IEGE In The News
News articles featuring IEGE staff, Chico State international students, Fulbright Scholars, and more!
News Stories
November 5, 2024
Political Science Grad Sets the Bar for Service to Campus Community
Humberto Partida is rarely seen sitting quietly in the background. His natural state is to be on the move, helping someone solve a problem, acting as a point person in a busy crowd—always with a smile and words of affirmation for those around him. Currently pursuing a master’s in political science, Partida (Political Science, International Relations, ’23) has spent the last five years embracing opportunities to grow personally and professionally, earning respect and appreciation from peers and faculty. From participating in the Model United Nations conference in New York to becoming an ambassador for the Chico State Basic Needs Project, going to Italy for a semester abroad, and helping establish the Sueños de las Estrellas Folklorico Dance Club along with his sister, Maria Partida Pelayo, Partida has relished experiences that make him a compassionate and generous public servant—all while maintaining a near-perfect GPA.
November 4, 2024
Worth Sharing: Faculty and Staff Celebrate Awards and New Publications
University Communications was recognized by the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) with five Best of District II Awards for 2024, including Clayton Truscott’s “Passport to Self-Discovery” series, which was recognized for writing in the news and feature series category. A detailed and diverse read, it highlights the work of International Education and Global Engagement, as it both supports study abroad and students who chose Chico State for their global experience. While addressing misconceptions of study abroad and sharing the experiences from an array of countries, it also illustrates how this high-impact practice contributes to retention and student success.
September 3, 2024
From Chico to Nairobi: Entrepreneurship Class Gets Immersive Global Taste of Business
When Cherie Higgs first stepped onto Chico State’s campus in 2020, the Oroville native was just hoping to earn a degree.
This past summer, Higgs (Public Health, ’23) reached another peak in her personal development thanks to a lift from Sarah Kimakwa’s groundbreaking upper-division business management course, Social Entrepreneurship. The hybrid format course combines topics that ignite the creativity and passion of Gen Z (social impact, sustainability, community building) with international travel, making it a first-of-its-kind in the College of Business. Higgs joined six students from Chico State and others from California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Northridge on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where they spent two weeks collaborating with a cohort from Strathmore University.
June 11, 2024
From Skepticism to Success: International Computer Science Graduate Excels in Program
Sourabh Kulkarni had never set foot on the Chico State campus before his first day in graduate school. More than 8,100 miles away from home, he had doubts about whether he’d find friends on campus and do well in a project-based program.
“I was worried about what the culture would be like,” he said. “The educational system is also quite different in the US than in India. Here, it’s more practical-based. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up.”
Now that Kulkarni has completed his master’s in computer science, he is glad he took the chance on Chico State. The 26-year-old excelled in the program—and found an entire community. He became a top student, a computer science tutor, a research assistant for Professor Abbas Attarwala, developed an interest in machine learning and live coding, forged friendships, and even learned to cook.
May 28, 2024
Fulbright Scholar to Study Rituals Surrounding Ancient Saints and Spirits
Chico State is thrilled to announce that Heather Altfeld (MFA, Creative Writing, ’04), a lecturer in the Honors Program and the Department of Comparative Religion and Humanities, has been awarded a Fulbright US Scholar Program Award for the 2024–25 academic year from the US Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Altfeld, an award-winning writer, poet, and essayist, will spend 10 months in Morocco studying the folklore, beliefs, and rituals surrounding ancient saints and spirits in various locations around the country. These enduring spiritual practices remain central to the nation’s spiritual and social fabric, even as the population has changed and Morocco has become more globalized through technology.
May 10, 2024
Somewhere to Belong: Celebrating Student Clubs at Chico State
As of spring 2024, the University has 183 recognized organizations through Student Organizations and Leadership Education (SOLE), and over 225 when combined with Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (FSA) and competitive club sports. This covers everything from legacy clubs with generations of alumni (see rugby) to professional organizations like the Seufferlein Sales Program, innovative upstarts like the Rocketry and Aerospace Club, and on-trend affinity groups like Let’s K-Pop—all offering Wildcats a way to pursue their interests in an uplifting environment. Learn more about the Bollywood Dance Club, Let's K-Pop, and more clubs with our international students.
May 8, 2023
Visitors to a new country face many firsts: smells, flavors, sounds, and even weather patterns combine to form a sensory puzzle you have to unscramble slowly.
For hundreds of college students each year, the best way to tackle that puzzle is not as a tourist but as a resident. Pairing travel with higher education makes the place you wake up to each day feel a little more like home—or just homey, while embracing the unfamiliar in a whole new way. It means building a more complete life somewhere else, giving more of yourself to an experience, and often facing long-term language barriers and the lasting absence of familiar comforts, whether food, music, or events.
“It means staying long enough to develop a familiar routine, adapt to its rhythms, and gain a truer understanding of the culture,” said Jennifer Gruber, associate vice president for International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE). “As worldviews are continually reduced to the size of a phone screen, the ability to adapt to new environments, be reflective and empathetic, and learn from others who have different cultural, social, and linguistic backgrounds are all-important skills for personal and professional growth.”
