exclamation point on what was a wonderfully productive visit where we spent time with our global partners and accomplished alumni,” says Van Slyke. “I look forward to our continued partnership with India and its people.”

Van Slyke also met with Surendra Nath Tripathi, the director general of the Indian Institute for Public Administration (IIPA), founded upon the recommendation of and in consultation with former Maxwell dean Paul Appleby.�� Van Slyke spoke with faculty, civil servants and military personnel at IIPA, among other institutions, on how governments manage complex partnerships with industry.

Maxwell’s longstanding position to invest in the development and raise awareness of good governance initiatives around the globe is a hallmark of the school and was facilitated through meetings with Dr. R Balasubramaniam at the Government of India’s Capacity Building Commission.

Dean Van Slyke also served as the keynote speaker at the International Conference on Public Policy and Management hosted by the Centre for Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. The interdisciplinary conference drew scholars representing diverse perspectives on public policy issues and provided a forum for showcasing the latest developments in policy research and practice.

The visit to India culminated with a centennial gathering at the Delhi Gymkhana Club. There, Van Slyke and Nelson joined over 80 Maxwell alumni, partners and dignitaries to celebrate the global impact of Maxwell and the school’s special relationship with India.

A large group of Maxwell alumni, partners and dignitaries celebrate the school’s centennial with Dean Van Slyke.

“The Abroad center directors are coming to campus at a very exciting time as the University is beginning to implement the core commitments in “,” the University’s academic strategic plan,” says Erika Wilkens, assistant provost and executive director for ���ϲ����� Abroad.��“As leaders within one of the highest ranked study abroad programs in the U.S., the center directors are uniquely positioned to help implement key goals of the plan: ensuring that every undergraduate will be encouraged and enabled to participate in a study abroad or away experience before they graduate; leveraging our robust international assets; and further elevating ���ϲ�����’s position as a premier globally engaged academic institution.”��

From left to right: Sasha Perugini (Florence), Mauricio Paredes (Santiago), Juliet Golden (Central Europe), Troy Gordon (London), Dieter Kuehl (Madrid) and John Goodman (Strasbourg). (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

���ϲ����� Abroad Center Directors Week: March 25-29��

Join ���ϲ����� Abroad staff and center directors to learn about program tracks, exciting new initiatives and updates from our campuses abroad. ��

All students, staff and faculty are invited to join ���ϲ����� Abroad for the following with select Center Directors. This will be an opportunity to get the inside scoop on ���ϲ����� Abroad centers directly from the source. Program alumni will also be sharing their stories about their semesters abroad.��

��

• Monday, March 25 | 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.��
• ���ϲ�����Abroad@Bird, Bird Library, Room 002��

• Wednesday, March 27 | 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.��
• Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, Bird Library, Room 114��

• Thursday, March 28 | 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.��
• ���ϲ�����Abroad@Bird, Bird Library, Room 002��

• Thursday, March 28 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.��
• Hall of Languages, Room 500��

Meet the Abroad Directors��

Each ���ϲ����� Abroad Center is managed by a director and multicultural staff, who deliver unparalleled academic programs and support services to students studying abroad. Our program directors, who oversee operations at the centers and often teach a number of courses, are experts in their fields and have extensive experience in the countries where they live, work and teach. Our directors include:

• Sasha Perugini, Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello ���ϲ����� Program in Florence��
• Troy Gordon, ���ϲ����� London��
• Dieter Kuehl, ���ϲ����� Madrid��
• Mauricio Paredes, ���ϲ����� Santiago��
• John Goodman, ���ϲ����� Strasbourg��
• Juliet Golden, Exploring Central Europe��

Learn more about each of the ���ϲ����� Abroad .��

Peer mentors, who were honored at a reception in this photo, are part of an academic advising initiative to help international undergraduate students thrive. The initiative, developed by the Office of Academic and Career Advising/Office of Student Success in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, was recognized with a 2024 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

���ϲ����� has been awarded a prestigious . Named after the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois, the annual NAFSA Simon awards celebrate outstanding commitment and accomplishment in campus internationalization.

The University was recognized for its academic advising initiative, the International Student Success Model, launched by the Office of Academic and Career Advising/Office of Student Success in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

���ϲ����� was one of only three institutions this year to receive the spotlight award from NAFSA, the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.

“���ϲ����� has long recognized the benefits of embracing the talents and contributions of people from all backgrounds around the world,” Chancellor Kent Syverud says. “The University’s International Student Success Model reflects our commitment to internationalization and ensures equitable access to the supports our international students need. It is a tremendous honor for the University to be recognized with the NAFSA Simon Spotlight Award, and I am proud of the program’s success and those who have made it possible through their dedication to our students.”

Ling Gao LeBeau

The International Student Success Model was developed by Steve Schaffling, assistant dean of student success, and Ling Gao LeBeau, director of international student success, in the Office of Academic and Career Advising in A&S | Maxwell. These two colleges represent about 40% of the University’s undergraduate population, including typically about 1,000 international undergraduate students from over 50 countries, more than 50% of the University’s international undergraduate student population.

In 2019, Schaffling saw the need to help international students in their first-year transition to their academic career at ���ϲ����� and boost retention rates. His proposal was to provide intentional, targeted programming to international students in academic and career advising. In January 2020, the office hired the first associate director of international student success, LeBeau, to lead these efforts.

After meeting with stakeholders and assessing challenges and opportunities, Schaffling and LeBeau developed a mission statement, student learning outcomes and five pillars. The five pillars are pre-arrival academic onboarding coaching through a noncredit asynchronous course that familiarizes students with the University’s academic expectations and the people that will help guide them; peer mentoring; advisor training; academic intervention to help students stay on track; and communication, including through a weekly newsletter and social media connections that also keeps parents connected. There is also a weekly International Student Wednesday Forum, a welcoming space for students to meet, learn and share their experiences.

Steve Schaffling

“The International Student Success Model ensures we’re doing all we can to give students the specific tools they need for a rewarding first-year experience—that leads to a successful academic career at ���ϲ�����,” Schaffling says. “We are grateful to NAFSA for recognizing this important work that we hope will inform other institutions and their efforts to help international students thrive and flourish.”

The success model has paid off: in fall 2022, the international student retention rate for A&S | MAX was 91.5%, the highest since 2010 and the second highest on record.

“The initiative represents a vision for student success by changing the narrative of international student support and, most importantly, bridging the gap between academic advising and international education,” LeBeau says. “My work is to help international students navigate their first year and beyond through multiple connection points, and to build trust and provide impactful programs that boost their confidence in academics and career development.”

The programming has also benefited students in other schools and colleges. International students across the University can subscribe to the international student newsletter, attend the weekly forum and join the weekly onboarding academic training.

The targeted advising approach gained national notice from an article last year in the Chronicle of Higher Education, “.” LeBeau and Schaffling, who discussed the initiative in the article, received inquiries from other institutions interested in following ���ϲ�����’s model. The two later authored , a newsletter of NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, that further explained their work.

���ϲ����� will be featured along with the other awardees in NAFSA’s annual report , to be published this fall, and honored during NAFSA’s 2024 Annual Conference and Expo this spring.

Ling Gao LeBeau (center, left) and Steve Schaffling (center, right) accepting the 2024 Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw (left) and NAFSA President LaNitra M. Berger during the annual conference.

[Editor’s note, June 7, 2024: Updated with photo from NAFSA’s 2024 Annual Conference and Expo.]

Krushil Watene, Peter Kraus Associate Professor in Philosophy, University of Auckland, New Zealand

This spring, the welcomes a visit by renowned Māori scholar, moral and political philosopher, Krushil Watene. She is a member of the Māori tribal communities of Ngāti Manu, Te Hikutu, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and the Pacific Island of Tonga (Hunga, Vava’u). Watene is the Peter Kraus Associate Professor of Philosophy, and associate professor, faculty of arts, at the University of Auckland/Waipapa Taumata Rau, Aotearoa New Zealand. She will be in residence on campus as the .

