Another Year Well Done for our Spartans!  

Congratulations to our 2024 Spartan Class! It’s been wonderful to see the campus excitement and graduation activities this last week and to celebrate all students as they finish this part of their journey and embark on their next set of adventures. Thank you to all the faculty and staff who made this a remarkable experience for study abroad and international students and scholars! Below you will find just some of the multiple and diverse activities that took place this academic year in terms of global engagement.  

Enjoy your summer, take time to rest and rejuvenate, and I look forward to seeing you in the fall!  

Dr. Maria Anastasiou, Associate Provost for International Programs 

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT STORIES

NC/Moldova: Personal Reflections from Radu Rusu (Nutrition Department Visiting Scholar)

"My scholarship program in nutrition at UNC Greensboro has been an extremely enriching journey, both personally and professionally. Being immersed in a new cultural setting and academic environment has not only expanded my knowledge in nutrition and research field but also broadened my perspective on global health practices and challenges. 

One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was the opportunity to collaborate with experts and professionals in the field of nutrition science, who possess various scientific backgrounds, within the Department of Nutrition, where I engaged in meaningful educational courses, research projects, laboratory experiences, and also had the chance to explore nutrition practices in clinical setting. All these interactions deepened my understanding of nutrition as a fundamentally important science and made me reflect more about the complexity of nutrition science and its crucial role in human health and well-being. Living in the United States for a while, has exposed me to diverse dietary habits and lifestyles, prompting me to realize the importance of socio-cultural competency in nutrition education. Learning these cultural aspects has sensitized me to the importance of acquiring knowledge and skills to tailor interventions to the specific needs of different populations. 

Beyond the academic realm, interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, being involved in social projects and events, and of course lot of traveling, enriched my experience in ways I had never anticipated. Being able to travel and explore both the East and West coasts of the US added bright colors to my scholarship experience, filling it with unforgettable moments, the most important being my family accompanying me throughout this adventure. 

As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with immense gratitude for the life-changing opportunities that have been afforded to me, and for the wonderful people I have met along the way, who have become colleagues, friends, and family during this period. The generous Global grant from Rotary International, as well as the beautiful partnership between UNC Greensboro and USMF “Nicolae Testemitanu”, and the Kohler Fund grant support has been instrumental in making this experience possible. This investment in my education and professional development has not only equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills but has also instilled in me a sense of responsibility to use my experience for the betterment of the nutrition field in the Republic of Moldova, as well as for fostering the future collaboration and partnership."

Pictured (from left to right) are Dr. Maryanne Perrin (Nutrition), Dr. Radu Rusu (Medical Doctor and Assistant Professor at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova), Dr. Maria Anastasiou (International Programs), and Jennifer Kelley (International Programs). 

International Speakers Come to UNCG to Discuss Health Policy and Cultural Differences in Global Contexts

The Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Global Village hosted visiting scholars this spring to explore health policy from a cultural lense. The speakers included: 

Dr. Vojtěch Zíka, the Founder and Director of the Center for Behavioral Experiments in Prague

Dr. Zíka is affiliated with the University of New York in Prague, University of Jan Evangelista Purkyně in Ústí nad Labem, Charles University, and Chapman University. He shared insight on health screenings in diverse populations in the Czech Republic.  

Milton Cuaspud Guzman, UNCG visiting scholar from Colombia's Health Department and Ean University, Colombia

Milton shared innovative (behavioral) strategies aimed at reducing gender violence, suicide rates, and addressing mental health challenges in Casanare, Colombia. Milton worked with Dr. Alejandro Hortal (LLC) on this research, which has recently been published in the Journal of the Spanish Scientific Society of Behavioral Economics.  

The enlightening discussions bridged research with practical solutions in the field of culturally related health policy.
 

Milton is shown in photo presenting research on campus to UNCG students.

Shostakovich and Film Music:

Dr. Joan Titus conducts summer research in Germany and France

During summer 2023, Dr. Joan Titus (Professor of Musicology & Ethnomusicology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) conducted research in Potsdam, Berlin, (Germany) and Paris (France) for their next monograph. This monograph, currently titled Dmitry Shostakovich and Music for Thaw-Era Cinema, is the final of a trilogy about Shostakovich as a case study for music composition in the Soviet film industry from 1928 to 1971. This last book addresses the period 1953 to 1971, which involves post-war relations between the Soviet Union and Eastern Germany. Some of the film scores Dr. Titus researched were collaborations between Eastern Germany and Soviet Union, or were DEFA films for which Shostakovich wrote (DEFA stands for Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft, the state film studio of Eastern Germany). Titus' work in Potsdam and Berlin focused on DEFA materials for Soviet-East German collaborations. They accessed thousands of pages of materials that gave them insight into reception and the film production processes, including those of sound and music. 

In Paris, Titus worked with facsimile reproductions of Shostakovich's film scores. Studying those scores provided insights into his process and the relationship between music and image in a given film.  

Titus shared, " All of this work was successfully completed, and I saw more materials than I anticipated. I brought home thousands of pages of materials to continue reviewing for my work and incorporate into my book project. This was a fruitful and wonderful research trip. I appreciate the Kohler funding in assisting with the financing for this trip." 

Click HERE for more information on how to secure funds for international initiatives.