Six of our students shared their stories for this article:
Mark Arey - International Relations Senior Makes Hay on Debut Trip to South Korea
Aishwarya Gowda - Bollywood Dance Club Founder Finds a Sense of Home at Chico State
Victoria Villaseñor - Journeys of Self-Discovery to Uruguay and Cuba
Hikmat Abou Shahla - Molecular Biology Student Turns ‘Beautiful Disasters’ into Lifelong Call to Service
Humberto Partida - Graduating Senior Follows ‘Role Model’s’ Footsteps to Florence, Italy
Haeryeong Cheong - Embracing Chico State’s Welcoming Student Atmosphere
May 1, 2024
From Study Abroad to Peace Corps Volunteer
For Arina Xiong, a Peace Corps Education Volunteer in Armenia, it was her alma mater, California State University, Chico, that taught her the importance of community service and sustainability through its study abroad opportunities. Colleges and universities remain key Peace Corps partners in our recruitment efforts, and academic study abroad programs can be a first step for many students on their path to becoming engaged global citizens.
In her third year of college, Xiong spent a semester in Thailand. For Xiong, whose family had immigrated from Thailand in the 1990s, the study abroad experience offered the opportunity to connect with her roots.
February 1, 2024
Navigating International Paths and Markets: A Business Student’s Journey to a Rawlins Award
As a 16-year-old high-school student in Vietnam, Nhung (Emma) Pham was fortunate enough to participate in an international trip the Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. That trip gave her the courage to apply to become an international student, first at Mendocino College and now at Chico State, where she is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in business information systems (option in Business analytics).
November 30, 2023
Institute of International Education Recognizes Chico State for Study Abroad Excellence
Once again, Chico State has been recognized by the Institute of International Education (IIE) as being one of the most active and engaged US higher education institutions in its category for participation in studying abroad.
In its latest Open Doors rankings for the 2021–22 academic year—the most recent year for which data is available—the IIE ranked Chico State’s Study Abroad and Exchange program at No. 9 in the nation for master’s degree-granting colleges and universities.
This is the 17th time in the last 18 years Chico State has been recognized in the IIE’s top 10 list for year-long participation among masters-granting institutions.
October 3, 2023
Office Hours: Kinesiology Professor Carli Ross
Physical education has always been a big part of Carli Ross’ life. She coached volleyball for over 15 years, currently teaches yoga classes, and is a lecturer for Chico State’s kinesiology program. Through a variety of rich experiences, Ross has developed a passion for adapted physical education specifically.
In 2019, Ross came up with the idea for a study abroad, adapted physical education internship. It became a reality in 2022, when she took a group of Chico State students to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to partner with a nonprofit called Giochiamo Anche Se Triboliamo (G.A.S.T.), which means “we play even if we struggle.”
June 29, 2023
Celebrating Dianne Suschil: 2022’s Employee of the Year
Not all heroes wear capes.
Some walk (and bike and dance) among us, offering the time of day, positive solutions, and a helpful perspective when their peers need them—and this creates a positive ripple effect. For the last 19 years, Dianne Suschil has been that everyday hero on campus. An administrative analyst (AA/S) with International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE) by title, she has served faculty, staff, and students in ways that extend far beyond her job description.
May 15, 2023
College of Natural Sciences valedictorian awarded full-ride scholarship to Johns Hopkins University
Chico State’s College of Natural Sciences awarded Hikmat Abou Shahla Valedictorian of his class and he is graduating this semester as a pre-med student with a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and a minor in general chemistry.
April 28, 2023
Identical Twins Follow Different Dreams
For Vanessa and Viviana Mendoza, the decision to go to college was complicated. The twin sisters would be the first in their family to pursue higher education, and their parents were not supportive.
“They’re a little bit traditional, in the sense that they want the woman to stay home, get married, and have kids,” said Viviana (Nutrition and Food Sciences, ’22). “But we wanted to get a college education, travel the world, and introduce a new perspective of how women should be valued and treated.”
Going to college allowed them to develop separate identities, said Viviana, as their majors were vastly different so they rarely shared the same classroom, and they were able to make their own friends. Then, in spring of 2018, they fulfilled a long-time dream of studying abroad. A semester in Costa Rica improved their Spanish and fostered their newfound independence. They lived with different families and grew the confidence to start doing things without each other.
March 22, 2023
Retired Professor Awarded Fulbright Scholarship, will Study Portugal Fires
Jacque Chase, who retired from the Chico State Department of Geography and Environmental Studies in May 2022 following a 22-year career there, received a Fulbright Scholarship for 2023-24 for her research on fire in Portugal.
March 16, 2023
Alumna Uses International Education, Business Acumen to Build Cascade of Success
Raised in an impoverished community in China, when Linling Gan told her family that she wanted to come to the United States to pursue higher education, her mother gave her blessing—as long as Gan found a way to help bring more customers to the family’s clothing factory.
February 14, 2023
Distinguished Alumna, Educator, and School Director Melanie Mello
Melanie Mello, originally from Pforzheim, Germany, followed her fiancé to Chico State and then fell in love—with the University.
