Nepali Students Welcome More Nepali Students to OSU (January 2008)

OSU's community of Nepali students continues to grow. In the photos above and below, the Nepali Student Association held a welcome party for newcomers to OSU for the Spring 2008 semester. Our congratulations to all new Nepali students at OSU!

Nepali Student Celebrate Tihar 2008 (November 2008)

In the photos abiove and below, Nepali students at OSU celebrate Tihar together. The Nepali festival Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawali or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja or as a festival of lights. It is a five-days festival, which comes soon after the Dashain Festival, and Tihar is all about worshiping of different animals such as crow, dog, cow, and worshiping of the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking great meals at home, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead (tika in Nepali). The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known as Bhai Tika day (Bhai in Nepali means Brother). To sum up Tihar festival, Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brothers (Bhai)!

Peruvian Architecture Students to Arrive at OSU (February 2008)

Ten students and two faculty from the architecture program of the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias of Lima, Peru, will arrive on campus Saturday, Feb. 16, to participate in a Studio Exchange Program with the OSU Landscape Architecture Program for three weeks in association with the Design IV studio under the direction of Prof. Michael Holmes. The students will prepare a master plan and designs for associated buildings for an archeological site in central Peru. At the end of the spring semester, the OSU Landscape Architecture students and a faculty member will return the visit to Peru to work with the students at UPC. This is the only landscape architecture program in the U.S. to have an exchange study abroad program with a South American university architecture school. The program was started 10 years ago by Dr. Charles Leider, professor and director of the OSU Landscape Architecture Program.

University of Chapingo in Mexico Sends Four Visiting Scholars to DASNR (January 2008)

The Autonomous University of Chapingo and Oklahoma State University have had a strong relationship in recent years, conducting study abroad courses, and student and visiting scholar exchanges. Every year, a large group of students from Chapingo visits OSU to participate in an "Experience America" program. As an extension of this relationship, four students are visiting OSU from January to May 2008 to complete the practical training portion of their Master of Science Degree program. While on campus, these scholars will further their academic research and complete their Master of Science degree, which will be awarded by the University of Chapingo. Left to right, the ladies from Chapingo are Nancy Vianey Cruz Cruz, Edith Esmeralda Monroy Miranda, Laura Pedraza Robles, and Angelica Serrano.

MOI University of Kenya Signs MOU with Oklahoma State (November 2007)

Professor Richard K. Mibey, Vice-Chancellor of Moi University of Kenya, led a delegation of administrators to Oklahoma State University to start collqaboration between our two institutions. Dr. Mibey received his graduate education at Oklahoma State University while studying under Dr. Price in the Department of Agricultural Education. He was the 240th graduate student supervised by Dr. Price.

In the photo above, representatives of Oklahoma State Unviersity and Moi University of Kenya sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

Dr. Mibey and Vice-President Whitson exchange gifts following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

DASNR Hosts Borlaug Fellows from Cameroon (November 2007)

The Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is currently hosting three Borlaug Fellows from Cameroon. They are Dr. Solomon Anagho (a chemical engineer); Steve Sulem (a fisheries expert) and Abbo Zalalou (a banker). The Borlaug fellows have followed a rigorous program of research and visits to research infrastructure facilities.

CASNR Student featured on OSU Salsa Ball poster (October 2007)

Kaliana Moro Tanganelli, an OSU CASNR FIPSE Scholar from Brazil, recently had her photo featured on the poster for the OSU Salsa ball. While pursuing her academic program at OSU, Kaliana was also active in the Latin Dance club and helped to make the annual Salsa ball a success. Congratulations Kaliana!

Dr. Jeff Hattey was her on-campus mentor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Her advisor, Saulo Phillipe S. Guerra from UNESP in Brazil, recently visited OSU to oversee her academic progress.

Sun Kang is Visiting Scholar in Agricultural Economics (October 2007)

The Department of Agricultural Economics has had a visiting scholar from China collaborating with its faculty this year. Sun Kang is working with Dr. Shida Henneberry while on a sabbatical leave from China. With the development of China’s economy and more opening up to the world, the Chinese government (both National Level and Provincial Level) has established studying abroad funds to encourage and support selected scholars to have collaborative research programs and study abroad for a short period of time. Mr. Kang was very lucky for having successfully applied to the Yunnan Provincial Studying Abroad Scholarship to become a student in the Department of Agricultural Economics at OSU for one year of time. Mr. Kang was a lecturer for agricultural economics at Yunnan Agricultural University before he came to OSU, and he was also a coordinator in the International Cooperation & Exchange Department of YAU, therefore he is auditing some very good courses in the agricultural economics department and is attending some seminars. Hopefully it will benefit his university and improve his teaching career upon his return to China. As an International Office staff, he also hopes to promote the international cooperation between YAU and OSU.

In the photo above, Sun Kang is shown on the great wall of China.

In the photo above, Sun Kang is with his family in China.

Alan King to speak in the Global Briefing Series (October 2007)

Alan King, author of Twice Armed: An American Soldiers Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Iraq, will speak in the Global Breifing Series of the School of International Studies in a program in collaboration with the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

R. Alan King is a recognized authority in Middle Eastern Affairs and security, with extensive specialized experience in Iraq. His presentation is October 11th at 11:30 in the Wes Watkins Center on the OSU Campus.

