Students learn about opportunities for international study and research

“Snap, Crackle, and Pop! That is what you obtain when you apply and receive a Fulbright award.” With these words, Dr. Charles Dunn, distinguished professor of the Robertson School of Government and Fulbright Chairman, encouragingly expressed the importance and satisfaction of becoming a Fulbright recipient. Seated in the Regent Ordinary Fountain View Room, the students and guest speakers enjoyed lunch, while listening to Dr. Dunn urged the students to thrive for excellence and to expand their academic experiences by applying for a Fulbright award. With the same encouraging spirit, Regent students attentively listened to the rich experiences lived by Dr. Emilyn Cabanda, Fulbright Student recipient from the Philippines to Baylor University and currently a professor at the School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Carrimine White, Fulbright Scholar to Slovakia-Eastern Europe and undergraduate professor. As Fulbright appointee’s, they shared real life stories of the culture, people, their duties, and their life changing experiences. The workshop was sponsored by Regent University’s Office of Global Affairs (OGA).

“The Office of Global Affairs recognizes Regent students’ interest in global educations and cross-cultural experiences. The goal of this workshop was to provide information and make students aware of the great opportunities for study and research abroad the Fulbright program offers” said Dr. Sergio Matviuk, executive director of Global Affairs. “The goal of OGA is to encourage students to apply to the Fulbright program and support them during the application process to obtain these generous grants. We are sure the cross-cultural experience of studying and researching abroad will enhance students’ professional skills and develop their global competencies” Dr. Matviuk added. Commenting on the workshop, Dr. Almarie Munley, Fulbright Program representative and advisor said “Students need to experience learning, researching and working in an international environment. Those who graduate a student Fulbright program have an opportunity to leverage their career opportunities while continuing to build their global knowledgebase. The Fulbright program is recognized around the world as one of the finest and most competitive student programs offered. It would be an honor to have a student Fulbright represent Regent University’s vision and mission. ”

OGA will continue offering information sessions in the Fall and Spring terms. For more information about the Fulbright program visit: http://www.regent.edu/academics/ruglobal/fulbright.cfm

Alumna Recruits Volunteers to Support Leaders Around the Globe

By Rachel Judy

May 21, 2012

School of Psychology & Counseling alumnae
Linda Philpot '07 and Lee Penman '98 with
Myanmarese refugees in the jungle
outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

When the language barrier is too difficult to overcome during training sessions, Dr. Evelyn Biles '02 (Global Leadership & Entrepreneurship and Psychology & Counseling) has been known to use banana leaves, farm implements or even pea pods to illustrate her point. Biles frequently encounters language barriers in her work with Global Mosaic International (GMI), a nonprofit organization she founded that is dedicated to providing training in leadership, counseling, conflict management, crisis management and discipleship.

Biles' vision for GMI began 12 years ago while she was still a student at Regent University. "I just couldn't believe that here in America we were sitting on all of this," she said, recalling the leadership and counseling concepts she learned in the classroom. "[Our goal is] to deliver training in five different areas, specifically to places where they wouldn't otherwise get it."

Since its inception, Biles and teams of volunteers have provided training in a number of countries including the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Jamaica, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Singapore.

GMI has recruited nearly 120 students, faculty and alumni from the Regent community to volunteer their time and expertise over 188 trips. The opportunity to apply what they have learned and impact another community is invaluable, particularly when it's clear that the impact can be far reaching. Biles, who also serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Psychology & Counseing, loves providing students with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom.

"Students are anxious to share their knowledge and skills through training of both believer and nonbeliever populations," she said. "They are challenged to define better their own understanding of the principles of helping so that they can adapt to the variety of perceptions unique to each culture."

Besides the language, one of the biggest barriers Biles and her teams encounter is cultural perspective. "The challenges of culture are huge," she said. "We're not only talking about people culture and racial culture, but we're also talking about religious culture."

Biles has also found that in order to adapt teaching to a culture, she has also had to adapt her own Western perspective of the world. For example, Biles explained, a "crisis" in the United States often refers to car accidents or a natural disaster, and training in crisis management centers around these things. However, in nations like Uganda, the definition revolves around rape, war, HIV and other issues not usually found in the American perspective. To work with these populations, Biles and her teams of volunteers must adapt their perspective to their audience.

"[The key is] not imposing our Western thinking and our Western culture on them," Biles said.

Ultimately, she explained, the goal is to train leaders to meet the needs of their communities—whatever those may be. But, GMI doesn't just focus on community leaders; it also supports other nonprofit workers devoting time and energy to those communities.