January 24, 2023
Chico State Helps Pave The Way For Alumna Now Living In Israel
Her maternal grandmother, Rena, had long dreamt of going to the “homeland,” but died of cancer before she could fulfill that dream. So, when Solomon was looking to transfer to a four-year university, she discovered Chico State offers a Hebrew language program and has a study abroad program with the University of Haifa in Israel.
January 23, 2023
In October, Chico State hosted visitors from Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution from Kaunas, Lithuania.
December 14, 2022
As we see the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences in 2025 as a progressive European higher education institution, strategic guidelines for increasing the internationalization of the University of Applied Sciences activities are being set.
November 30, 2022
Fulbright Experience Helps Deepen Roots Across the World
When Lee Altier, faculty in the College of Agriculture, was honored with a Fulbright US Scholar Program award, the idea of traveling to Izmir, Turkey, as a visiting professor at Ege University’s agriculture faculty was strategic.
October 14, 2022
Chico State Once Again Recognized As Fulbright HSI Institutional Leader
After earning federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2015, Chico State has continued to work in earnest to provide robust and comprehensive services to serve its Latinx and Hispanic student population.
September 8, 2022
Anthropology Faculty Reflects on Fulbright Experience in Jordan
Anthropology faculty Jesse Dizard spent approximately 10 months as a visiting professor at Yarmouk University in Irdib, Jordan as a Fulbright Scholar.
August 17, 2022
Germany Today 2022: "A Valuable Contribution to the Development of Partnerships"
Twenty-one representatives of leading universities (including Chico State Provost Dr. Debra Larson), research institutions and funding organizations in the United States and Canada, along with experts on educational policy, visited Germany in June.
April 21, 2022
Rise, Teach, Learn: Global Engagement Opportunities for Faculty (Podcast)
The podcast discusses information for faculty to teach and lead programs abroad, opportunities to do research internationally, and resources to create international collaborations in the classroom.
March 3, 2022
University Among Nation's Top Fulbright Scholar-Producing Higher Ed Institutions
Turkey. Jordan. Sri Lanka. These are countries where Chico State faculty are furthering their research this academic year—a year in which the University has more of its scholars teaching and researching abroad on Fulbright awards than ever.
December 11, 2021
Chico State Study Abroad Program Stands Out
The study abroad program at Chico State has recently been honored as a top study abroad program.
December 1, 2021
Action News Now-Chico State Study Abroad and Exchange
Chico State Study Abroad and Exchange's Coordinator, Ximena Ospina, speaks to local News Agency, Action News Now.
November 29, 2021
Chico State Study Abroad Program Ranked #5
KRCR News.
November 29, 2021
Chico State Recognized Once Again As One Of Nation's Top Study Abroad Programs
Once again, the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recognized the University as being one of the most active and engaged US higher education institutions in its category for participation in studying abroad.
November 19, 2021
What might the world look like if rather than wondering about some distant future, we took daily action toward the tomorrow of our dreams?
October 29, 2021
Fulbright Program names Chico State to Prestigious List of National Higher-Education HSI Leaders
Chico State has been named a Fulbright HSI Leader in the designation’s inaugural year, and is one of just 35 higher education institutions nationwide to receive the honor.
September 30, 2021
Chico State Welcome Teachers from Across the World
Chico State welcomed 16 teachers from across the globe for a six-week exchange of cultures and ideas. The teachers arrived in Chico from 15 different countries as a part of the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement program on Sep 14.
September 27, 2021
Keiko Goto’s students in NFSC 667 are participating in a COIL project with students at TEC (Technologic de Monterrey), Mexico, and their project has been featured in CONECTA, Tec de Monterrey magazine!
August 26, 2021
3 Academic Writing Tips for International Students
Saundra Wright and Jenni Bolte offer insight how international students can prepare for writing academic papers at US colleges and universities.
July 1, 2021
CSU, Chico 2020 Staff Excellence Award Winners
We congratulate Tasha Alexander, International Education and Global Engagement, for being selected as CSU, Chico's Outstanding Staff Employee of the Year for 2020!
June 21, 2021
Professor Receives Fulbright Scholar Award to Teach and Study Agricultural Best Practices in Turkey
Lee Altier, professor of agriculture, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for the fall 2021 academic semester from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
May 26, 2021
Anthropology Professor Chosen For Prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award
Jesse Dizard, professor of anthropology, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for the 2021–22 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
April 26, 2021
Anthropology Professor Chosen For Prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award
Brian Brazeal, professor of anthropology, has a been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for the 2021–22 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
March 15, 2021
Students Engage Globally, Virtually, Amid COVID-19(opens in new window)(opens in new window)
Studying abroad looks different in the age of COVID-19, but the pandemic hasn’t stopped students from expanding their world-views, gaining new skills, and building lasting relationships.
March 12, 2021
For the 15th consecutive year, Chico State’s Study Abroad program was ranked in the top 10 nationally for students learning in another country for at least a year.