The center provides major support for a faculty member to organize the Watson Professorship. This year, two College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) faculty members are partnering to host Professor Watene, each bringing distinct expertise and leadership capabilities: Professor , associate professor of philosophy, and , assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies and environmental justice.

Watene’s scholarship draws on Indigenous philosophies to address climate change. For example, she suggests that people can transform how they think about the environment by looking through the lens of “kaitiakitanga,” the Māori concept of stewardship of the sky, sea and land. This mindset, rooted in a deep connection to history, ancestors and the environment, offers valuable wisdom for informing policy and law and helping cultivate a healthier, more reciprocal relationship between humans and the environment.

, the title of Watene’s residency, will address fundamental questions in ethics, politics and Indigenous philosophy. In particular, Watene will explore various philosophical traditions, emphasizing the essential contribution of local communities to achieve global change. Watene’s areas of expertise include mainstream theories of well-being, development and justice, intergenerational justice and Māori philosophy.

“We are honored to welcome Krushil Watene as the Watson Professor this spring,” says , director of the Humanities Center and professor of women’s and gender studies, both in the College of Arts and Sciences. “At a time when we are confronting environmental crises on multiple fronts, we need solutions to climate change that draw from diverse knowledges and experiences, and that foreground the humanities’ important role in our collective future. Watene brings a depth of expertise grounded in Māori philosophy and in her own community engagement and climate justice work in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Professors Erlenbusch-Anderson and Huambachano collaborated to host Watene for the Watson Professorship because of her important contributions to contemporary Western philosophy and scholarship on intergenerational justice. They agree that her body of work provides crucial guidance in finding solutions to environmental degradation and climate change by robustly embracing Indigenous philosophies that consider obligations to future generations, as well as ancestors.

“Professor Watene’s work exemplifies the social and political urgency of philosophy and shows how transformative philosophy can be when it is grounded in a commitment to justice, connected to local Indigenous communities and in dialogue with other disciplines,” says Erlenbusch-Anderson. “Her work provides a striking contribution to contemporary philosophy by foregrounding Indigenous values as an innovative way to ensure a sustainable future.”

“From a local to a global scale, Professor Watene’s research highlights the valuable role that Indigenous epistemologies, ontologies and ethics play in improving planetary health,” says Huambachano. “Her work urges humanity to listen to and learn from Indigenous philosophies about our responsibilities to build resilient communities in which both human and non-human entities, like rivers, forests and the Earth itself, can thrive in unison, paving the way for present and future generations to live in flourishing communities.”

Watene will headline six public scholarly events. These will draw on her research on Indigenous conceptions of well-being and sustainable development, including insights from Māori tribal communities and how these are influencing policy and law.

Her two-week residency includes the following opportunities to engage:

Wednesday, March 20, 4-5:30 p.m.

Watene discusses how Indigenous philosophies are inherently good for equitable social, economic, environmental and cultural development. Also, she shares insights on sustainable development, achievable through the proven methods of Māori communities.

Thursday, March 21, 4-5:30 p.m.

Faculty working in the fields of Native American and Indigenous Studies and Philosophy join Watene to discuss reconciliation, transitional and Indigenous justice.

Friday, March 22, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (Space is limited, registration required.)

A three-part interdisciplinary graduate student workshop on reclaiming Indigenous philosophy, including the Māori philosophy of kaitiakitanga (stewardship), and how these philosophies are transforming policy and law. Interested students should follow the link for all details and requirements.

Public lecture: Monday, March 25, noon-1:30 p.m.

Watene highlights key Māori concepts for intergenerational justice, showcasing how Indigenous philosophies foster relationships, regeneration and innovation. She suggests that applying these perspectives to policy-making can empower communities and cultivate lasting collective responsibility for climate justice.

Public dialogue: Friday, March 29, 3-4:30p.m.

Kyle Whyte from the University of Michigan and ���ϲ�����’s Mariaelena Huambachano will join Watene to discuss the impact of Indigenous philosophies, leadership and diplomacy on global justice and policy development. They draw from Whyte’s experience with the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, Watene’s service on the UN Human Development Reports and International Science Council’s Committee, and Huambachano’s work with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the UN High-Level Panel Experts on Food Security and Nutrition.

A closing reception will be held on Friday, March 29 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Hendricks Chapel.

All events are free and open to the public. Read all the details about these events, including date, time and location on the .

About the Watson Professorship

The Jeannette K. Watson Distinguished Visiting Professorship in the Humanities is a distinguished lectureship founded by the Watson family with the aim of fostering on-campus residencies for distinguished scholars, writers, and artists in the humanities. Individuals who have previously held this professorship include Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis and Toni Morrison.

Those appointed as Watson Professors actively participate in the University community through various means, such as delivering public lectures, conducting mini-seminars, engaging in readings or performances, and more. Their residency extends over a significant duration within a semester, or they may opt for a series of brief visits throughout the academic year. Starting this year, the Watson Professorship will be awarded biennially to maximize its funding and potential for collaboration. The center’s next call for Watson Professor proposals will be in fall 2024 for a spring 2026 mini-residency.

Additional ���ϲ����� departments and centers that are supporting this year’s Watson Professors residency with Watene include anthropology, the Engaged Humanities Network, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics’ food studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ geography and the environment, Hendricks Chapel, the Native American and Indigenous Studies program, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, philosophy, religion and sociology.

The South Campus Outdoor Challenge Course tests students’ mental and physical aptitude during a fall Connections outing.

The is a dedicated resource on campus to help international students from around the world make the most out of their time studying at ���ϲ�����. While the center offers a diverse array of programming throughout the academic year that is exclusively tailored to the international student experience, two programs—Connections and College 101—are highlighted below, offering new and reimagined ways to get involved as the spring semester gets underway!

Connections

The Connections program for undergraduate international students has been modified slightly from its previous format, which focused on creating formal mentorship opportunities between newer and more experienced students on campus. It now serves to offer more informal ways for international students to connect with one another, with the larger ���ϲ����� campus and with the local community through engaging activities offered at no cost to students.

Through these activities, students are afforded the opportunity to build lasting friendships, experience offerings from other campus units (like Orange After Dark, the Barnes Center at The Arch and Athletics), and most importantly, have fun socializing, trying new things and getting a break from their studies!

Students got to see how pumpkins grow and feed goats while visiting Tim’s Pumpkin Patch last fall as part of the Connections program.

While the program is mainly targeted to first- and second-year international students, undergraduates in their junior and senior year at ���ϲ����� are also welcome to attend. Examples of activities in the fall semester included craft and game nights, karaoke, pet therapy, the Outdoor Challenge Course on South Campus, ice skating at Tennity Ice Pavilion and outings to such local venues as Tim’s Pumpkin Patch and Navarino Orchard.

Some of the activities planned for the spring semester include “Around the World” grocery bingo, a Lunar New Year celebration, Bollywood movie night and trips to ���ϲ����� Stage and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

International students took in an American football game in the JMA Wireless Dome, which also gave them the opportunity to learn more about the sport.

College 101

The Health Hub, an interactive outreach program designed to promote health and wellness on campus, led a “stressbuster” activity for international students as part of the College 101 program.

Introduced in the fall 2023 semester, College 101 is offered to first- and second-year undergraduate international students to assist with the acclimation to both college life and life in the United States.

Considered an extension of the robust orientation programs that are offered to international undergraduate students at the beginning of each semester, the program provides a series of practical and timely activities throughout the academic year. While informative in nature, all activities are designed to be fun and engaging to maximize students’ learning and enjoyment.