Message from President Strathe to OSU Faculty on Study Abroad(September 2007)

To the OSU Campus:

During the past academic year the OSU/A&M Board of Regents supported an ambitious goal that one hundred percent of Oklahoma State University graduates participate in an international education experience during their enrollment at OSU. With the long and distinguished history of Oklahoma State University in international education, this goal is not only attainable, but clearly within the mission of our University.

Over the past several months a number of international related activities have or will occur as we focus on the achievement of this goal. During the 2006-2007 academic year, including summer of 2007, 158 students were awarded Provost’s Study Abroad Scholarships in support of their travel expenses for short-term, semester, and year-long experiences.

During this same period, participation in credit-bearing study abroad activities increased by 17 percent, from 384 to 449 students. Two OSU undergraduates received national scholarships for study abroad including a Gilman Scholarship and a Freeman-ASIA award.

One graduate student from the School of International Studies received a Fulbright Teaching Award and four applicants have initiated applications for the 2008-2009 competition. Seven Fulbright students from abroad are currently studying at OSU and three international Fulbright Scholars are presently pursuing research or teaching at OSU.

Additionally, Dr. Gail Gates, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education, and Dr. James Halligan, President Emeritus, are the most recent OSU faculty Fulbright recipients bringing the total of OSU faculty or staff members having participated in the Fulbright program to approximately 45. Dr. Steve Hallgren, the OSU Fulbright Program Advisor, is to be commended for his efforts to raise the profile of the Fulbright program at OSU. Over the past several months OSU has welcomed international visitors from Korea, Scotland, Mali, Japan, and Afghanistan with upcoming visits from Kyoto, Japan, Thailand, and Mexico. We are indeed fortunate to have excellent leadership for our international activities both at the college and university levels, and I wish to thank all those individuals who make these experiences possible for our students and faculty.

Sincerely,

President Strathe

OSU Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Bamako in Mali (September 2007)

In the photo above, Dr. Hromas, Dr. Samake and Dr. Robert Whitson sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Bamako and OSU, laying the foundation for future growth in the institutional relationship. Member of the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership will visit Mali in December to finalize the agreement with the Rector of the University of Bamako.

DASNR Reception for International Students (September 2007)

The Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources held a reception for international students in the atrium of the Noble Research Center on September 14th, 2007. In the photo above, Dr. Robert Whitson meets with incoming international students at the reception. Over 125 international students, faculty and staff from the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources attended the reception.

Kaliana Tanganelli from Brazil Joins Plant and Soil Sciences at OSU as a Visiting Scholar for three Months (August 2007)

Kaliana Tanganelli of Brazil has arrived at OSU to begin a 3 month stay as a visiting scholar under the direction of Dr. Jeff Hattey. Kaliana received her B.Sc. in forestry from the Department of Agronomy at Sao Paolo State University in Brazil. She received a grant from the National Research Council of Brazil to study the use of biosolid and natuive species for the recovery of degraded areas.

Dr. Clarence Watson and Dr. Michael Kizer Meet with the Minister of Agriculture of Libya in Tripoli (August 2007)

In the photo above, Dr. Clarence Watson and Dr. Michael Kizer of DASNR are shown meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of Libya in his office in Tripoli. During their visit, they discussed ways in which OSU could collaborate in the areas of degree training, wastewater management issues and juniper reforestation. Dr. Michael Schnelle also visited Libya at the same time. A proposal is being prepared for the Libyan Ministry of Agriculture to provide funding for future activities.

Mali Ag Journalists Visit OSU (August 2007)

The Department of Agricultural Communications, Leadership and Education hosted a group of journalists from Mali, Africa. The project required that internship experiences be arranged for these individuals over a six week period, providing them with insight into the institutions involved in agricultural communications within the United States. The group travelled to Lexington, Kentucky to attend professional meetings.

University of Chapingo visits OSU with 79 students (June 2007)

The Autonomous University of Chapingo has 78 students participating in a reverse study abroad program at Oklahoma State University June 24-30, 2007. They are learning about the livestock industry of Oklahoma with presentations from Dr. Derrell Peel, Dr. Bill Raun, Dr. Art Klatt, Dr. Patricia rayas-Duarte, Dr. Adele tongco and Dr. David Henneberry. This is the third year that chapingo has sent a large group of students to participate in this program at DASNR-OSU.

Caroilina Sanchez of UPAEP Completes Visiting Scholar Position at Oklahoma State University (June 2007)

Carolina Sanchez of UPAEP in Puebla, Mexico has completed a visiting scholar position in the Department of Entomology at Oklahoma State University. During her stay at Oklahoma State, Ms. Sanchez studied insects using the catalog and resources available in the Department of Entomology. She has completed a large document profiling the identification work she has completed. This material will be incorporated into her classroom lectures at UPAEP for the benefit of future generations of students in the Agriculture program at UPAEP in Puebla. Everyone who worked with Ms. Sanchez truly appreciated her dedication and professionalism. Congratulations to Carolina on the completion of this important experience.

International Agricultural Programs at Oklahoma State University