International Education Week (IEW) at Ball State University was a vibrant celebration of diversity, culture, and global interconnectedness. From November 18th to 22nd, our campus transformed into a microcosm of the world, filled with engaging events, inspiring conversations, and unforgettable experiences.

As the Director of International Student Success, my heart was warmed to see our campus community embrace our international students, staff, and faculty. I am grateful to the entire Rinker Center team for their collaboration on making this successful, and I am excited that we have established this new tradition.

Key Highlights from IEW:

  • Study Abroad Fair: we had around 200 students stop by the Rinker Center to learn about study abroad programs from our faculty, students, staff, and providers.
  • From Abroad to Employed: Showcasing Your International Experience: students engaged in a great conversation with the Career Center about how they can market their international experiences in the job search. I was thrilled to see Adam MacLean facilitate that; he first came to BSU as an exchange student and is back now working on a graduate program!
  • Faculty-Led Showcase: I enjoyed learning about the engaging study abroad programs our faculty created, and I think that faculty who are working on creating these opportunities appreciated their advice!
  • Culture Exchange: Linah, a student from Pakistan, shared about her home country. She reminded me how much I enjoy fresh sugar cane juice, and she also reminded me that music from the 80s, much like me, is “really old.”
  • iFest: We had13 countries represented by our international students and study abroad participants. Attendees were able to learn about those countries and sample snacks. We also had a station to sample insects and discuss how that could be a sustainable protein source.
  • Global Symposium: The sheer amount of global research happening on this campus is astounding, and it was nice to have a space where that could be shared and celebrated. One great example of this is Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe, a new faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance, who shared how he is helping our campus disentangle African dance, reminding us that Africa is a huge continent full of many rich traditions.
  • Final Celebration: We ended the week with a final celebration where we heard from President Mearns, Mandy Brookins (our Executive Director of the Rinker Center), and me. We had two international alumni, Hanan Qaswari from Palestine and Bright Afriyie from Ghana, speak to us about the importance of international education and how Ball State has been instrumental to their experiences. We celebrated the hard work of four Intensive English Institute Students (Qirun Zheng, Shinichiro Sonohara, Yuzu Kawasaki, and Zijia Liu), and we had two amazing student singers, Oksana Komarenko from Ukraine and Dora Tarani from Kosovo, who both shared their culture through song.

The Impact of IEW:

International Education Week at Ball State not only celebrated diversity but also inspired a sense of global citizenship. By fostering intercultural understanding and promoting cross-cultural exchange, IEW empowered students to become active participants in a globalized world. I also hope that attendees had an opportunity to reflect on how their sense of purpose fits into the larger context of the world.

This week reminds us of the importance of embracing diversity, challenging stereotypes, and building bridges across cultures. Let us continue to foster a welcoming and inclusive campus community where everyone feels valued and empowered to make a positive impact on the world.

Thank you to everyone who came out to our events. If you are looking for ways to engage as Global Cardinals, please consider contacting the Rinker Center to see how we can partner with you!