Last semester students experienced both a football and basketball game at the JMA Wireless Dome, while enjoying a mini tailgate and learning the rules of the games from domestic students. Other fun activities included a trivia night with the Department of Public Safety and a walking tour of downtown ���ϲ����� combined with learning how to get there using public transit.

This semester activities will focus on tax filing, off-campus housing, getting a U.S. driver’s license and restaurant etiquette.

To learn more about upcoming Connections and College 101 events, visit the . Students are also encouraged to follow the Center for International Services on and for the latest activities.

Among the delegation visiting campus from the University of Seoul were Yongkul Won, president; Jung Hyeun Kim, dean of the College of Engineering; Kang Su Kim, dean of the College of Urban Science; Ji Hee Song, vice president of international affairs; Nohjeong Park, chief secretary to the president; and Eunhwa Shin, head of international partnerships.

Leaders from the University of Seoul met with ���ϲ����� leaders Jan. 8 to advance and expand academic and cultural collaboration and exchange between the two institutions. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

They met with Chancellor Kent Syverud; Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter; and several other University leaders. The group also toured campus. A group from ���ϲ�����, including Chancellor Syverud, Provost Ritter and Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, visited the University of Seoul last March.

University of Seoul President Yongkul Won, left, and Chancellor Kent Syverud sign the memorandum of understanding. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Among the possible outcomes of the burgeoning relationship between the two institutions are the establishment of a University center in Korea as well as the development of new University of Seoul programs that leverage ���ϲ�����’s study abroad and study away facilities. Other potential activities and programs include the exchange of faculty members; joint research activities, including semiconductor research; and participation in joint seminars and workshops.

The ongoing relationship between the two institutions includes an MOU between the University of Seoul and ���ϲ�����’s that was signed last year.

“As we seek to deepen ���ϲ�����’s relationships with partners in Korea, we were pleased to welcome leadership from the University of Seoul to our campus,” Ritter says. “We are interested in collaborating across many disciplines with our Korean counterparts, and I am very excited to explore these possibilities.”

But Larsen is also a father of four children, and that side of him had a slightly different reaction.

“I didn’t expect to get it because the European posts are quite competitive. When I received the email notification, it was kind of an ‘oh, crap’ moment. What have I done?” Larsen says, smiling.

What Larsen and his wife, Natalia, did was pack up their four children—Isabel, 13; Sophia, 11; Madeline, 8; and Teddy, 5—and travel roughly 6,500 miles to a house they’re renting in Birgitz, a village outside of Innsbruck, from January through July. Their daughters are attending English-speaking schools, while their son is attending a German-speaking preschool (German is the primary language in Austria).

“Their schooling is going to be a bit disrupted, but they’re good students who read a lot and we’ll keep on top of it and fill in the gaps they might miss,” Larsen says. “It is a ski town, so we’ll spend some time skiing, and the schools for the older girls had London excursions last year so perhaps they can do trips like that.”

are competitive fellowships that provide students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad, exchange ideas, and play critical roles in U.S. public diplomacy as they seek to find solutions to shared international concerns.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 390,000 scholarships and its alumni include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and thousands of leaders and world-renowned experts in academia and many other fields across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

At the outset of COVID in 2020, Larsen, an epidemiologist, led an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York state. Today, the is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plan in all 62 of the state’s counties, covering a population of 15.3 million. The provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

Before Larsen and his family traveled to Austria, we asked him about the Fulbright Award, what he’ll be doing in and outside of Austria, and why a wastewater surveillance system to test COVID and other infectious diseases is crucial to worldwide health. Here’s that conversation:

Q: Why did you want this fellowship?

A: You submit for a specific award, and I submitted for a position at the Medical University of Innsbruck. I had reviewed their papers and there was good science coming out of there, so I reached out to their scientists who are working on wastewater surveillance in Austria and created their own network in the Tyrol region where Innsbruck is located.

I told them about my work in New York state and the wastewater surveillance network here, and they were supportive of my application.

Q: What will you be doing at the Medical University of Innsbruck?

A: I’m a visiting professor and they’ve asked me to teach two courses that meet once a week and are equivalent to a 3-credit course here. I’m teaching a condensed version of my “Spatial Statistics for Public Health” course, and I developed an overview course for public health surveillance. Those were selected in brainstorming with my colleagues at Innsbruck who thought those would be of most value to their students.

In addition, I’m working with the wastewater-based epidemiologists there, and the research project attached to the Fulbright is the comparison of the networks in New York state and Tyrol.

Q: Will you be working outside of Austria?

A: There’s a national wastewater network in Austria, and initiatives to establish a global network being led by Europeans. Europeans have been doing wastewater surveillance for drugs since 2010, and they’ve got a great model of collaboration across the different nation states. So, I hope to connect with that team and learn more about it, in addition to working with the Austrians.

I’m working here in New York state, primarily, and others are working across the globe on the same issue and building a global system. So, we’ll take the lessons we’ve learned and the challenges we’ve overcome here in New York and go to Austria, share those, and I hope to learn lessons they’ve learned and the challenges they’ve overcome in Austria, and then Europe, and more broadly. Hopefully, we’ll have a greater understanding and improved wastewater surveillance systems as a result.

At the outset of COVID in 2020, David Larsen led an interdisciplinary team of experts in coordination with the New York Department of Health to create a wastewater surveillance system throughout New York State.

Q: Why is this collaboration so important?

A: ��We built this (network) with COVID, but we also built it for the future. Right now in New York state, local health departments are using the data we produce–particularly the sequencing data to track variants–but also the hospitalization forecasting that we provide them. Our aim is to provide the local health departments and the public with robust understanding of COVID-19 risk.

At the same time, COVID is not the only infectious disease, and there’s always potential for what we call “Disease X,” which is the next emerging infection. It could be another coronavirus, it could be an avian influenza, it could be something we’re not thinking about right now. The goal is to make this system ready and prepared to empower the public health response to whatever comes in the future.

In New York state, we supported the polio response in 2022 and made a huge impact on understanding how many people were at risk of polio. We are piloting influenza, RSV, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, and Antimicrobial Resistance (which occurs when a virus doesn’t respond to medicine). Antimicrobial resistance is a looming public health threat and could be very impactful. We do support the COVID response, but that’s the tip of the iceberg of where we hope the wastewater surveillance network goes.

The idea here is that perhaps most, if not all, infectious diseases can be surveilled or found in wastewater. Beyond that, drugs and environmental toxicants and pollutions and other measures of non-communicable diseases can be measured. How do we build this system to make the world a better place?

Q: What motivates you to do this?

A: This came about because I wanted to safely open my kids’ schools. I wanted to get back to normal. When COVID hit, we shut down and I supported the response—I still support the response we had—but it was a response made without local understanding of risk.

Infectious diseases are local. You have travelers that take them from community to community, but you can have little enclaves of safe places. We had one at ���ϲ����� in the fall of 2020. It was safe from COVID because of the aggressive public health measures and the aggressive infectious disease surveillance we were doing with wastewater and testing.

Could we have a situation where infectious disease is threatening, but we have these little pockets of freedom? And that’s informed a lot of my work: How do we live a free life in a world affected by infectious disease? The way to do that, in my view, is to fight these diseases so they’re no longer a threat and then you have to be able to confirm that they’re not affecting people. That’s where infectious disease surveillance comes in.

Q: Vaccinations are down, and a new COVID variant is on the rise. What’s your message to people as we approach the four-year anniversary of COVID?

A: People associate COVID with public health restrictions: masks, closed restaurants, closed schools, quarantine, isolation. But at its best, public health is empowering. Freedom from polio, the ability to drink tap water, the trust we have in our food system, the long-term health care as we get older. That is public health. And if we are on the front foot—if we prevent the disease—then we can avoid the restrictions that happen. The shutdowns are a last resort when we have overflowing morgues and overflowing hospitals and it’s a panic button. It was the last resort and that’s the situation we found ourselves in.

