The new OHIO Global Network Fellows program, a collaboration of the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), Ohio University Alumni Association (OUAA), and Division of University Advancement, kicks off this summer with its first group of international student fellows. This new pilot program aims to increase engagement and connection with Ohio University’s global alumni while simultaneously empowering current international students to connect, network, and better understand the importance of their individual cultural competencies, language skills, and unique perspectives.
Eight Global Network Fellows and one intern, through the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), participated in a kick-off orientation retreat for the summer pilot program, June 8-9.
"Many OHIO students, past and present, are truly global citizens. Our current international students are bringing a nuanced and culturally insightful lens to their role as Fellows, connecting with alumni in their home countries to better understand the needs, interests, and capacity of our global Bobcat community,” said Dr. Ji-Yeung Jang, interim executive director for Global Affairs. “The experience in cultivating their professional networking skills will be transformative for our Fellows as well as fruitful in the University’s efforts to meaningfully engage our global alumni.”
Meet the summer 2021 Global Network Fellows:
Bobcat graduates are nimble professionals moving across the United States and returning to their home countries or elsewhere abroad. As alumni make their way in the professional realm worldwide, many lose connection to OHIO. The Global Network Fellows participating in this innovative pilot program will network with alumni in their home countries and are encouraged to develop strategies using their unique cultural competencies and insights, country- or region-specific inroads and lenses, and culturally-appropriate social media channels to reinvigorate alumni relationships, identify and update information, and ensure alumni can access current OHIO news and updates of particular interest to specific countries.
Country representation in the pilot initiative is reflective of both current strategic engagement and enrollment trends, as well as alignment with historical alumni demographics. The intention is to increase both the number of Fellows and countries of engagement in subsequent semesters. The CASE intern will serve as the liaison between OHIO administration, specifically OUAA and Advancement, and Global Network Fellows’ engagement with Alumni.
“One of our core strategic priorities within the Ohio University Alumni Association is to facilitate stronger engagement of our alumni globally. We are excited about this joint initiative and engaging our talented international students in expanding our international outreach,” said Erin Essak Kopp, executive director of the OUAA and assistant vice president of alumni relations. “The Global Network Fellows will help us re-connect with our alumni across the world, learn how we can best serve our international alumni community, and expand opportunities for our students in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Learn more about and get in touch with the Global Network Fellows and CASE intern at www.ohio.edu/oga/global-network-fellows.
Global Alumni are also encouraged to update their information with Ohio University at www.ohio.edu/alumni/volunteer/chapters/international/update-your-info.
Any questions or feedback about the Global Network Fellows initiative can be directed to the Office of Global Affairs at globalaffairs@ohio.edu.