The Office of International Affairs takes pride in our connections and collaborations across our campuses and the important role we play in helping develop, support and advance Ohio State’s international initiatives. 2025 demonstrated how our Buckeye community made their mark and elevated Ohio State’s reach across the globe. Take a peek at some of our top stories and events from the past year as we look forward to all that will inspire us in 2026.
Buckeyes venture out of their comfort zones and gain confidence over winter break
From discussing climate change at COP29 in Azerbaijan to learning veterinary techniques for examining elephants in Thailand, more than 190 Buckeyes studied abroad in seven countries on eight programs during winter break 2024. Students learned lessons, ventured out of their comfort zones, gained confidence, and developed new cultural understanding.
“For me, it was important to go abroad so I could gain new perspectives about animal interactions, welfare and production animals. While some of the students on the Human and Animal Interactions program came from an industry-based background, I’m from Littleton, Massachusetts - not a livestock town. Having both perspectives opened my eyes to the differences in the cultures and how we view animals as pets versus livestock.” Faith Bergeron, animal sciences major.
Asia Society Hong Kong Center hosts discussion with Ohio State Dean David Horn
The Asia Society Hong Kong Center hosted David Horn, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University, for a conversation about “Why the Liberal Arts Matter” on February 7. Ohio State alumna S. Alice Mong ’86, who serves on the board of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, moderated the conversation that was attended by alumni, educators and students from local schools.
Horn and the guests discussed the relevance of liberal arts education and what role the American land-grant university can play in the global conversation.
Taste of OSU 2025: sweet, spicy, savory and everything in between
The Ohio Union was filled with the aroma of sweet, spicy and savory international cuisine and a couple thousand hungry Buckeyes eager to experience Taste of OSU, one of Ohio State’s signature events and long-time traditions. More than 40 international student organizations cooked up their favorite dishes and entertained the crowd with performances that best represented their diverse cultures and regions of the world on Feb. 14.
“Taste of OSU is a unique event that celebrates Ohio State’s cultural diversity, offering students the opportunity to showcase their heritage through food, drinks, booths, and performances,” said Nicole Kuan, chair of Taste of OSU and a senior majoring in marketing. “This experience not only highlights the richness of various cultures but also broadens attendees’ understanding and appreciation of others’ cultures. Serving as chair-elect in 2024 and chair in 2025 has been an incredible honor, and I’m so grateful for the experience and the support of the OIA staff. I wish Christine the best of luck as she steps into the role of Chair for Taste of OSU 2026!”
Ohio State is nation’s top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars and tied for seventh for Fulbright U.S. Students
The Ohio State University is the top producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the 2024-25 academic year among all colleges and universities in the United States with 14 selected for the prestigious award. Ohio State is tied for 7th among doctoral institutions for the Fulbright U.S. Student program with 24 awardees (15 undergraduate and nine graduate).
“The Fulbright program provides firsthand experience for our students and faculty to immerse themselves in another culture while teaching, conducting research and engaging with communities across the globe,” said Kaya Şahin, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs. “It is a life-changing and enriching academic experience that creates valuable connections for future collaborations, and we are proud that Ohio State is once again recognized as a top producer.”
Vieira recognized with Community Engaged Practitioner Award
Getting K-12 students excited to learn about other cultures through engaging activities is just one of the reasons Leila Vieira, assistant director of the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), is a recipient of Ohio State’s 2025 Community Engaged Practitioner Awards.
In the last three years, Vieira has created and developed two impactful projects and initiatives: the Brutus Calavera Coloring Contest and the Capoeira in the Classroom workshop series. Both are now well-established projects targeted to youth, who can participate in these activities using their imagination and creativity. The programs engage communities, encourage understanding of new and different perspectives and welcome an appreciation of diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Lerner receives President and Provost’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Service
Mitch Lerner, professor of U.S. diplomatic history with a focus on Korea and director of the East Asian Studies Center (EASC), has been named a recipient of the President and Provost’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Service. Lerner’s exceptional contributions to Ohio State span nearly 25 years across multiple disciplines, colleges and campuses, where he has brought significant support to the university to advance the study of East Asia, inspiring educators and students alike to teach, learn and engage with one of the most significant regions of the world.
“Professor Lerner has served the university at an exceptionally high and broad level in his more than two decades at Ohio State. He embodies a remarkable dedication to serving our students, our university, and the broader academic community,” said Scott Levi, chair of the Department of History. “His significant contributions and the wide range of his appointments across campuses and units testifies to the extraordinary breadth of his university-wide impact.”