Real public health is, how do we build a system so we don’t get into that position again? Vaccines are part of that toolkit; clean air, air filtration, environmental adjustments are also part of that toolkit and infectious disease surveillance is definitely part of that toolkit.

John Trimmer (Photo by Alex Dunbar)

From the drylands of Kenya to the rainforests of Suriname, civil and environmental engineering professor John Trimmer in the has dedicated his career to making a difference. After a service-learning trip to Nicaragua, where he helped with construction projects, Trimmer was inspired to pursue humanitarian engineering and improve the well-being of others. With a core research focus on water systems, sanitation and resource recovery, he strives to promote sustainable living.

As an undergraduate at Bucknell University, Trimmer was able to work with a few non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In addition to his trip to Nicaragua, he collaborated with a Peace Corps volunteer in Suriname, South America, stationed in a remote village and working on a rainwater collection system. After graduation, Trimmer continued working with the Peace Corps and spent three years in Uganda working with an NGO that specialized in constructing water tanks, latrines, classrooms and other structures.

After completing a Ph.D., which included working in Uganda on innovative approaches to sanitation systems, Trimmer joined the Aquaya Institute on their mission to improve global health through safe water and sanitation access. His work at the Aquaya Institute largely focused on research and he found himself based in Nairobi, Kenya, interacting with pastoral communities in dry regions of the country.

Trimmer and Aquaya Institute colleagues at Nairobi National Park in Kenya. (Photo courtesy of Aquaya Institute)

“Though the communities were nomadic, it seemed like they were also looking to settle, and they were open to permanent infrastructure,” Trimmer says. “It was very qualitative.��We focused primarily on asking questions regarding their current water systems and what they do for sanitation. We also did interviews and discussion groups to understand what these communities wanted and needed.”

While working with the Aquaya Institute, Trimmer also researched the effectiveness of a program that aimed to provide more durable infrastructure to vulnerable households in northern Ghana. Since unstable soil is an issue that impacts certain areas, they wanted to ensure the structures they built would last.

“If you dig a traditional pit latrine, it may collapse because the soil is unstable. Since the locals in the area didn’t have the means for a more durable structure, we were looking at different ways those systems could be supported financially,” says Trimmer. “UNICEF funded the project so durable structures could be installed.”

A completed rainwater tank in Uganda. (Photo courtesy of Aquaya Institute)

As Trimmer has traveled to different countries, he’s loved working with young researchers and found it rewarding to help them develop their skills and witness their growth. This passion for mentoring younger researchers would translate to his position as a ���ϲ����� professor, giving him a chance to continue guiding and supporting students.

While teaching courses at the University, Trimmer plans to collaborate with NGOs he’s previously worked with on upcoming projects. He hopes to collaborate with colleagues to develop a platform that models sanitation systems to implement them as a teaching and research tool in the classroom. This will enable him to share the knowledge he’s gained from his humanitarian work and educate future researchers to do the same.

It is not every day that ���ϲ����� partners with an international organization representing more than 700 million people.

The and the University have announced a new agreement that strengthens and expands an existing relationship by providing internships for students studying abroad in Strasbourg, France, as well as research opportunities for students and faculty.

The agreement provides for up to 12 student internships at the council each year, widens the number of departments and divisions that ���ϲ����� students can engage with, and broadens opportunities for research collaboration for ���ϲ����� students and faculty.

Founded after World War II, the Council of Europe is Europe’s leading human rights organization, composed of 46 member-states, such as Ukraine, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Italy. Separate from the European Union, it is akin to a “United Nations of Europe” and strives to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The agreement was signed by Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Dean David M. Van Slyke and Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Bjørn Berge on Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C.

“While the United States is not a member of the Council of Europe, it has close links as an observer state, and your presence here today, Mr. Deputy Secretary General, is a sign that the United States and Council of Europe are indeed partners,” said Van Slyke at the signing event. “���ϲ����� and the Maxwell School are proud to be part of the council’s relationship with the United States and to play our modest part in fostering understanding between our two societies and in furthering a partnership so vital to the well-being of the world.”

Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke, left, shakes hands with Miroslav Papa, director of political affairs and external relations with the Council of Europe, next to Bjørn Berge, deputy secretary general of the council, at an event in Washington, D.C., to celebrate a new agreement between the council and ���ϲ�����.

The relationship between the Council of Europe and ���ϲ����� began in the early 1990s, growing out of ���ϲ����� Strasbourg’s strong historical reputation and network of partnerships in the region. Through the years, an estimated 300 ���ϲ����� students studying abroad in Strasbourg have benefited from council internships, adding to the wide array of programs affiliated with the ���ϲ����� Center in Strasbourg.

Berge asked those in attendance at the signing event to consider the diverse array of former program participants now working in public service on both sides of the Atlantic. He described the relationship as a “win-win” for the Council of Europe and the University.

“There could also be no better moment to reinforce this relationship and demonstrate our shared determination to shape a better world,” Berge said. “The memorandum of understanding that we sign today with ���ϲ����� is one step in that direction. It represents an important trans-Atlantic link with a prestigious university.”

Berge was joined at the signing celebration by Miroslav Papa, director of political affairs and external relations at the Council of Europe.

In addition to Van Slyke, ���ϲ����� representatives at the event included Steve Bennett, senior vice president for international programs and academic operations, and Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the Washington, D.C., based Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC).

Bennett shared that in the past year, ���ϲ����� students have served as interns in numerous council departments and divisions, from the directorate general of human rights and the rule of law to the Pompidou Group, which focuses on international drug policy.

“For ���ϲ�����, these are precisely the types of experiential learning opportunities that our students’ treasure and that are a cornerstone of what makes a ���ϲ����� education exceptional,” he said.

The Pompidou Group has long enjoyed a special relationship with the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Beginning in 2010, Falk College engaged with the Pompidou Group, leading to the 2019 creation of the International Drug Policy Academy. The academy’s courses are developed with Falk faculty and provide an opportunity for ���ϲ����� students to engage with cutting-edge issues in drug policy with international stakeholders from across the world.

The relationship with the Council of Europe has also been a draw for Maxwell School students from across disciplines. Senior Riona Sheik interned with the Council in the spring of 2023. “This was a very rewarding internship because I was able to gain firsthand experience with social welfare and insight into how different European social rights are from the United States,” said Sheik, who is majoring in political science and international relations at the Maxwell School and finance at the Whitman School of Management.

���ϲ����� students participated in the World Forum on Democracy at the Council of Europe in November. Shown, from left to right, are Nathaniel Hasanaj, Iraklis Kapanidis, William Johnson and Grace “Gray” Reed.

An opportunity to intern with the Council was a draw for Carina Sarracino, who is majoring in political science and international relations. While studying abroad from January to April of 2023, she gained an up-close view of the council’s vital work while interning under the mentorship of its director of political affairs and external relations. Among the many meaningful opportunities was the chance to witness the adoption of a resolution that addressed the issue of sexual violence during wartime.

“Having an opportunity to see such an important resolution adopted, and to see firsthand how these processes work, was unparalleled,” said Sarracino.

Van Slyke said the agreement’s timing aligns with two milestones—50 years of ���ϲ����� Abroad in Strasbourg and the Maxwell School’s 100th anniversary in 2024. Further, it is well-timed with the recent launch of the IDJC, a joint initiative of the Maxwell School and the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications.

“A broad range of ���ϲ����� and Maxwell faculty and students are focused on issues related to polarization, misinformation and disinformation, access to information, and democracy,” Van Slyke said. “The new Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, led by Margaret Talev, offers another potential resource, partner and source of collaboration. As Margaret has said, ‘Current and emerging challenges to democracy are everyone’s problem and can’t be fixed alone.’”

