2023 was an eventful year for the Office of International Affairs and the Buckeye community. Through cross-cultural interactions, teaching, learning, outreach and collaboration around the globe, Buckeyes made their mark and elevated Ohio State's reach worldwide. Here are some of our top stories and events from 2023, month by month. We can't wait to see what 2024 has in store!
Held produced first-ever album dedicated to the Viennese Oboe
The Viennese oboe is a piece of living history, and its use is limited exclusively to Vienna, Austria. This unique instrument is a predecessor to the modern oboe and is different in construction, fingerings and sound. Supported by an international research grant from the Office of International Affairs and a Dean's Discretionary Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, Abby Yeakle Held, lecturer of oboe in the School of Music, traveled to Vienna to produce a Viennese oboe recording – a truly historic undertaking.
Statistical capacity building – an Ohio State-Uruguay partnership
Nora M. Bello, professor of statistics and systems modeling in the Department of Animal Sciences, was awarded a Center for Latin American Studies Faculty Travel Grant to fund capacity building work abroad. In collaboration with Uruguayan partners, Bello researched the effect of grazing techniques and diet supplementation on milk production of dairy cows. “This research and capacity-building effort is problem-driven. We are looking for ways to more effectively and efficiently produce food from livestock,” Bello explained. Bello used her extensive background in applied statistics to train Uruguayan partners to use statistical methods to analyze data from local agricultural trials data.
Brazilian students and scholars shared culture at Taste of OSU
Taste of OSU, an Ohio State Office of International Affairs’ signature event, took place on February 17, 2023 at the Ohio Union. This year, 30 international clubs showcased their culture through food, performances and informational booths. The Brazilian Student Association participated in the event where they made “pasteis” (fried savory pastry) and “brigadeiros” (chocolate fudge), both beloved Brazilian dishes. Be sure to mark your calendars for Taste of OSU 2024 on February 16 at the Ohio Union!
Global One Health initiative leaders visited Washington, D.C.
The Office of International Affairs Global One Health initiative (GOHi) leaders met with key federal sponsors and stakeholders in Washington, D.C. in February. The three-day meeting culminated at Capitol Hill through meetings with senior staffers representing the two Ohio senators and three House of Representatives members.
Together, they discussed the critical role Ohio State plays in implementing One Health at local to global levels and the crucial importance of building students’ capacity to be best prepared to tackle future challenges, including neglected tropical diseases and zoonotic epidemics and pandemics.
Brazilian environmental nonprofit Meli Bees offered internship to Ohio State student
Aron Olegnowicz, an undergraduate student studying political science and psychology, was awarded a FLAS fellowship to study advanced Chinese in Taiwan in 2023 and also undertook an internship with Brazilian nonprofit Meli Bees, a group working to protect the Meli stingless bees in communities in the most endangered areas of the Amazon Rainforest.
With help from the Brazil Gateway and Center for Latin American Studies, Meli Bees connected with Olegnowicz to offer him a volunteer internship teaching English to indigenous Brazilians living across the Amazon.
Provost Gilliam honored Fulbright and Fulbright-Hayes recipients
Ohio State is one of only nine universities named a top producer of both Fulbright U.S. scholars and students in 2023. Over the last two award cycles, Ohio State has produced 34 Fulbright U.S. students and scholars, three Fulbright specialists, two Fulbright-Hays doctoral research abroad recipients and one Fulbright-Hays faculty research abroad recipient. In addition, the university has hosted 36 Fulbright foreign students and 17 Fulbright foreign scholars.
On April 11, 2023, Executive Vice President and Provost Melissa Gilliam recognized students and faculty from The Ohio State University who are recent Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays recipients and semifinalists, as well as visiting Fulbright students and scholars from around the globe, during a reception at the Faculty Club.
Ohio State students completed the Global Engagement Certificate Program
Nearly 30 students completed the Global Engagement Certificate Program in the 2022-23 academic year, giving them an opportunity to enhance their Ohio State experience while becoming global citizens.
"After completing this program, I can better understand the cultural backgrounds of different people in the world and have a better dialogue with people from all over the world," said Jiayue Lu, a 2023 graduate. "If you want to make more friends, experience different cultures and integrate into the culture more quickly, I really recommend you try this."
