Table of Contents
- La Jefa Updates-Michelle Streeter-Ferrari
- Thank You to Our April Collaborators
- International Student Highlight:Maha Alqallaf
- Students Abroad: Brikelle Cooper
- Award Recognition: Ummay H. Tabussum, Model UN
- Wright State International Festival's Country Display Winners
- Wright State International Festival's International Student Advocate and Global Citizen Winners
La Jefa Updates
- That just under 1.5 percent of all U.S. students enrolled at institutions of higher education in the United States study abroad? At Wright State this year, we have exceeded that number with 391 participants thus far with just over 2% of our students studying abroad.
- Ohio ranks 8th in the nation in international student enrollment? Wright State is contributing to these numbers with 1,889 international students registered, just over 10% of our study body.
- We offered over 70 international programs and events this past Spring semester for our students, faculty, staff, and community? The Wright State International Festival was the largest event with over 1,500 people in attendance.
- UCIE hosts the Dayton Council on World Affairs, manages the Dayton Council on International Visitors, and is a US Passport Processing Center.
Thank You to Our April Collaborators 
In just the month of April we were able to offer over 22 programs, including four UCIE Convo Club sessions, celebrations for Nepali, Bangla, and Miranmar culture, an International Women's Gathering, Student Leadership Lunch, two Graduation Receptions, and our largest event of the year, the Wright State International Festival. We are mindful that such successful events could not be done on our own. We are grateful for all the offices, community groups, and student groups that took time to collaborate with us and support our endeavers to internationalize our campus. Some April collaborations included the following:
- April 3rd-The Wright State International Festival: With the Indian Student Association, Nepalese Raiders, African Student Union, Kuwait Student Association, Saudi Student Association, Persian Club, Bangladeshi Student Association, Chinese Student and Scholar Association, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, El Corazon De Mexico Ballet Folkorico, Paul Cullen, Pamana Dance Group, Madame Gigi's Outrageous French Cancan Dancers, Five Point Cloggers, Club of Canvas and Art, Student Government Association, University Activity Board, LEAP, Amigos Latinos Student Group, Sikh Student Association, Exchange Student Association, the Province Appartments, Student Legal Services, Office of Latino Affairs, Emerald Lakes Luxury Apartments, Office of the President and Provost, College of Liberal Arts, Raj Soin College of Business, University Libraries, Student Health Services, American Family Insurance, Alumni Association, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Wright Patt Credit Union, Dayton Dragons, Pasha's Grill, Qdoba, Chilis, Olive Garden, Jet's Pizza, Women's Center, Nelly's Chicken, La Colombiana, Timmy's Wok, Pita Wrap, and Ajanta Indian Restaurant.
- April 8th- Global Connections: Namaste Nepal: With Nepalese Raiders.
- April 10th- Sponsored Student Graduation Reception: With the Saudi Student Association.
- April 13th- Cycling on the Streets of America: With Link Dayton Bike Share.
- April 15th- Global Connections: Bangla and Miranmar New Year: With the Bangladeshi Student Association.
- April 16th- Dayton Dragon's Game: With University Activity Board.
International Student Highlight: Maha Alqallaf
Students Abroad: Brikelle Cooper
Meet Brikelle, a graduate student in the Social Work Master’s Program. She studied abroad in Costa Rica during spring semester in 2013. Not only has Brikelle gone abroad, she has also spent time encouraging students to go abroad as well by serving as a Peer Mentor at the University Center for International Education! Brikelle says that, "Studying abroad will forever remain one of my best college experiences. I learned so much about myself and it helped me gain an open-minded perspective which I will carry with me for a lifetime. Here's to graduating and beginning my career as a Master's level Social Worker."
Award Recognition: Ummey Tabussum, Model UN
UCIE would like to acknowledge the incredible achievement of Ummey Tabussum in receiving the Outstanding Position Paper Award in UNICEF at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York. We are so proud of you, Tabussum. Keep up the great work!
The 2016 Wright State International Festival's Country Display Winners
UCIE is excited to announce the following Country Display Winners from the 2016 Wright State International Festival. Each year, judges, made up of WSU faculty and staff, choose the best decorated tables for each of the following catagories: Most Creative, Most Engaging, and Best Presentation of the Theme. The 2016 winners were:
1. Most Creative Table Display Winner: Bangladeshi Student Association, representing the country of Bangladesh, under the leadership of Arony Mohit.
2. Most Engaging Table Display Winner: Amigos Latinos, representing the following countries: Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Peru, under the leadership of Luis Miranda.
3. Best Presentation of the Theme (Innovations Around the World) Table Display Winner: Gulf Countries, representing the following countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, under the leadership of Faisel Alraqibah from the Saudi Student Association and Maha Alqallaf from the Kuwait Student Association.
We are so proud of our students for all the effort and creativity they put into making this year's Wright State International Festival unforgettable.
The 2016 Wright State International Festival's International Student Advocate and Global Citizen Winners
Each year, the UCIE recognizes two very special individuals that contributed greatly to the endeavors of international education.
The Global Citizen Award is awarded to an outstanding student who through service and leadership at WSU, in the Dayton community, or abroad, has been instrumental in improving the experience of other WSU students. This year's winner is Marzouq Alsaid. Marzouq is enrolled in the TESOL program in the College of Liberal Arts at Wright State University. Amber McLurdy says, "He is always upbeat and positive. It becomes infectious. His sense of humor is not lost in translation. He volunteered to take the role of a mentor in the Ujima Program, has been involved in "Take Flight Leadership Camp," Toastmaster's Club, Kuwait Student Organization, and was an Orientation Leader for UCIE's International Orientation." Congratulations Marzouq!
The International Student/Scholar Advocate Award is a WSU faculty, staff, or a member of the Dayton area community who has been instrumental in improving the experience of WSU international students and scholars during their studies at Wright State University. This year's winner is Dr. Nasser H. Kashou. Dr. Nasser is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical, Industrial, and Human Factors Engineering. Students described him as "continuously and consistently transforming lives of students and the community. He has traveled to Third World countries for humanitiarian projects and started the X-ray installation project in Malawi." Congratulations Dr. Nasser!
We are incredibly proud of these individuals and were delighted to honor them at our 2016 Wright State International Festival.