Established in 1974, offers fall and spring semester and summer programs for students across the University’s 13 schools and colleges. Approximately 150 students participate annually, taking classes and harnessing internships and other experiential learning opportunities at the Council of Europe and other organizations and institutions. Fluency in French is not a prerequisite for many programs, including the Council of Europe internship, which seeks both French and English speakers as the two official languages of council business.

“For students interested in international affairs, human rights, democracy, political science and related topics, Strasbourg is a great place to study internationally,” said ���ϲ����� Strasbourg Director John Goodman, who is a former diplomat for humanitarian organizations. He played an instrumental role in cultivating the University’s deepened relationship with the Council.

“Thanks to ���ϲ�����’s 50-year presence in the city, students have direct access to working practitioners in major international bodies. It is extremely rare and valuable to have the chance to work inside some of the world’s preeminent inter-governmental institutions,” he added. “���ϲ�����’s relationship with the Council of Europe is a gem of an opportunity for ���ϲ����� students.”

Story by Jessica Youngman and Cort Ruddy

Yulia Bychkovska was in Boston in February 2022 when Russian missile attacks struck a mostly residential area west of her home in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Though she was in the U.S., she learned of the invasion before her mother.

“I had to call my mom and wake her up to tell her the war had started,” said Bychkovska, who had recently completed a bachelor’s degree at Columbia College in Missouri. “I was very worried because I didn’t know what was happening on the ground. All I knew was this terrible news.”

Yulia Bychkovska is shown at a Boston rally that followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of her home country, Ukraine, in February 2022.

In the days that followed, she would call family just before she went to bed to check on them, and then do the same as soon as she woke up. “I didn’t know if I would see them again,” she said.

Around the same time, Bychkovska learned she had been accepted to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs to pursue dual master’s degrees in public administration and international relations. It was a dream realized, but she knew she couldn’t begin her studies that July unless she returned to Ukraine to see her loved ones.

Without telling them, she boarded a plane for Poland and then embarked on a 16-hour bus ride home. The arduous route took her past the remains of shelled buildings and other signs of war. Though it was painful to see the destruction, she was relieved to be home. “I wanted them to know I didn’t abandon them,” she said of her family. “Also, in some ways it gave me peace of mind because I knew what my parents were doing, how society acted in war, and that they had some protections in place like the warning sirens.”

Bychkovska’s mother made her promise she would cut her visit short and return to the U.S. if their city was attacked. The day dozens of bombs exploded nearby, Bychkovska’s mother said, “It’s time to go.” She packed her bags and quickly returned to the U.S.

Soon after, Bychkovska began her Maxwell studies.

Nearly two years into the invasion in Ukraine, she and other students from the embattled country carry what few of their classmates can comprehend—worry for their loved ones back home, and sometimes, feelings of guilt for having been afforded such opportunity.

But they find refuge joining a community of scholars with a long history of supporting those impacted by war and the unique opportunities to collaborate, research and influence policy in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Veterans Bridge

The Hon. James E. Baker is shown during an appearance on a Ukrainian news station during a visit last summer to the embattled country. During the interview, he advocated for the care of the growing population of Ukrainian veterans to bolster national security. Seated on the right is Nataliia Kalmykova, one of Ukraine’s deputy ministers of defense.

The US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge brings experts from the U.S. veterans’ community together with officials in Ukraine to support its bourgeoning veteran population and build national security. The leading academic partners in the relatively new coalition are two Maxwell professors, the Hon. James E. Baker and Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett (U.S. Navy, retired).

Baker, a highly regarded national security lawyer, policy advisor and former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and Murrett, a principal investigator of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, are aligning resources from ���ϲ����� and offering their expertise. The coalition works with the Ukraine Veterans Foundation (UVF), and it includes veterans from the U.S. and Ukraine and leaders in areas such as health care, benefits administration, education, employment, reintegration and family.

The professors, who serve as the director and deputy director of the ���ϲ����� Institute for Security Policy and Law, invited Bychkovska and fellow Ukrainian student Eduard Gusak to participate in meetings where they get to witness and take part in international collaborations to build their country’s national security.

“The students bring important perspective to our work in support of Ukrainian security, both in terms of direct contact with counterparts in Kyiv and in assisting Maxwell students in relevant research and programs dealing with the effects of the Russian invasion,” said Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. “For example, both Yulia and Eduard have a role in a current master of public administration workshop, a semester-long student research effort which evaluates comparative veterans’ support programs and is sponsored by the UVF.”

Veterans Bridge meeting participants sometimes include Nataliia Kalmykova, a Fulbright scholar who became executive director of the UVF weeks before the Russian invasion. Now one of Ukraine’s deputy ministers of defense, she visited ���ϲ����� last spring and met with Baker, Murrett, Maxwell Dean David M. Van Slyke, Ukrainian students and numerous other University representatives, including from the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families.

The students have gained experience in international collaboration and crisis response as well as a deeper understanding of the relationship between the care and treatment of veterans and national security.

“A society of demobilized veterans can be a force for good, as the World War II G.I. Bill boom demonstrated in the United States,” Baker explained in a position paper he recently shared with the U.S. government and Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs. “It can also result in instability if those veterans are alienated from society or government and subsequently mobilized as a political movement or military force,” he wrote.

‘A way of paying it forward’

Mark Temnycky G’17 joined an alumni panel, “What is a public service perspective?” during a colloquium for incoming master of public administration students this past July. From Ukraine, he shared how he advocates for his home country in his work as a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and as a freelance journalist.

Last July, Eduard Gusak and other incoming M.P.A. students began their year-long academic journey with a two-day colloquium that serves as an in-depth orientation and networking opportunity.

One of the colloquium events, “What is a public service perspective?” included a Ukrainian-American, Mark Temnycky G’17.

Temnycky, who is a defense contractor, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and a freelance journalist, writes about the war for major outlets like The New York Times and recently received the Ukrainian World Congress’ inaugural “Ukrainian diaspora 30 under 30” award. He was also recognized by the International Sports Press Association for his coverage of the Russian invasion. He shared some of the pivotal opportunities he took advantage of while studying at Maxwell, including an internship with NATO and work for the Ukraine Parliament. “I always had this desire for public service,” he said.

Of his writing, he added, “It is a way of paying it forward and informing people what’s happening.”

Gusak was inspired by Temnycky and fellow panelists. He appreciates the opportunities he has been afforded, for instance joining the US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge meetings and working as a research assistant to Murrett.

Murrett and other faculty often ask him to consider how he might apply what he learned back home. “For now, I have experienced the hardest period in my life, but on the other hand, I am being provided opportunities to learn from people with an enormous amount of life experience and a willingness to help,” said Gusak. “The reason why I came here is because of the opportunity to gain this experience to influence Ukraine’s future.”

In the U.S. for two years through a program called “Uniting for Ukraine,” Eduard Gusak is pursuing a master of public administration at Maxwell and hopes to return to Ukraine to help it gain independence from Russia and rebuild from the war.

Gusak was home in Kyiv when Russia invaded. Shortly after, his parents asked him to bring his older sister to Slovakia, where she would be safer. While there, he received a call from Gennady Bratslavsky, a family friend who is chair of the urology department at Upstate University Hospital in ���ϲ�����.

Gusak told Bratslavsky he considered returning to Ukraine, but as a young man he knew he would return to a higher level of responsibility while his country was at war. He didn’t expect he would be called to service in the military; a supporting role in government seemed more likely given his background—he’d received a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Bratslavsky told Gusak about a new program that enables Ukrainians to come to the U.S. with the support of a sponsor. He mentioned opportunities at ���ϲ����� and the Ukraine 1991 Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded that provides humanitarian aid to the frontlines.