Conference addresses India’s healthcare challenges
The India Health Conference – Challenges in Disease Management and Outcome brought together more than 150 participants, including researchers, public health experts and policymakers from India and the United States, to tackle critical healthcare issues. The Ohio State University India Gateway, in partnership with the College of Medicine, College of Social Work, the Global One Health initiative and Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, hosted the conference February 15-16, 2025, in Mumbai, India. Sessions at the interdisciplinary conference ranged from novel diagnostic technologies to adult vaccination issues and healthcare challenges faced by trafficked populations.
“I had the privilege of presenting my research on global sex work and sex trafficking at the India Health Conference, focusing on the healthcare needs and priorities of those involved. My presentation emphasized the crucial collaboration between medical professionals and social workers to address these issues effectively,” said Sharvari Karandikar, professor, associate dean, academic affairs in the College of Social Work. “After meeting Ohio State faculty and alumni at the conference and networking with several local health professionals, I returned from India invigorated by the insightful conference.”
Ohio State, U.S. Army Reserve partner on training program
To prepare military personnel for an upcoming deployment to Africa, The Ohio State University has partnered with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne).
“We value very much all the partnerships with different institutions across the state,” said Kaya Ṣahin, Ohio State’s vice provost for global strategies and international affairs and a professor of history. “This is a great example of one of our study centers helping our state, helping people who work for our state to receive training that could not be received elsewhere.”
Global Arts + Humanities grant to support Latinx families engagement in music learning
Engaging Latinx parents in their children’s learning through music during their first few years of life is the primary focus of Desde el Principio (from the beginning), a project developed by the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) and the School of Music, which recently was awarded a $12,050 Collaborative Centers Grant through the Global Arts + Humanities.
It is widely known that music plays a significant role in identity and ethnicity from a very young age. Listening and interacting with music captures the attention of young children, improves empathy, cooperation and reading skills and leads to positive socioemotional outcomes, while at the same time decreasing parents’ stress levels and improving understanding of their children’s needs.
Aviation insights from Brazil
The International Perspectives on Aviation spring break study abroad program provided an opportunity for 23 Buckeyes to explore Brazil’s key aviation sector for a week in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
“Understanding aviation concepts in a different setting truly opened my eyes to the beauty and uniqueness of the world," remarked aviation major Dianna Désir.
Ohio State students shine at the 2025 Undergraduate Olympiada of Spoken Russian
Sixteen students from four Ohio colleges and universities competed in the 14th annual Undergraduate Olympiada of Spoken Russian, which was held on February 22 at Bowling Green State University.
Ten students from The Ohio State University earned top three finishes in various levels of language proficiency.
Area Studies Centers award summer FLAS fellowships
The East Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies and Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies have awarded $146,494 in summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships to 18 students, spanning more than nine graduate programs and six undergraduate majors. Funding for FLAS Fellowships comes from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act.
Delegation from Ghana visits Ohio State to strengthen sister-city relationship
On May 20, the Ohio State Center for African Studies hosted a delegation of ministers from the Government of Ghana to strengthen the Columbus-Accra sister-city relationship and foster additional collaboration between Ohio State and Ghanian institutions.
Kaya Şahin, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs, welcomed the delegation and underscored how Ohio State is motivated to advance global connections. As meeting host, Ousman Kobo, director, Center for African Studies, championed the collaborations and urged the participants to find additional paths for partnerships.
McClimans, Middle East Studies Center awarded grant for food sovereignty initiative
The Seeds of Middle Eastern Culture project aims to empower young people and communities to control their own food systems by growing food locally, using eco-friendly methods and eating foods that are important to their own culture. The initiative, led by Melinda McClimans, assistant director of the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) recently was awarded a $10,000 Documenting Impact Grant by the Office of Outreach and Engagement to capture experiences about plants and food and quantitatively measure outcomes, ensuring that the knowledge of Middle Eastern and African food system is preserved through hands-on learning activities and educational materials.
Eighteen undergraduates awarded Freeman Foundation scholarships
Eighteen undergraduate students have been awarded scholarships to engage in summer internships in East Asia, providing them with valuable work experience and the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the region’s culture.
The East Asian Studies Center (EASC) provided $115,000 in fellowships thanks to a grant from the Freeman Foundation. “This wonderful new program will allow our students to engage with East Asia in ways that might otherwise have been impossible,” said Mitch Lerner, director of EASC. “Ohio State students now have the opportunity not just to travel and visit in the region but to really immerse themselves in its business and cultural life. This should be an experience they will never forget!”