Biles and her group also offer training and support for workers dealing with burnout and compassion fatigue, a common problem among church and non-profit workers. "Just understanding what's going on is huge," she said. "Stress is a reaction—most of the time negative—to a life event, and the burnout comes when your coping mechanisms aren't enough."

As Biles prepares for several trips over the next six months, she is confident in GMI's mission and excited for the impact her teams will have. "We are always striving to prepare and transition identified people into leadership and directing roles so that our work can expand even farther," she said. "It is not always necessary to travel to other countries but to be available virtually to stand along beside others through the wired world.

The unique thing about their training efforts, Biles explained, is that they are designed to be shared. "Many times the people we teach, the people we train, are what I call the sandwiched people because they might have people under them and they might have people over them," she said. "It's all geared toward passing it on."

PR/NEWS CONTACT:
Mindy Hughes, Public Relations
Phone: 757.352.4095 Fax: 757.352.4888
E-mail: mhughes@regent.edu

School of Education Prays for World Changers



The School of Education creates a prayer board for their students.



Regent University’s School of Education has launched a global prayer program and created a prayer board that graces the halls of the second floor in the Administration Building. The prayer board presents a few of the School of Education’s students and alumni that are making an impact around the world. “Regent University as a global center of Christian thought and action is called to be informed, engaged and prayerful for the world, particularly for those who serve across the globe and are part of Regent’s family. The School of Education’s global prayer engagement reflects Regent’s global commitment” expressed Dr. Sergio Matviuk, executive director of Global Affairs.

Currently, the prayer board provides eleven profiles of pictures, information and prayer request of students and alumni who live in various parts of the world. “We realized that many of our alumni and current students are in key areas of the world. We wanted our School of Education faculty, students, and staff to be ever mindful of these men and women that are changing the world for Christ,” said Dr. Arroyo, Dean of Regent’s School of Education. Creating tangible and motivating inspirations of Regent’s motto, Christian Leaders to Change the World, was the purpose of the board, which also aims to motivate faculty, staff and prospective and current students.

Linda Jaworski, a Regent School of Education Alumni and current third-grade teacher at the Bilkent Laboratory and International School in Ankara Turkey, gave a word of advice to those who are thinking about working abroad: “No one should be afraid to live in another country. Pray for God’s guidance and trust that He will send you where He needs you! You will find yourself in a new experience that is life changing and truly a blessing!” Dr. Matviuk added that “Global competencies are developed by interacting with and serving people from other cultures; Regent students and alumni need to enhance such competencies to become the global Christian leaders they are called to be.” “We are proud and constantly pray for those Regent students and alumni that faithfully serve around the world.” He commends the School of Education for their global prayer initiative.

Please continue to pray for all of Regent’s students, staff, faculty and alumni as they travel and work abroad for the glory of God. If you want to share a global story, please contact the Office of Global Affairs.

The prayer board features the following world changers:

Astrid Garza (Mexico) – Doctor of Education in Character Education Student

Brenda Yujie Yao (China) – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Education Alum

Deborah Rockrohr (South Africa) – Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) Student                                            

Bill Evans (Ecuador) – Doctor of Educational Leadership Student

Lisa Pursley (Turkey) – Doctor of Education in Special Education / Education Psychology Student

Murriell McCulley (Republic of South Sudan) – Doctor of Education in Psychology Alum

Jean Marc Zamor (Haiti) – Doctor of Education in Higher Education Student

Romona White (United Arab Emirates) – Doctor of Education in K12 Education Student

Thy Cameron (South Africa) – Doctor of Education in Christian School Leadership Student

Cheryl Winget (Hungary) – Doctor of Special Education Student

Linda Jaworski (Turkey) – Master of Teaching Program Alum

The Office of Global Affairs Promotes Faculty and Staff Global Scholarship



Dr. Mary Manjikian, Regent Assistant Professor and Fulbright Recipient



Regent University’s Office of Global Affairs (OGA) hosted the first Fulbright Workshop for faculty and staff.  Twenty- five faculty and staff attended the workshop at Robertson Hall where the event took place. Dr. William Brown, School of Communication (Fulbright Specialist to Norway and Netherlands); Dr. Scott Pryor, School of Law (Fulbright Scholar to India);  Dr. Gail Derrick, School of Education (Fulbright Specialist to Hungary)shared their experiences about the application process, types of Fulbright programs and their experiences of studying, researching and teaching abroad. Dr. Mary Manjikian, School of Government; the latest Fulbright grantee was honored during the event.  She was awarded a research grant to pursue her ongoing study of the politics of threat and how states organize against it. She will study at Durham University in the United Kingdom January through March of 2013. 