In August 2022, Gusak relocated to ���ϲ����� to stay with the Bratlavskys. He enrolled at the English Language Institute in the College of Professional Studies to improve his fluency, and applied to Maxwell.

When he learned he’d been accepted, he said he “almost jumped to the sky” from excitement.

The Maxwell School is a community of faculty who research the rule of law, international politics, and peace and security, and are helping build networks of scholarship and training to support democracy in Ukraine. To read the full story, visit the .��

Emcees David Ojo and Qingyang Liu welcomed members of the University community to the 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Dinner. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

More than 700 first-year international students and members of the University community recently came together to celebrate the University’s 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration. A beloved University tradition, it is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

The event, sponsored by the Chancellor’s House and the Center for International Services, was held in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium on Nov. 16. Ph.D. students Qingyang Liu and David Ojo served as the evening’s emcees.

“Thanksgiving is a time to cherish, a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for and a time to share warmth and joy with friends and family,” said Liu. “While the historical origins of Thanksgiving are well-known, tonight we want to focus on the values that make this day extraordinary.”

Bailey Tlachac, a member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, a member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, offer the Native American Blessing. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

“Thanksgiving transcends borders and backgrounds; it’s a universal celebration of gratitude. No matter where we come from, we can all appreciate the value of being thankful for the blessings in our lives,” Ojo said. “We’re thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given, for the support of our friends and family, and for the friendships that connect us despite our diverse backgrounds.”

Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, co-hosted the event with Center for International Services Director Juan Tavares. “I am thankful our international students are part of the Orange family. You bring your culture, language and traditions with you,” she said. “We learn from you, just as you learn from your professors and fellow students.”

Students gather around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carves the turkey. (Photo by Charles Wainright)

Started by the University in the 1980s by then-Evangelical Chaplain Rev. T.E. Koshy, the celebration is intended to introduce new international students to the American Thanksgiving experience. For nearly four decades, the event has served as a celebration of cross-cultural friendship, international community and fellowship. Koshy’s son, Jay, the University’s Evangelical Chaplain, offered the invocation, and his grandson, Josh ’25, was also in attendance.

The Native American blessing was given by Bailey Tlachac, program coordinator of the Native Student Program and member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, who retired last year as assistant director of the University’s Native Student Program.

Dinner is served (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 750 pounds of turkey, 20 gallons of gravy, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of stuffing, 150 pounds each of corn and sweet potatoes and 160 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater ���ϲ����� area donated all the food, linens and table decorations.

During dinner, table hosts—faculty, staff and community members—engaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey—an annual tradition at the event.

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew gave the benediction.

Leytisha Jack, a first-year doctoral student from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attended the dinner last year and again this year. “I was even more excited about this year’s Thanksgiving dinner because our table’s host has Caribbean roots like my own. There was laughter, wholesome rapport and learning of new things because we were all open with each other.”

“The Thanksgiving dinner allows us to forget about the academic settings and responsibilities (momentarily) and helps us to appreciate this festive, rich and unique American culture,” Jack says. “It’s one of the events that I truly think is most organized, relevant and impacts international students in a profound way. … This dinner is where friendships are formed, and students are reminded that there is a great group of SU faculty and staff who represent home and who support us.”

Table host Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, and her guests take a selfie. (Photo by Maggie Washburn)

Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, hosted a table for the first year. “My coworker, Vicente Cuevas, encouraged the rest of our office to consider this opportunity as he has done it before and found it very rewarding. I heeded the call and was not disappointed,” she says.

The students at her table were primarily from India. “We had a lovely conversation about traditions and food. Even better for me, the students spoke with me about the Cricket World Cup happening that weekend between India and Australia and how they would gather in the wee hours of the morning to watch the match together,” Washburn says. “They were very excited, and I truly enjoyed hearing their excitement and discussing food and sports with them. We did not part before taking pictures and a selfie!”

Tetiana Hranchak

On Feb. 24, 2022, Tetiana Hranchak awoke to the sound of explosions near her home in Kyiv, Ukraine. She expected Russia’s invasion and knew once it happened that she would leave her home country for the United States. Given her activism and scholarly research, she feared for her safety.

Hranchak and her husband, Yurii Gryga, packed their most basic needs—clothing and personal care items—and a few of their most precious treasures into a duffel bag and two backpacks. They traveled to the western border and, in an arduous, two-week journey, traveled to Hungary and Iceland before landing safely in Chicago.

In addition to their family and friends, the couple left behind a recently remodeled home they adored. “We left everything because life was more precious,” says Hranchak.

This fall, Hranchak joined the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs as a visiting assistant teaching professor. Her stay is made possible by ���ϲ�����’s participation in the Scholars at Risk Network, a nonprofit international program that provides academic visiting positions to threatened scholars. The University joined the program following the Russian invasion; Hranchak is the first participant.

“Given our profile as a University and a school committed to global engagement, her presence provides a unique opportunity for our students to learn about a country that has dominated international news for the past two years,” says Brian Taylor, professor of political science and director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs where Hranchak’s position is based.

He says, “She has brought to life the history, culture and traditions of Ukraine, shared her expertise in the politics of memory and candidly shared her experiences since the invasion. Faculty and students are learning from her and are inspired by her passion for Ukraine. We are grateful to her, and to University Chancellor Kent Syverud and Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter for their enthusiastic support for our participation in the Scholar at Risk Network.”

Tetiana Hranchak and her husband, Yurii Gryga, pictured, left Ukraine in February 2022.

Hranchak spent two decades as a researcher at the VI Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, and she has published more than 90 scholarly works including the 2012 monograph “Library and Political Communication.”

At Moynihan, Hranchak is continuing her research on media literacy, countering misinformation and propaganda and the role of libraries in the politics of memory. The latter is of particular interest and what made her feel vulnerable amid Russia’s invasion; the “politics of memory” refers to political influence over organizations, as well as the preservation and transformation of collective social memory.

Hranchak also engages with faculty and students on issues related to Ukraine. She launched the Ukrainian Culture and Conversation Table—a place where students can learn more about Ukraine in an informal setting, and this spring she will teach a course focused on her country’s history and culture. She hopes to spread understanding and appreciation for her home country as more than the target of Russia’s siege.

This is Hranchak’s second appointment since arriving in the U.S. She was previously supported by the Indiana University-Ukraine Nonresidential Scholars Program. Like the Scholars at Risk Network, it supported her research and provided a teaching opportunity—she developed and taught a course this past summer, “Libraries and the Politics of Memory,” that has been replicated elsewhere, including in Ukraine.

The ���ϲ����� Scholar at Risk opportunity came at the right time, just as the Indiana position was coming to an end, says Hranchak. “I’m extremely grateful that the University connected with this organization and decided to host someone who needs help—that person was me,” she said.

Cars line up at the Ukraine border.

Nearly two years since Hranchak’s world was upended, the tears still come easy. Sometimes, they arise from her despair for the continued destruction and lost lives in Ukraine. She has also cried in gratitude for the many acts of kindness and generosity she and her husband have encountered in the U.S. Their first home, in Toledo, Ohio, for instance, was offered rent free for months.

Hranchak and Gryga have helped community groups gather donations to support refugees and Ukraine. The work has brought a sense of empowerment amid the continued uncertainty and worry for loved ones back home, who include their two grown sons.

The assistant teaching position ends this May. Hranchak isn’t sure yet what’s next, but she and Gryga have become adept at embracing each day as it comes. “We try to value what we have,” she says. “I find my sense of stability in people.”

Today, the University defines human thriving as valuing and enabling the contributions of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and as understanding the physical and social conditions needed to create and support healthy and sustainable communities for everyone, particularly those who have been historically excluded or neglected.