Empowering Ethiopian healthcare: GOHi’s impact on microbiology and infection prevention
Over the past three years, the Ohio State Global One Health LLC (GOHi), in partnership with Ethiopia’s Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Zewditu Memorial Hospital (ZMH), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has led a transformative initiative under the Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN). This integrated laboratory and infection prevention and control (IPC) program has significantly strengthened Ethiopia’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and healthcare infrastructure.
Provost Bellamkonda welcomes new international students from India
Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda participated in a send-off event in Hyderabad, India to welcome incoming students and their families to The Ohio State University. Organized by the India Gateway, the event brought together alumni and friends to help open doors to new opportunities. During his remarks Provost Bellamkonda emphasized the global reach of the Buckeye community and recalled his experiences as an international student coming to the United States from India.
Student Spotlight: Mandy Song
When sophomore women’s golfer Mandy Song decided to take her academic and athletic talents from Beijing, China to Columbus, Ohio, she knew that she would be joining a large community with plenty of resources to help her on and off the course.
“I love the energy here! The support from friends, professors and coaches makes Ohio State feel like a second home," said Song, who is pursuing a degree in sport industry in the College of Education and Human Ecology.
Piletz leverages global alumni network for study abroad program
Over a dinner table in Taipei, Taiwan, a group of Ohio State students and Taiwanese alumni who just met that night joined arms and sang the university’s alma mater ‘Carmen Ohio,’ showcasing the unbreakable Buckeye bonds and the lasting impact of a shared college experience.
With a living alumni network of over 600,000, Ohio State Buckeyes can be found all over the world. Fisher College of Business senior lecturer Andrew Piletz leverages this network to create a valuable study abroad experience for undergraduates while enhancing their resumes and fostering global business experience.
International student perspectives are foundation of workshop series
Suci Nazier has studied all over the world. The third-year doctoral student received her bachelor’s degree in Tanzania and her master’s degree in the Netherlands, both of which are located a considerable distance from her home in Jakarta, Indonesia.
After being accepted into the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Nazier came to The Ohio State University to pursue her doctorate. She plans to graduate with a PhD in health and rehabilitation sciences in 2028.
From Malaysia to the stars: Yuan-Sen Ting explores how AI is transforming science
For Yuan-Sen Ting, an associate professor in the Department of Astronomy at The Ohio State University, artificial intelligence is not just a tool for faster calculations — it is reshaping how science itself is done.
He is a co-lead author of “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences,” a white paper that explores how NSF-supported research in fields such as astronomy, chemistry and materials research can both capitalize on and contribute to the future of AI across research and education. Ting also discussed this topic in a recent Science Sundays talk titled “How Is AI Changing Science?” where he challenged common myths about AI and emphasized its role as a collaborator rather than a replacement for human researchers.
2025 International Photography Exhibition award winners announced
The 2025 International Photography Exhibition features 40 original photographs taken overseas in 24 different countries by 29 Ohio State students, staff, faculty and alumni. Over 390 members of the campus community submitted more than 785 photographs across three categories: People, Places and Arts & Culture. The exhibition includes a diverse selection of images captured in Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Spain and Vietnam.
$100,000 in joint research funding awarded
The Office of International Affairs and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) have jointly awarded $100,000 to fund five projects that will support collaboration between researchers at Ohio State and the State of São Paulo, Brazil over the next two years.
“It is our hope and our strategic vision to support innovative scholarship that encourages collaborations between Ohio State researchers and their international partners,” said Kaya Şahin, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs. “By forging partnerships across borders, we not only expand our collective knowledge but also address global challenges with diverse perspectives and innovative solutions. Working together with our international colleagues strengthens our research, inspires creativity and amplifies the impact of our discoveries for the benefit of everyone.”
Buckeyes Abroad: Farhan Haque
“I learned that I am able to thrive in completely new and challenging situations. Being in countries where I couldn’t speak the language forced me to be adaptable and try to assimilate with each country’s respective languages and cultures. It showed me how much I enjoy connecting with people from various backgrounds, always striving to find common ground with each other,” reflected biology and history major Farhan Haque, who studied abroad this past summer on the Between France and Morocco program.
During the program, Haque explored major cities like Paris and Marrakesh, visited museums and historical sites, and engaged with local communities all while studying how culture, religion and history shape their daily lives, and how they compare to America.
Alumni Spotlight: Balavignesh Vemparala
When Balavignesh Vemparala left Chennai, India to begin graduate studies at The Ohio State University, he expected to push the boundaries of engineering. What he didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would shape his identity as a researcher, professional and as a member of a global community.
Ohio State became the place where advanced computation, creativity and community intersected for him. “Coming to the United States was both exciting and overwhelming,” he recalls. “I had to learn a new academic culture, a new social environment and a new way of thinking about research.”