Following Manjikian’s recognition, Dr. Charles Dunn, Distinguished Professor for the School of Government and previously appointed by President Ronald Reagan and reappointed by President George W. Bush to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and elected Chairman four times, shared remarks on The Prestige of a Fulbright Award. 

Regent Fulbright Workshop participants: (L-R) Dr. William Brown, Dr. Scott Pryor, Dr. Gail Derrick, Dr. Sergio Matviuk and Dr. Charles Dunn

The Fulbright Scholar Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. The program is designed to increase the mutual understanding between people of the United Sates and people of other countries.  It has over 310,000 participants who exemplify academic and leadership excellence. Fulbright program grantees receive several benefits including government funding to live abroad and study, teach, conduct research and experience various cultures. Dr. Sergio Matviuk, executive director of Global Affairs stated that “OGA organized the event as a way to promote faculty and staff to achieve global scholarship and experiences, which increase their global competencies. We want to encourage Regent’s faculty and staff to know more about this prestigious program and provide information on how to apply. We had a great attendance today which shows faculty and staff interest on global scholarship.”

Dr. Almarie Munley , School of Undergraduate Studies (Fulbright Scholar to Hong Kong 2010-2011), who serves as Regent’s Fulbright Representative and Advisor directing the workshop for OGA emphasized the importance of a Fulbright in furthering  the mission of university which includes  developing an international reputation for academic excellence, scholarship and action. “Fulbright appointments are highly competitive and globally recognized as one of the highest academic honors”. 

OGA will continue to host various workshops and events to support the success of Fulbright Scholars,global learning and scholarship at Regent University. To learn more about the efforts of OGA please visit the OGA website.

School of Education Builds Relations in Kenya



Dr. Mervyn Wighting and Dr. Gail Derrick
with the Vice Chancellor of PAC University Godfrey
Nguru and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics Lilian Wahome.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Mervyn Wighting.



 

By Amanda Morad

May 3, 2012

Part of Regent University's mission to train Christian leaders to change the world includes engaging with international partners across the globe. The School of Education (SOE), in partnership with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), is doing just that in Kenya as they build relationships with several universities and educators throughout the country.
During the spring semester, SOE professors Dr. Mervyn Wighting and Dr. Gail Derrick traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to meet with national education officials and university representatives from Pan Africa Christian University, Kenyatta University, the University of Nairobi and Moi University.

Wighting and Derrick's meetings with these institutions led to discussions about future student exchange programs, research partnerships with professors and, most notably, the possible design of a full education program for Pan Africa Christian University (PAC).

Wighting and Derrick's meetings also included discussions with the Kenyan Ministry of Education director and deputy directors, as well as the director for adult education.

"Our discussion focused upon teacher training and the issues of access, equity, relevance and quality," Derrick said. "The use of online learning generated a lengthy discussion. The director was most interested in our delivery options and experience in online professional development for teachers and administrators, as well as continuing education options."

Kenyan educators in the distant provinces do not have the opportunity to attend professional development events due to distance and time. The issue of how to reach nomadic populations of children using online or other technology formats, such as CDs, was also discussed. Regent, Derrick explained, is specially equipped to help these educators get the professional development they need and the necessary resources for their students because of their success with online classroom models.

During the trip, Wighting and Derrick also conducted several professional development workshops for teachers at local high schools and K-12 schools in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi, Chogoria, Mwatate and Nakuru. At these workshops, they also collected data in order to prepare a cost analysis report for what future partnerships with these schools could feasibly entail.

Many of the trip's meetings and contacts were arranged due in large part to the ACLJ's in-country support for education. Their connections facilitated the planning and implementation of SOE's initiatives. "We [were] very well received throughout the journey and have established contacts in every area we visited with the possibility of establishing cohorts and continuing education programs," Derrick said.

"Our time in Kenya far exceeded our expectations," Wighting reported. "The teachers we met and worked with were very appreciative as they view the education of Kenyan children as the catalyst to national development."

A second visit to Kenya to conduct further workshops is in the works for fall 2012.

Learn more about the School of Education.

PR/NEWS CONTACT:
Mindy Hughes, Public Relations
Phone: 757.352.4095 Fax: 757.352.4888
E-mail: mhughes@regent.edu