In this alumni roundtable, graduates of the School of Education’s offer their advice on how we all can support human thriving in broadly diverse, fully equitable and radically inclusive contexts.

Kirsis A. Dipre G’22

Kirsis A. Dipre

Dipre, a core faculty in the Counseling@Northwestern program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, says:

“To me, human thriving means creating a space where we as a collective can be our authentic selves, bring our existing knowledge, and co-create experiences and knowledge that propel everyone involved forward regardless of differences in the space.

“Human thriving means that we no longer must live in separate worlds, institutions of higher education and our personal lives. It is as if there is no space for our full selves to be received in academia, which creates dissonance and deepens a wound we can recognize but struggle to name. Only when we are able to integrate our full selves are we able to heal from this wound,

“Therefore to answer this question, the ‘we’ needs to be named. Institutions are the ‘we’ because ‘we’ as individuals—who are surviving and aiming to thrive in these systems—can only create spaces of mutuality in corners and pockets within institutions.

“Institutions must first assess gaps, areas that conflate thriving with surviving and provide support for improvements. It takes intentional work for an institution to look at itself, recognize areas for growth and properly care for them to encourage them to grow and thrive.

“One answer is to create spaces that are equitable and responsive to those in it, without privileging certain voices, with the goal of making those spaces the norm. When we are able to challenge and change the current norm—through critical recognition of the parts that are not working—then we can begin to effectively promote human thriving.”

Jordan P. Shannon G’20

Jordan Shannon

Shannon, assistant professor of counselor education in Seattle University’s College of Education, shares:

“As an academic in counselor education, I have been reflecting on what it means to make sure my students are thriving and prepared to embrace a diversity of ideas, challenges, knowledge and experiences.

“Part of that challenge has been making sure students are aware of their own worldview, biases and assumptions. This is often done through presenting knowledge of systemic inequities, diverse needs and culturally responsive strategies to aid wide variety of populations.

“Students and I are further challenged by reflecting quite vulnerably on our individual and collective identities in face-to-face measures (e.g., skills practice, group counseling and delivering feedback). It is a delicate tension to maintain.

“As students and I start to feel emboldened to bring our full selves into the work of diversity, equity and inclusive practices, doing so can leave folx—particularly those who hold multiple marginalized identities—vulnerable to isolation, invalidation and discomfort from majority culture peers.

“I believe as an instructor, with both institutional and social power, it is my responsibility to craft a space that breeds boldness but specifically a space for those in the margins. Often this means modeling vulnerability of my worldview, assumptions and biases for my class, so the power dynamic can feel less present.”

Peitao Zhu G’20

Peitao Zhu

Zhu, assistant professor of counseling and ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar in Northern Illinois University’s Department of Counseling and Higher Education, says:

“In the increasingly polarizing global climate, we often interact with one another in non-relational manners. We judge the worth of fellow human beings through the materialistic lens of accomplishment, status and financial assets.

“We segregate ourselves among those with similar identities and immutable characteristics. We stay siloed and sheltered within those who share our same belief systems and demonize those who do not.

“One cannot thrive if actions are motivated by fear, insecurity and defensiveness. One cannot thrive if they are alienated from their fundamental need to be connected to.

“The responsibility to foster human thriving, in my view, does not lie in any abstract ‘system,’ because systems consist of willing participants. By only scapegoating the ‘system,’ we run the risk of not holding ourselves accountable for the same types of transgressions that we condemn others for.

“Instead, I believe each of us ought to play an active role in shifting the global tide of polarization, beginning with an honest reflection of our own biases, flaws and growth edges: Do I judge others based on their opinions and ideologies? Do I value one form of diversity but am dismissive of another? Am I willing to challenge the opinions and beliefs that I hold close to my heart in facing disconfirming evidence?

“In short, only through a shared deep commitment to valuing our human connections can we achieve the collective wisdom to navigate this exceedingly complex global society.”

Note: This story appears in the 2023 issue of .

Rayan Mohamed

The program aims to elevate photography and digital media as pathways for undergraduate students to pursue their careers and make a difference in their communities. Fellows receive a $2,000 tuition scholarship as well as mentorship for a community project. Mohamed plans to make an ethnographic film focusing on the mental health of first-generation refugee youth.

Mohamed was born in Somalia and spent several years in an Ethiopian refugee camp before moving to ���ϲ����� as a grade-schooler in 2014. “I always wanted to start a discussion about the mental health of refugees,” she says. “This project is important to me because the topic of mental health in some cultures is found to be taboo, shame and embarrassing.”

The project will entail a series of interviews, workshops and creative art making, according to Mohamed. Participants will be asked questions such as, “What does it mean to be a first-generation refugee?” and “How do you heal from trauma?”

“I would love to give total control of creativity to these students and how they want to tell their stories to the world,” Mohamed says.

Before arriving on campus, Mohamed attended ���ϲ����� City Schools and, as a junior at Henninger High School, , a storytelling and leadership initiative that provides resettled refugee youth in ���ϲ����� with the tools and resources to share their histories and experiences through artistic expression.

The consortium brings together people from a range of disciplines and industries “to imagine, study and enact a more just and liberatory ‘America’ and world.” ���ϲ����� is a member institution.

In addition to working on her project, Mohamed will attend Imagining America’s —held this year in Providence, Rhode Island—and participate in regular, virtual learning exchanges. She will also benefit from connection to the consortium’s national network of scholars, artists and community organizers.

Antonio Herrera

Traveling the world during his time in the military, Antonio Herrera ’24 understood what it meant to be somewhere and not speak the native language. So when he heard about the English Conversation Group through the Center for International Services, he knew he wanted to assist others who were in the same situation that he had once been in.

“I wanted to engage with this program not only to connect with the community and do something I was interested in,” Herrera says. “But even more over that, I wanted to do something that could genuinely help other students.”

The hosts several programs to assist students to get the most out of their experience at the University by connecting with fellow students, building intercultural understanding and celebrating the richly diverse student body.

One of its signature programs, the , founded in 1987 by staff member Riet Dekleermaeker, promotes friendship and understanding between English-speaking group facilitators and international students, scholars and spouses. It provides participants an opportunity to practice and improve their English language skills through informal conversations—and a chance for both international students and facilitators to connect and learn from each other.

Herrera has been involved with the military since 2012, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and then transferring to the U.S. Army before separating from active duty to pursue a public health degree in the .

During his time in the military, Herrera traveled all over Europe and Asia, making friends who helped him learn different languages; he discovered a love for languages, culture and traveling.

While he was in Japan and Korea, he would often encounter individuals who did not speak English and remembered how difficult that was at times.

“I didn’t want students to come here, especially non-English speaking students, and feel like they didn’t have someone that is here for them to talk to,” Herrera says. “Being involved with the English Conversation Group is my personal way to give back and support those students, having an idea of what they are going through.”

English Conversation Group Summer 2023 session (Photo by Meriel F. Stokoe)

Herrera’s current group of students are from China and Korea. There is no real structure to the weekly conversations they have at the Center for International Services on Walnut Place, but rather Herrera lets the group ask questions about the University, the English language or perhaps issues or challenges they might be facing.

“I want them to talk about what they’re interested in or run through simple scenarios they are having issues with; maybe it’s doing a presentation in class or reading certain types of literature for certain studies. Every session is very, very different,” says Herrera, who will be commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps next year after graduation.

Interested in becoming a facilitator like Herrera? Easily through a form. International students, scholars or spouses interested in joining the English Conversation Group can use a separate to apply. For questions about the English Conversation Group, call 315.443.2457 or email international@syr.edu.

Acknowledging the unique needs of students who are not only acclimating to a new university but oftentimes a new country and culture, the , in collaboration with a host of campus partners, will offer dozens of welcome events customized for both graduate and undergraduate international students.

