Rafe Brown, curator-in-charge of the Herpetology Division of the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, lectures students from Partido State University as part of a three-week field excursion in Caramoan National Park

As a leader in equitable and collaborative international research and education, Rafe Brown, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, is the inaugural recipient of the KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award.

The award recognizes faculty members who provide outstanding leadership in international education through their research and discovery efforts. Brown will accept the award and give a talk on his research from 3-5 p.m., Nov. 17 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room. The public is invited to attend the presentation and reception to follow.

The presentation will be livestreamed, and online participants will need to register prior to the event.

Brown, curator-in-charge of the Herpetology Division of the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, largely conducts research in the Philippines, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands, but has collaborated on biodiversity research in India, northern Melanesia, the tropical Americas and central Africa.

By fostering equitable and mutually beneficial international research collaborations, Brown has “set a high bar” in international education, Biodiversity Institute faculty Jorge Soberón and A. Townsend Peterson and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology chairperson Lena Hileman, stated in their nomination letter.

“This model of ‘full partnership’ in international education represents the future of science, particularly in biodiversity science,” they wrote.

>> Read more about Brown's work

Joe Potts, associate vice provost for international innovation, development and strategic partnership, stands with Baset Azizi, KU alumnus and keynote speaker of the NAFSA Region II Conference, and Chuck Olcese, former International Support Services director who received the International Volunteer of the Year Award at the 2023 NAFSA Region II Conference last month.

Chuck Olcese, former director of International Support Services, was recognized with the International Volunteer of the Year Award at the 2023 NAFSA Region II Conference in Lawrence last month.

Olcese, who was at KU from 2012 to 2020, was recognized for his work with migrant and refugee populations following his retirement. While presenting the award, Joe Potts, associate vice provost for international innovation, development and strategic partnership, noted Olcese’s impact has been felt from the time of his arrival at KU as ISS director.

“And those impacts have continued and taken new forms since he retired from KU three and half years ago,” Potts said.

>> Read more about Olcese's many contributions to the community

The Tashkent State University delegation pictured with Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer and KU Law School Dean Stephen Mazza.

Eight scholars from Uzbekistan's Tashkent State University of Law visited the University of Kansas for two weeks this fall. The delegation of law professors came to KU to learn about the KU Law School’s curriculum and operations to build connections for future programs between KU and Tashkent State students. International Short Programs provided logistical support to the scholars during their stay in Lawrence.

Nelson Mandela University representatives Edgar de Koker, registrar, and Luthando Jack, dean of student life and development, meet with Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer and Charlie Bankart, senior internationalization officer.

In September, KU welcomed two administrative leaders from Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa: Edgar de Koker, registrar, and Luthando Jack, dean of student life and development. 

KU’s long-standing partnership with NMU originated with the School of Business. The goal of the most recent visit was to strengthen partnerships with KU, connect with university administrators and learn more about KU’s management practices, such as benchmarking, to inform planning efforts at NMU.

While at KU, the administrators were able to connect with Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, as well as administrative leadership from International Affairs, Enrollment Management, Faculty Affairs, Jayhawk Global, Office of Research, Student Affairs, School of Business and Kansas African Studies Center.  

In September KU welcomed 16 scholars from Zhejiang Normal University in Jinhua, China. The group, hosted by International Short Programs, will be on campus for six months working with the KU Center for Teaching Excellence on teaching methods and pedagogical strategy.

As part of the program, the scholars will experience campus life in an American setting, visit KU classes and connect with professionals in their fields. The scholars are from the fields of education, foreign language teaching and linguistics, and graphic and industrial design.

International Short Programs held a reception at the Spencer Museum of Art to welcome the scholars, who are pictured above. 

For nearly 70 years, international students and scholars have been invited into the homes of American families as part of The Betty Grimwood Thanksgiving Host program. International Support Services still needs hosts so students can experience a traditional American holiday dinner on Thanksgiving day.

The sign-up deadline for hosts is Nov. 15.

>> Learn More and Sign-up

Join International Support Services for the next Atlas Series featuring Pakistan from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 21 in the West Reading Room on the third floor of Watson Library.

Members from the KU Pakistani Student Organization will share information about their country and culture and introduce new food to the audience.

International Support Services launched the Atlas Series this fall as a biweekly program to encourage international and domestic students to share their culture and build community at KU.

The series will be held every two weeks throughout the fall semester from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the West Reading Room. Each event will focus on a different country, allowing citizens of that country to talk about their history, culture, daily life, traditions, food and more. 

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