This month, 26 international fellows with the Hubert H. Humphrey Pre-Academic Program arrived on campus to spend eight weeks at KU preparing for professional development experiences around the country.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education, the program brings fellows from around the world to KU to improve their English language skills, learn about U.S. culture and prepare for success at academic settings throughout the U.S.

The program, which has come to KU seven times, is hosted by International Short Programs in partnership with the Applied English Center and with support from units across campus. 

The 2024 fellows are from 20 countries, including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, China, Colombia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Rwanda, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Uruguay. They represent fields in communications and journalism, economic development, education, environmental policy, law and human rights, substance abuse, public administration, public health, technology, and urban planning

The program will culminate with fellows presenting their research from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 22, 23 and 24 in Room 100 Stauffer-Flint. The public is invited to attend in person or register to attend virtually.

After completing the pre-academic program at KU, the fellows will travel to universities across the United States where they will spend the next academic year studying their area of expertise.

International Support Services has moved to Room 50 Strong Hall. The move provides a consolidated location for all ISS staff, who were spread out among four offices in Strong Hall. 

As part of the move, the ISS reception area that was in Room 126 is now housed in Room 50. International students and scholars should come to Room 50 for assistance with immigration advising and support as well as all other ISS services.

The new location has flexible space for large and small group meetings and one-on-one advising.

“Our staff is thrilled to work together in a single space which will ultimately lead to better serving our students and scholars,” said Lynne Vanahill, director of ISS. “This provides a valuable opportunity for improved communication and collaboration.”

ISS opened in the new space on June 17.

International Affairs has awarded more than $58,000 in travel grants to 23 faculty members and eight graduate students to support research and collaboration abroad.   

These competitively awarded funds were dispersed among faculty and students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the schools of Architecture & Design, Business, Education & Human Sciences, Music, and Social Welfare. Through these funds, faculty and students will travel to 19 countries on four continents to conduct research, access archives, collaborate with colleagues, and develop or maintain international partnerships.  

All funds prioritize projects that expand the influence of KU research, further student success or promote healthy and vibrant communities. 

Recipients will use the funds between now and June 30, 2025.  

>> Read full list of recipients

 Rafe Brown, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to travel to the Philippines to study biodiversity.

The Fulbright award will allow Brown to spend a year in the Philippines conducting fieldwork to sample amphibians and reptiles. The research studies the biodiversity of a rare stretch of pristine tropical forest that extends from a volcanic peak to the sea.

For more than 20 years, Brown has studied the evolution, distribution, dispersal and diversity of land vertebrates in the archipelagos of the Philippines, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands.

Brown said the Fulbright award supports his “dream sabbatical,” providing an opportunity to remain in the Philippines through the monsoon season to witness the weather system’s effect on amphibian activity in the rainforests. The Philippines has the highest concentration of endemic land vertebrate species in the world.

>> Read more

Finn Finnerty

U.S. Teaching Assistantship

Austria

Samantha Brant

Alternate

Study & Research

United Kingdom

Alicia Houser

Alternate

Study & Research

Tanzania

Theresa Read

Alternate

Study & Research

Sweden

One recent KU graduate accepted a prestigious Fulbright award as a teaching assistant in Austria, and two other alumni and a doctoral candidate were named alternates to study or conduct research abroad.

Finn Finnerty, who graduated in May with a degree in foreign language education, accepted a U.S. Teaching Assistantship through Fulbright Austria. Alicia Houser, a doctoral candidate in history; Theresa Read, a recent graduate in chemistry and biochemistry; and Samantha Brant, an education alumna, were named alternates for Fulbright Awards.

“The Fulbright Program offers exceptional opportunities to teach, pursue a graduate degree or conduct research abroad,” said Rachel Sherman Johnson, KUIA director of internationalization and partnerships. “KU’s applicants put together creative and academically rigorous proposals and were outstanding representatives of the university in this year’s highly competitive application cycle.”

>> Read full article

Nearly 450 international students from more than 70 countries graduated this spring. On May 10 International Support Services recognized these students' achievements with a celebration in the Kansas Union Ballroom, followed by a reception with cake.

>> See Facebook photo gallery

At the ceremony, Roberta Pokphanh, associate vice provost of international administration and student success, presented several students with awards.

The Cloak Coan International Student Leadership Awards recognize international students' leadership through their actions and involvement during their time at KU.

Karame Laajane, who graduated with bachelor’s degrees in business and economics, is from Morocco. He is an International Excellence Award recipient, honors student and KU Student Ambassador. While at KU, he frequently gave tours and helped with special events, and his nominator wrote that he was “extraordinary personable, outgoing and kind.”

Kyungmin Jung, who is completing a master’s degree in film and media studies, is from South Korea. She has served as a graduate teaching assistant and has been involved in the international GTA group and Graduate Student Union. She’s also served as a orientation leader for ISS.

Charles “Chuck” Olcese Per Aspera Award recognizes a student who has encountered challenges and persevered to complete their degree. Liza Darvish, who graduated with a master’s degree in American legal studies, is from Afghanistan. She has served as an United Nations Legal Advisor in Afghanistan and holds a bachelor’s degree from Kabul University and a master’s degree from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi.

Nexus Award honors the commitment of a domestic student who has worked to promote international student integration and friendship on campus. Matthew Trimble graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During his time at KU, he founded the Scandinavian Club, served as emcee for the International Jayhawk Festival Fashion Show, assisted in planning the Global Awareness Program’s global cooking classes and

promoted multiple Global Partner events. His nominator noted that he has “gone above and beyond to engage with international students.”

Charlie Bankart, Senior Internationalization Office, traveled with the Self Graduate Fellows to Europe this summer, including a stop in Paris. 

From managing study abroad programs to providing grants for international research, KU International Affairs and its units provide support for faculty, students and staff to travel abroad each summer. 

We want to highlight where your summer travels take you and the varied opportunities KU has to go abroad. Send us a few travel photos, a short description of the KU-related activities you did abroad and a few details on how KUIA supported your travels.

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).

The University of Kansas is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.