Study explored potential zoonotic disease exposure pathways from a gender perspective
Pallavia Oruganti, a former Ohio State student, and Amanda Berrian, GOHi director of outreach and engagement, published a study in PLOS Global Public Health that explored potential zoonotic disease exposure pathways from a gender perspective. Findings showed that women more frequently tend to smaller livestock such as goats and poultry, while men tend to cattle and pigs. This has implications for potential gender discrepancies around exposure to zoonotic illness.
Doctoral Student Angel Evans awarded scholarship to research Vierges Noires in France
A doctoral student in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, Angel Evans completed part of her research in Paris and Aix-En-Provence, France during summer semester 2023 with support of the Phyllis Krumm Memorial International Scholarship. Her research project, "The Rhetorical Making and Un-Making of La Vierge Noire," is investigating how Black Madonna relics, i.e. “Vierges Noires,” symbolically circulate at the intersection of race, gender, national history and identity.
PhD candidate Joey Smith championed water management innovation in China
During the spring of 2023, PhD candidate Joey Smith travelled to China to serve as a senior visiting scholar in the School of Water Resources & Hydropower Engineering at Wuhan University. “While in Wuhan I have constructed a rain garden, run experiments, presented research findings, and made valuable interpersonal connections,” explained Smith. “In a climate challenged world where U.S. and Chinese cities struggle with flooding, continued collaboration on rain gardens can lead to improved implementation and governance of this shared solution,” said Smith.
Kaya Şahin named as new vice provost for global strategies
Kaya Şahin, PhD, was selected as the new vice provost for global strategies and international affairs, effective Nov. 1. Şahin most recently served as executive associate dean of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at Indiana University. Şahin’s global perspective is built on his personal, academic and administrative experiences. Initially arriving in the United States on an F-1 student visa, he eventually became a naturalized citizen. He has spent the past two decades establishing research collaborations with individuals and institutions worldwide.
“I am thrilled to be joining Ohio State and engaging faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners to advance the university’s global reach and impact,” Şahin said. “I look forward to working with colleagues in the Office of International Affairs and around the institution on our strategy for global engagement.”
Ohio State Professor Appiah-Kubi helped open women’s clinic in Ghana
"In 2019, after consultation with the chief of the area, I decided to address women's health, economic and social issues together," said Emmanuel Appiah-Kubi, clinical assistant professor of radiology at Ohio State. "A women's clinic within the community was envisioned. One that would develop activities to help women to be able to generate revenue, enhance the social standing of women and promote the health of women." With support from the local regulatory agencies, the basic infrastructure was completed in December 2022 and additional modifications as per the local authorities completed in May 2023.
East Asia Day brought the world to Columbus high school students
The East Asian Studies Center brought the flavors, scents and sounds of the region to campus. More than 150 high school students from six school districts gathered at Ohio State for a day of education, connection and fun with a focus on cross-cultural learning and engagement. “This event was a great way for high school students to experience what studying about East Asia may be like at the college level,” said Chris White, assistant director of the center.
Students celebrated Day of the Dead at Greenlawn Cemetery with support from Ohio State
Day of the Dead Columbus was hosted by Latino Arts for Humanity on October 7. At Ohio State’s tent, volunteers and staffers from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Latine Student Success team and Center for Latin American Studies held a Brutus calavera coloring contest and wrote satirical poems about death, calaveritas literarias, with festivalgoers. This year’s festival also featured rows of food and art vendors, community ofrendas and live music and dancing to celebrate the dead.
Academic director's visit to India sparked collaborative endeavors
Jay Anand, William H. Davis Chair and Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Strategy at the Fisher College of Business, is the academic director for the India Gateway. Anand reflected on his 2023 trip to India to meet with a wide range of new and existing stakeholders spanning public, private and quasi-private stakeholders. "My recent visit to India helped me understand how the exchanges between Ohio State and India may be strengthened further and that new win-win avenues are sought."
2023 International Photography Exhibition winners announced
The 2023 International Photography Exhibition featured 40 original photographs taken overseas in 20 different countries by 35 Ohio State students, staff, faculty, visiting scholars and alumni. Over 300 members of the campus community submitted more than 650 photographs, which were on display through December 31 in the Ohio Union.