, beginning Aug. 18, provides a strong foundation for the academic and extracurricular pursuits that await students this fall. “Our international students go through a lengthy process to get here,” says Juan Tavares, director of the Center for International Services. “First, they have to apply for a student visa, which is a time-consuming and expensive process. Many are coming to the U.S. for the first time and have very long flights. It’s important that we give them the best launch possible by providing a welcome experience that encompasses as many events as we can fit in.”

Opportunities for International Graduate Students

Meeti Shah

Meeti Shah G’24 is an international student from Mumbai, India, entering her second year of graduate study in the . She sees serving as a (WAI) as a way to “pay it forward” to younger, less experienced students after greatly benefiting from the guidance of other graduate students last summer when she arrived in ���ϲ����� for the first time.

“It was difficult for me in the start, considering I was coming to a new country with so many differences—differences in how travel works, in how you interact with people,” Shah says. “When I came to orientation, the ambassadors were so helpful in giving us campus tours, acclimating us to the resources available at the University and answering our questions. I’ve always been inspired to help people in the same way that others helped me.”

Orientation activities for international graduate students are held this weekend and highlights include:

• Campus tour and ice cream social with current graduate students—Aug. 18, 6-8 p.m.
• Game night at the Barnes Center at The Arch—Aug. 18, 8:15-10 p.m.
• Presentations on health and wellness, personal and public safety, and resources and success tips for new graduate students—Aug. 19, various times
• Lunch on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle—Aug. 19, 12:45-2 p.m.
• Shuttle bus shopping trips to Target and Destiny USA mall—Aug. 20, various times

“The campus tours are something I’m looking forward to because it gets new students excited for how big the campus is and what things here will excite and inspire them,” says Shah. “And of course, the ice cream party—last year we had so much fun eating ice cream and then playing games in the . We played badminton until they asked us to leave!”

A Warm Welcome for International Undergraduates

For undergraduate students, residence hall move-in begins Friday, Aug. 18, and there are several days of activities specifically designed for international students prior to general activities kicking off Aug. 24. It is also critical for international undergraduate students to complete the upon arriving in the United States.

Yida He

Yida He ’26, an international relations major in the from Xinjiang, China, serves as a member of the Goon Squad and as a WAI. He attended every single undergraduate orientation activity last year, his first year as an ambassador.

“These activities are opportunities to help others and make new friends, but serving as a WAI also helped me to know the school and its resources better,” He says. “To help others, I must see every detail, like campus tours and school medical services, so this has been a process of both teaching and learning.”

His favorite activity, besides showing new students around campus, is the shuttle bus trips to the local mall and Target retail store, which allow students to purchase essentials that may not have been practical to pack for international travel.

Fellow WAI Alex Snioch ’26, a health and exercise science major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, came to the University from Massachusetts but is originally from Poland. She got involved with the Center for International Services based on her own yearning for shared culture and community as a first-year student.

Alex Snioch

“When I arrived, I wanted to connect with other European students on campus and I struggled finding that,” she says. “I visited the international center to see what programs may be available and ended up getting involved with the . I saw how much the students appreciated the opportunity to feel like they were at home with others for just an hour.”

Snioch says this inspired her to become a WAI, knowing she could aid new international students in feeling more comfortable on campus, creating connections and friendships and becoming acquainted with various resources—from help finding a job on campus to all the health, wellness and medical services available at the Barnes Center.

Her advice to incoming international students is to not be hesitant to ask questions. “Reaching out for help and being vulnerable is not a bad thing!” she says. “There are a lot of resources on campus but sometimes it’s tricky figuring out where to go for what. But in my experience, people are happy to help—all you have to do is ask.”

There is no shortage of both educational and social opportunities coming up for undergraduate international students to get more familiar with the school and the ���ϲ����� area, including:

• Shuttle bus trips to Target and Destiny USA Mall—Aug. 20, various times
• International student welcome meeting (required)—Aug. 21, 10-11 a.m.
• Immigration essentials presentation; two sessions available (required)—Aug. 21, 1-2 p.m., or Aug. 22, 2-3 p.m.
• Personal and public safety presentation (required)—Aug. 21, 2-3 p.m.
• International talent show—Aug. 21, 6-7 p.m.
• Health and wellness presentation (required)—Aug. 22, 10-11 a.m.
• Community standards and academic integrity presentation (required)—Aug. 22, 3-4 p.m.
• International student welcome dinner—Aug. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• On-campus resources presentation (required)—Aug. 23, 10-11 a.m.
• Career Services and on-campus employment presentation (required)—Aug. 23, 11:15 a.m.-noon

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Students gather at ���ϲ����� Welcome 2022. (Photo by Estheralice Lopez)

It’s her first time studying abroad, but she’s adjusted to campus life with ease. On the weekends, she explores South Korea, while weekdays are reserved for studying sociology, psychology and Korean literature and language.

Leondra Tyler, a HEOP student, is capitalizing on a study abroad experience in South Korea to enjoy new research perspectives.

Tyler, a student of the University’s part-time is the first part-time HEOP student to receive the .

Back home, Tyler is a part-time neuroscience and psychology student in the at ���ϲ�����. Scholarships like the OTHC scholarship have allowed Tyler to push the limits of post-traditional learning and take part in studying abroad.

“What drew me into the OTHC scholarship program was that I really wanted an academically focused program for Black and brown students. This has given me a great opportunity to connect with Black and brown alumni and hear about their experiences and their post-academic lives,” Tyler says. “Although I just got the scholarship this semester, it’s been really nice knowing that I have a support system, not only at ���ϲ����� but also here at Yonsei.”

A Diverse Learning Experience

Scholarships have not only offered Tyler access to an abundance of networking opportunities, but they have also opened doors that diversify her learning portfolio.

When Tyler wraps up classes for the day, she heads across campus to a PC café, a popular hangout spot for people to eat while they play computer games. While she waits for a game to download, Tyler orders lunch and reviews notes from her class about the history of Korean cinema.

For Tyler, studying abroad has allowed her access to an array of engaging academic experiences and even expanded her viewpoint.

Leondra Tyler.

“We’re learning Korean history through film,” Tyler says. “I took the course because I wanted to learn more analytic skills, because that can translate into my research. But also, I wanted to learn more about Korea outside of pop culture.”

However, South Korea’s pop culture has also given Tyler a chance to analyze sociology and psychology from a new perspective. As the popularity of K-pop and K-dramas make their way into American media, Tyler uses K-pop artists like SHINee and 2PM in the course “Understanding K-pop” to examine global trends and parasocial relationships.

“Studying abroad has given me more opportunities to be creative with different projects,” Tyler says. “Sociology courses I’ve taken in the past have been about Western culture, so it’s been nice to learn about it through the lens of Korean society.”

Embracing Communities and Cultures

From attending K-pop concerts to taking part in traditional Korean practices, Tyler has also learned the value of community and the importance of embracing different cultures.��Students from 53 different countries gathered at Yonsei University to participate in the study abroad program, giving Tyler the chance to learn about a myriad of cultures.

“I’m not just experiencing Korean culture but also culture from my friends that I met here that are from Australia, New Zealand, and Germany,” Tyler says.

On the weekends, Tyler and her friends take public transportation across South Korea and learn about the history of the country through its landscape. From visiting the coastal city of Busan to exploring the assortment of districts throughout Seoul, Tyler documents it all on her instant film camera and soaks up the unforgettable moments.

While studying on the other side of the world has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, friendship has made Tyler’s study abroad trip an even richer experience.

“Even though we’re all from different parts of the world, I’m going to stay connected with the people I’ve met here for years to come,” Tyler says. “That’s what makes this experience so special.”