International Alumni ANNUAL REVIEW | FALL 2013 In this issue: Meet President William N. Ruud Recruitment Update Online Resources UNI Alumni Updates 1 Welcome WHAT’SWHAT’S NEWNEW ONON CAMPUS?CAMPUS? from UNI President Bill Ruud Highlights of the 2012-13 school year Greetings from your alma mater! I am humbled NEW LEADERSHIP AT UNI MICHELLE OBAMA RALLIES and honored to be the 10th president of the University of Northern Iowa, the premier and only Dr. William N. Ruud began serving as STUDENTS AT UNI comprehensive university in the state of Iowa. I the 10th president of the University of First lady Michele Obama noted early began this journey at UNI on May 31, 2013, and I Northern Iowa on May 31, 2013. Prior to voting had begun in Iowa as she look forward to listening and learning from faculty this appointment he served as the 15th encouraged University of Northern Iowa and staff. I especially look forward to hearing president of Shippensburg University of students to cast their ballots before about the university experiences of our successful Pennsylvania. Election Day during a September 2012 visit. alumni throughout the world. Our alumni are the voice of the university; they are well qualified to share the unique UNI story. $15 MILLION GIFT WILL TRANSFORM TEACHER EDUCATION AT UNI One of my key priorities at UNI is to increase A $15 million gift from Des Moines and diversify our student enrollment. We businessman Richard O. Jacobson sets a enrich and broaden the multicultural learning environment by bringing into the classroom and milestone for teacher education at the student organizations the varied cultural and University of Northern Iowa. Jacobson’s global perspectives from international students. gift to UNI’s College of Education is the Increasing our international student enrollment largest gift UNI has ever received. increases the depth of intellectual inquiry and discovery. UNI MAINTAINS RANK AMONG TOP We must continue to be persistent about recruiting MIDWEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ON and retaining the best students and embrace ‘U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT’ LIST individuals of all backgrounds so they may UNI was ranked second in the “Best UNI NAMED ONE OF THE TOP further enrich our university. By you sharing your Regional Universities (Midwest)” category PRODUCERS OF U.S. experiences with and passion for the University of Northern Iowa, you play a key role in encouraging for public universities, according to U.S. FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS other intellectually curious and gifted students to News & World Report’s 2013 “America’s UNI was named by The Chronicle attend this great university. Best Colleges” guidebook. of Higher Education one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars in the I encourage you to engage in our recruitment FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, United States after three UNI professors efforts and help us enroll more students from countries throughout the world. If you are UNI SELECTED AS A ‘BEST BUSINESS were awarded Fulbright Scholarship interested in assisting in our efforts, please contact SCHOOL’ BY PRINCETON REVIEW grants for their research projects abroad. Kristi Marchesani, assistant director of admissions/ UNI is an outstanding business school for international, at [email protected], or the seventh consecutive year, according EXPANDED HOUSING OPTIONS send me at email at [email protected]. to The Princeton Review. The New York- FOR STUDENTS UNI is a great place where we welcome based education-services company The first phase of Panther Village was multicultural learning opportunities and value our features the school in the just-published completed with two more buildings alumni. Best wishes to you for continued success. 2013 edition of “The Best 296 Business in progress. Panther Village offers Schools” (Random House/Princeton apartment-style living, while maintaining PURPLE FOR LIFE! Review, published Oct. 9, 2012). the advantages and convenience of living on campus. Bill Ruud President Panther Village 1 INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT UPDATE UNI continues to reach out across the globe to attract UNI has also shown their commitment to increasing diversity international students to campus. A record 520 international on campus by hiring two new international recruiters who will students enrolled for fall 2013. In addition, over the past 10 focus on specific regions of the world: years, the university has welcomed students from more than 150 different countries. Cory Cottingim - Latin America [email protected] The university utilizes Eshraq Alkhabbaz - Middle East Russian alumni assists at a university fair overseas recruiting trips, [email protected] in Moscow. electronic media, and collaboration with other UNI continues to ask for assistance