Recent News

The School of International Studies Hosts Chinese Chamber of Commerce Delegations from Gansu and Liaoning Provinces

On November 14th, the School of International Studies welcomed 16 Chamber of Commerce delegates from China’s Gansu and Liaoning provinces to the OSU campus. The State Chamber of Oklahoma has Sister-Chamber relationships with both provinces. The Chinese delegations were here to visit Oklahoma and partake in the state’s centennial celebrations. OSU was the first stop on the delegation’s three day tour that also includes visits to OU and Shawnee, as well as, of course, Oklahoma City. At OSU, the visitors began their day with a reception by Dr Marlene Strathe, Interim CEO and President, OSU System and a surprise appearance by Pistol Pete, OSU’s legendary mascot. Next, they were given a presentation about OSU’s research and outreach efforts by Dr Stephen McKeever (OSU Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer) and Mark Weiser (Associate Dean, OSU Spears School of Business). Finally, after a brief walking tour of the campus that included a group picture in OSU’s Centennial Gardens, the group was given a luncheon in their honor at the Wes Watkins Center. The School of International Studies was excited to be a part of the guests’ packed, whirlwind tour of Oklahoma.

Chamber members had a surprise appearance by OSU’s legendary mascot, Pistol Pete at the end of their Welcome reception to OSU . In the picture, the delegation proudly displays their newly learned “Go Pokes!” Steve Miller, left, (interim associate director for SIS’s graduate program), as part of his role on Oklahoma’s Governor’s International Team, was instrumental in bringing the delegation to OSU to introduce them to our research and outreach efforts.

OSU’s Phi Beta Delta Chapter Inducts 20 New Members

OSU’s chapter of the Phi Beta Delta International Honor Society inducted 18 new members and 2 honorary members into its chapter November 14th in the Wes Watkins Center. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr Patricia Rayas Duarté, Phi Beta Delta member and director of the Cereal Chemistry lab at OSU’s Robert S. Kerr Food Agriculture Products Center. Rayas Duarté spoke about “Making a World of Difference, One Student at a Time.”

Phi Beta Delta, nationally established in 1987, is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff are eligible for membership. OSU’s Epsilon Upsilon Chapter, which was chartered in 2003, is overseen within the School of International Studies by Study Abroad Coordinator Gerry Auel and is chaired this year by Dr Dale Lightfoot, professor in OSU’s Geography Department. Membership in OSU’s chapter before the 14th was 142 members and 20 honorary members. Eight of those inducted on the 14th are graduate students in the SIS graduate program. For more information about Phi Beta Delta please visit their website.

Pictured are 15 of the 18 new members inducted at this year’s ceremony. Included in the picture, at the far right, is Dr James Halligan, President Emeritus of OSU. He along with Professor Shida Henneberry (not pictured) were this year’s two honorary inductees.

SIS, in Conjunction with OSU’s College of Education, Hosted the 3rd Annual International Fair for Children

The School of International Studies & OSU’s College of Education welcomed more than 400 area 4th graders to the Wes Watkins Center October 25th for the 3rd Annual International Fair for Children. International students at OSU, including several from SIS’s English Language Institute and Graduate Program, teamed with students from the College of Education to give the children a tour of the world during their visit and receive a stamp on their “passports” after “visiting” a selection of the 27 countries represented. The children learned about each country’s history or culture and did typical activities or projects that children their same age would do in each of the countries. In its third year, the Fair is becoming a greater and greater success. This was the second year that the Fair was funded through a grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Minority Teacher Recruitment Center. Principals and teachers were thrilled with the level of cultural experience their students were receiving at this young and impressionable age. For more information on how to become involved in next year’s Fair, contact either SIS’s Daniel Darnell at 405.744.6607 or daniel.darnell@okstate.edu or The College of Education’s Candace Thrasher at 405.744.8935 or Candace.lebow@okstate.edu.

SIS Graduate Student Mohammed Al-hamdani (in white) introduces students to his country – Iraq.  Mohammed is one of the first two students that have been admitted to the graduate program from Iraq.  Efforts are under way for several more Iraqi students to apply to the program in upcoming semesters. 

SIS in Conjunction with OSU’s College of Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resources Holds an Iraq Global Briefing

On October 11th, the School of International Studies with Dr. David Henneberry of OSU’s College of Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resources welcomed Colonel R. Alan King to discuss the US effort in Iraq. Col. King served 16 months in Iraq with the U.S. Army, first as a Civil Affairs battalion commander, then later as a deputy director of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. He was the top civil-military adviser in Baghdad when the previous Iraqi regime fell. Under King’s command, his unit became the most decorated Civil Affairs battalion is US Army history. King currently serves with the Reserves in working with the Iraqi tribal leaders. Close to 300 students, faculty, and community members filled the Wes Watkins Center auditorium to hear this unique speaker’s insights into the situation in Iraq. His presentation and delivery captured the attention and awe of those in attendance. Col King is the author of “Twice Armed: An American Soldier’s Battle for Hearts and Minds in Iraq.” For more information about Col King and his book, click here…

Colonel R. Alan King (USA, Retired) addresses the 300 in attendance on the OSU-Stillwater campus in the Wes Watkins Center’s auditorium.

SIS Joins the OSU Alumni Association in Hosting Distinguished OSU Alumnus Dr Teravuti Boonyasopon of Thailand

Close friend to the School of International Studies, Dr Teravuti Boonyasopon was inducted into the OSU Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame, September 22nd. While at OSU, SIS’s Interim Associate Director, Dr Steve Miller, hosted Dr Boonyasopon. IEO Director, Dr James Hromas, and Dr Miller have taken several trips to Thailand to foster OSU’s relationship with Thailand and specifically with Dr Boonyasopon. In January, Dr Hromas had the rare privilege, after presenting an OSU plate to the princess of Thailand, to shake the princess’s hand. In the past year, Dr Boonyasopon’s daughter Ink has worked to develop an OSU-Thai webpage (ieo.okstate.edu/thai) to recruit more students from Thailand as well as maintain contact with the many OSU Thai alumni. Interestingly, at one time, three university presidents in Thailand were OSU Alumni.

Drs. James Hromas, Teravuti Boonyasopon, and Steve Miller (2-4 from left) discuss OSU’s efforts via brochures and the new OSU-Thai webpage to recruit Thai students and maintain relationships with OSU Thai alumni.  Dr Boonyasopon’s daughter, Ink, (far left) worked with Brett Wood (SIS Coordinator, International Outreach) (top right) & Dr Miller to develop the webpage and brochure.