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UW a top producer of Fulbright scholars

The University of Washington is one of the top producers of Fulbright students for 2015-16, according to lists released Monday in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Fulbright Program, operated by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is the government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Ten students from the UW — including undergraduate, graduate and recent alumni — were awarded Fulbright grants for 2015-2016. Of those 10, seven were undergraduate students and recent graduates.

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Learn about awarded UW students…

Find out more about the Fulbright and how to apply…

A world of good rankings: UW rated among top institutions

suzzallo_globeUS News & World Report released its first Best Global Universities rankings Tuesday. UW tops the list at #14, edging out many other leading institutions. The ranking system focuses on the academic research and overall reputation of more than 500 institutions across the globe, scoring universities on criteria that includes number of publications, percentage of highly cited papers and international collaboration. UW scores among the top 20 in five of the 10 ranking categories.

The report also includes the top 100 universities in subject rankings, which evaluate academic research and reputation in a field. UW ranks among the top 10 in the world in seven subject areas: microbiology (#3), geosciences (#5), immunology (#5), pharmacology and toxicology (#7), clinical medicine (#8), social sciences and public health (#8) and molecular biology and genetics (#9). Twenty subjects at UW made the overall rankings.

The report is designed to help the more than 4.5 million students who study abroad each year choose the best global universities to pursue their passion. UW’s top billing shows a proven impact in offering a leading-edge student experience and a growing global reputation.

Want to stay healthy on your trip? Seek pre-travel health advice!

More than half of King Country travelers who fall ill while abroad have not sought pre-travel health advice. That’s the finding from a recent survey by Public Health – Seattle & King County in partnership with UW School of Public Health.

International travelers can protect their health by seeking pre-travel health advice and screenings.  The Travel Clinic at UW Medicine’s Hall Health Center offers information, screening and care to UW travelers.

Read more from UW Health Sciences NewsBeat…

 

Study abroad programs, scholarships shaped grad’s Husky Experience

English literature major Shangé Purnell was chosen for the honor of carrying the Arts & Sciences college banner at this weekend’s graduation. Study abroad played an important part her Husky Experience and helped develop her exciting future goals.

GO! and Fritz Scholar Shangé Purnell
GO! and Fritz Scholar Shangé Purnell Photo: University of Washington

Shangé plans to earn a doctorate in English literature and teach at the college level. Through this work, she wants to help increase diversity in published literary works. She says, “the highbrow elite have set what is highbrow literature – Shakespeare and other mostly white European authors. We’re starting to get more diversity, but it’s still very narrow, it’s still a Eurocentric perspective. I realize that being a U.S. citizen I have been conditioned to have a Eurocentric view, but I’d like to give view to the people of color in this world.”

Beyond serving as an officer in the Black Student Union and as a member of the Students for Diversity Coalition, Shangé also sought new perspectives and leadership experience through international learning. Her experiences studying abroad in the United Kingdom and Ghana with UW faculty-led programs were important in developing her goals and provided new insight into diversity issues. Particularly while in Ghana, where she tutored school-aged children, Shangé tried to see world through fresh eyes. “We tried to look at it from not just a Western perspective,” she says.

Scholarships from UW Global Opportunities supported Shangé’s study abroad experiences. She received the GO! Scholarship for her trip to the United Kingdom, and the Fritz Scholarship for the next summer’s program in Ghana.

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Student researchers present at UW Tacoma Global Honors Colloquium

Presenting at last week’s Global Honors Spring Colloquium, Noelle Gichohi started by thanking her mentors and supporters. “I stood in front of the audience and said, ‘I grew up in a village in Kenya, and it took a village to get me here’”. Her ‘colloquium village’ included UW Tacoma professors and librarians, a Highline Community College professor, fellow students and family.

Graduating seniors at the Global Honors Colloquium
Graduating seniors at the Global Honors Colloquium Photo: Cody Char UW Tacoma Creative Services

For Noelle and 12 other graduating seniors in UW Tacoma’s Global Honors program, the colloquium was a chance to share and reflect on their capstone research projects. They will now apply their learning as community leaders heading toward jobs and graduate school.

The students presented before audiences of 40 to 60 faculty, staff, community members and fellow students. Diverse in terms of discipline and geography, their projects exemplify UW Tacoma’s emphasis on student-led, use-inspired research.

Kristie Weisert
Kristie Weisert Photo: Cody Char

Inspired by her work with State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Williams during a Legislative Internship, Kristie Weisert’s thesis examines sex trafficking in the U.S. and India. Human trafficking is a pressing issue locally and internationally, and Kristie pointed out Washington state’s efforts to address the problem through new legislation.

Brandon Napenias Oreiro’s research project explores the development of Filipino American identity in the context of a globalized culture. A leader in UW Tacoma’s Filipino American Student Association, Brandon paired his research findings with examples of the group’s efforts to create a sense of identity and community on campus and in the region.

Noelle Gigochi
Noelle Gichohi Photo: UW Tacoma

Noelle Gichohi’s research project was inspired by her study abroad to Italy. “We were studying preschools, and I saw that [Italian schools] had kitchens right next to the classrooms and served the kids three-course meals on real plates. It was totally different from the U.S., where my kids went to preschool, and Kenya, where I grew up.”

She began thinking about how place influences the food children are served at school, and how parents’ perceive the healthfulness of school meals. For her thesis, Noelle surveyed Kenyan and U.S. parents about their children’s school meals, and their perceptions of the meals.

“Carrying out a research project and presenting at the colloquium “was enriching for me personally and as a scholar,” Noelle reflects. The experience gave her new confidence about her ideas and ability to communicate. “I won’t be afraid to stand up and give my opinion in the workplace,” she says, “I’ll think, ‘I’ve done Global Honors, I can do anything.’”

Chancellor Kenyon Chan
Chancellor Kenyon Chan Photo: UW Tacoma

During his remarks at the colloquium, UW Tacoma Chancellor Kenyon Chan underscored the local relevance of the students’ research and the urgency of the issues addressed. Echoing Noelle Gichohi’s recognition of her village, Chancellor Chan also emphasized the students’ important roles as leaders – locally and globally.

-Sara Stubbs

Michelle Obama praises UW student in Peking University speech

Philmon HaileFirst Lady Michelle Obama praised UW senior Philmon Haile during a recent speech at Peking University, quoting from his remarks at a Washington D.C. event celebrating President Obama’s 100,000 Strong initiative.

Philmon has studied abroad several times, interning at the US Embassy Beijing, conducting field research in rural China and volunteering in Jordan. He was recently awarded the Rangel Graduate Fellowship, which supports graduate study and professional development in preparation for a career in the Foreign Service.

Read First Lady Michelle Obama’s remarks…

Study abroad participation mirrors UW’s high marks for accessibility

University of Washington is one of only 19 US universities to meet high standards set by the Center on Higher Education Reform in an examination of higher education access, affordability and student success. 

Increased participation in study abroad by undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds echoes UW’s other achievements in enhancing access, affordability and student success. Study abroad participation by undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds steadily climbed over the past decade, from under 7 percent of the study abroad student population in 2001-2002 to almost 17 percent in 2012-2013.

This progress reflects the increased quality and relevance of study abroad programming, innovative partnerships with the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and enhanced advising and support services focused on study abroad. For example, the Global Opportunities program has awarded 398 GO! scholarships for study abroad to Pell grant and Husky Promise students since 2008.

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