from our friends and international efforts partners around the world to help us spread the word on campus, to attract about the great opportunities at UNI. As President Bill Rudd bright and motivated referenced in the opening article, alumni play a vital role in international students. our efforts to attract more students to UNI. The impact of The Office of International testimonies from former students on the decision-making Admissions is assisted by process of prospective students can have a major impact on an exceptional group of their college selection. There are several ways you can assist: 25 current international students volunteering • Volunteer to help us at overseas fairs and presentations when their time and energy as we come to your country part of the International • Request materials to pass along to interested family, friends Student Promoters (ISP). or neighbors ISP helps to personalize the admission process • Send us the name and contact information of potential students and reach out to We invite you to contact us with any interest in assisting in our prospective international efforts, ideas for recruitment, or student referrals. students to answer questions and share Dr. Kristi Marchesani, their experience with Assistant Director of International Admissions students from their own country or region. You can read more [email protected] information on ISP at www.uni.edu/intladm/isp. International Student Promoters Fariha Afzal - Pakistan • Hanan Al-Harthi - Saudi Arabia • Baddah Alqahtani - Saudi Arabia • Tenzing Bajracharya - Nepal • Ashley Baker - USA/Korea • Jinil Chun - Korea • Bindhiya Jegatheesan - Malaysia • Toluwani Johnson - Nigeria • Sarah Kagawa - Malaysia • Monzurul (Russel) Karim - Bangladesh • JooHee Kim - Korea • Ling Lin - China • Cally Moh - Malaysia • Noel Nathan - Malaysia • Melekte H. Nesibu - Ethiopia • Linh Nguyen - Vietnam • Natalie Nithya - Malaysia • Adejoh Ogbe - Nigeria • Cuong Pham - Vietnam • Gahan Rai - Nepal • Prabhat Raut - Nepal • XiaoJie (Jessie)Tan - China • Parash Upreti - Nepal • Louw van Wyk - Namibia • Ramya Varadaraju - India • Duc Vu - Vietnam • JingYi (Jenny) Wang - China • Felicia Wee - Malaysia • Yun (Stefanie) Zhan - China 2 WHAT’S NEW IN ISSO? Update from the International Student and Scholars Office • We got renamed! International Services Office is now called International Students and Scholars Office • We had staff changes! Staff is now comprised of Dr. Nadia Korobova, Associate Director; Mr. Ross Schupbach, Immigration and Visa Coordinator; Ms. Julie Hill, Secretary; and Ms. Kristen Buldhaupt, International Student Advisor • We added services! We serve: international students including orientation, immigration International Friendship Program Thanksgiving advising, personal advising and counseling, special programs and activities, among others; international scholars including visa securement; UNI faculty and staff traveling abroad on University business including visa services, travel safety, and travel health advice. • We enhanced our programming! In addition to orientation, we held ethnic food celebrations, lunch and learn workshops, graduation and farewell receptions, and more. International Exchange Student Reception Nepalese Ethnic Dinner 3 CHECK US OUT ONLINE INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND • Pass along our International Admissions Web page to SCHOLARS OFFICE RESOURCES prospective students who may want to find out more about • International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO) programs, campus features, and requirements invites you to check out their website at www.uni.edu/ – www.uni.edu/intladm internationalservices • Join more than 5,000 alumni, current and prospective • Look through the photo gallery where you might be students in “liking” our UNI International Admissions able to find a photo or two of you www.uni.edu/ Facebook page UNIInternational internationalservices/programs-and-activities/ • Follow the latest campus news and enjoy entertaining photo-gallery features at: • Our weekly electronic newsletter is still going strong! Check out the archive at www.uni.edu/internationalservices/ uniadmission isso-newsletter-archives or e-mail us at international. northerniowa [email protected] if you would like to start receiving it. universityofnortherniowa UNI.ISSO ISSO-UNI 4 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ALUMNI UPDATES: Dr. Jason Lau Ashim Lamichhane (’06, Nepal) works at Rockwell Collins in (B.A. ‘99/M.A. Dr. Jason Lau and family Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a Senior Engineering. He was married to 02, Hong Kong) Sraddha on July 13, 2013. Congratulations Ashim! works as Director of Community Maxim Glebov (’08, Russia) is a Project Manager at Sulzer in Education, Lifelong Moscow, Russia. Learning and International Sundeep Purushotham (‘08, India) is working as