Dr. Titus is shown in photo with the head librarian (Katja Krause) at the Konrad Wolf Library at the Film University in Potsdam, Germany (taken in June 2023).

International Travel Fund Grant Awardee Personal Reflection:

Seongeun Kim (Educational Research Methodology PhD Student )

"I participated in the National Commission of Measurement in Education (NCME) 2023 in Chicago. During the conference, I presented my research on the relationship between response time and the examinee’s performance for the licensure exam, which I conducted during a summer internship. I also attended sessions on differential item functioning and standard error of item parameter estimates, which were presented by my colleagues. These sessions not only introduced me to emerging research topics but also gave me new ideas on public presentation.

Additionally, I caught up with my mentor. We discussed my future career plans, and she introduced me to the cohort of international students led by her. I networked with many scholars and colleagues in the NCME website committee, the Korean-American Educational Researcher Association, and the Women in Measurement.

In sum, I was grateful to have opportunities to learn up-to-date research, network with scholars, and plan for my future goals via the career readiness session. The professional development fund from the Graduate Student Association and my home department, Educational Research Methodology, allowed me to have many enriching experiences as a future scholar."   

Seongeun Kim is shown in photo above at the NCME conference in Chicago.

UNC Greensboro faculty and students visit the Tamkang University Department of History in Taiwan

Original article written by Tamkang University campus journalist Shu Yiping:  https://tkutimes.tku.edu.tw/dtl.aspx?no=56642 

Translation below provided by Dr. Jamie Anderson, Associate Professor Department of History: 

An Qiyi (James Anderson), associate professor of the history department of the sister school, the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, led nine students from the Chinese and history departments of the school on June 28 and they visited our school from June 28 to August 3rd. Professor Li Qilin of the Department of History and Chen Guodong, a researcher at the Institute of History and Philology of Academia Sinica taught classes together with Professor Anderson. During this trip, they also visited Tainan's historical sites, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, the Yilan Lanyang Museum and the National Palace Museum to allow them to quickly understand the extensive and profound nature of Chinese culture and to help them learn Chinese language and history. The students all said that they have gained a lot. 
 

James Anderson speaks Chinese very well. When choosing his Chinese name, he chose the word "Qi" because he liked the painter Qi Baishi. He said that this was the first time he brought students to Taiwan after the epidemic. Li Qilin also specially entertained teachers and students to by inviting them to a "Folk Banquet," integrating historical stories into the meals, which was particularly meaningful. Gao Shangwen, head of the History Department, welcomed them to come to Taiwan to explore interesting things. 

Daniel, a history student, was most impressed by his visit to the National Palace Museum, where he saw many exquisite calligraphy, paintings and cultural relics, especially those from the Warring States Period. Lynalese, a Chinese language student, found that in Taiwan, it is safe to go to night markets alone at night. Mary was stopped from drinking water while riding on the MRT for her first time. Only then did she realize that everyone in Taiwan obeyed the rules and saw with her own eyes that many natural landscapes on the island were well preserved. Anya believes that Taiwanese people are very easy to get along with. Although she has only been in Taiwan for five weeks, it is worth studying Chinese for several years. She would like to come back and experience it again if she has the opportunity. 

Benny once went to watch performances at the National Concert Hall, go shopping in supermarkets, and swim at Tamsui Sports Center by himself. He felt that the streets in Taipei are clean, and the Taiwanese people are very warm and have a rich culture. It is great to come and experience and learn in person. Blake once did not dare to cross the street, because he encountered too many motorcycles on the street. It was very different from the United States. Erick said that after eating stinky tofu in Tainan, he still couldn't accept the unique taste, but Taiwan's highways are very convenient and are very similar to those in the United States. Becka feels that Taiwan's food culture is very unique, unlike in the United States, which is too bland.  

Liu Zhaowei and Wang Yati, who are both studying history and have a master's degree, said that this group of young people were very curious and often asked questions along the way. They were also particularly interested in stationery stores. They saw many cultural and creative products with beautiful designs and purchased them back home.  James Anderson said that he will strive for funds to bring students to Tamkang again next year to experience this unforgettable experience. Li Qilin also gave his co-instructor a specialty pineapple cake as a souvenir.

Faculty and students from UNC Greensboro are shown in the photo above visiting Tainan’s historic site, the Eternal Golden Castle.

Great news from Dr. Michael Broache (Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science)!

UNCG students who attended the Southern Regional Model UN conference in Charlotte in March returned to Greensboro with four awards, as follows:

Outstanding Delegation Position Paper (Malta): Mia Jackson, Jia Emaus, Alma Hernandez Quiroz, Ellie Acree, Fatou Faal, Jade Dwyer, Lauren Fletcher

Outstanding Delegation Position Paper (Norway): Zeinab Harouna Amadou, Samantha Williams, Faith Marindich, Karissa Ellison, Alexander Westgate

Best Individual Committee Chairperson: Jia Emaus (Commission on Narcotic Drugs)

Best Individual Committee Position Paper: Zeinab Harouna Amadou (Norway, Peacebuilding Commission)

August 12-16: Fall 2024 International Student Orientation

September 1: Faculty-led Program Renewal Deadline for Program Directors

September 11– October 27: UNCG hosts the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (Fulbright TEA) Program

September 16: Spring 2025 Study Abroad Application Deadline