2019-2020 Annual Report

Message from the Associate Vice Provost

Throughout the pandemic, KUIA units and our partners across campus chose a forward path of innovation rather than a make-do approach. That has made all the difference.

The work KU’s team of international educators has done has been nothing short of transformative for the university as a whole. KU faculty and staff have risen and continue to rise to the many challenges and have shown ingenuity, dedication, resilience and passion for what they do. In their work, they have proven just how central internationalization is to our world-class university and they have inspired our entire community of Jayhawks.

Fall 2020 Message

Promoting and Preserving German

Bill Keel, who retired as professor of German in 2019, left a legacy of work that has been equal parts promoting and preserving the German language as he fostered a Sister City relationship and traveled throughout Kansas and Missouri to record the fading German dialects.

Article on Bill Keel

Professor leads 50+ study abroad trips

In March 2020, Mary Klayder led her 53rd study abroad program, providing transformative experiences for more than 1,100 students who have traveled with her on programs centered in London, Great Britain and Costa Rica.

Article on Mary Klayder

Study Abroad

Student Virtually Travels Through Online Internship

This summer, KU student Antonia Bignotti learned how to make risotto from a cook in Florence, Italy, interned for a London-based nonprofit and made friends around the world – all from her home in Santiago, Chile.

Article on Virtual Internship

Increasing Access to Study Abroad

Lack of financial resources, family support and role models are among the most common obstacles students cite for not studying abroad. Two initiatives by KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE) during the 2019-2020 academic year worked toward removing these barriers.

Article on Study Abroad Access

Study Abroad in 2019-2020

497

students studied abroad

15%

of student received Pell Grants

12%

of students were first-generation college students

Gilman Scholarship awardees

100

students received scholarships

students participated in virtual education abroad programming

students received scholarships for virtual education abroad programming

Faculty and Student Awards

Student Spotlight

Emilia Paz Ojeda

Emilia Paz Ojeda, a computer science graduate from Peru, was surprised by the number of other international students on campus. She now works for Google and says her international education will be integral in communicating with colleagues.

Article on Emilia Paz Ojeda

Brooke Lapke

Brooke Lapke, a microbiology graduate who is now a KU School of Medicine student, says that international education changed her perspective on medicine.

Article on Brooke Lapke

Mika Schrader

For Mika Schrader, a history and religious studies graduate, two study abroad experiences opened doors and opportunities that she didn't even know existed.

Mika Schrader

Students from Around the World

In Fall 2019, more than 2,000 international students enrolled at KU’s Lawrence campus from more than 100 countries. The map highlights international students’ home countries, with darker shades indicating the countries with more students.

KU International Students 2019-2020

2,031

international students in Fall 2019

109

countries represented

5.82%

of KU undergraduate students

8.25%

of KU students

16.55%

of KU graduate students

Olcese retires after 35 years

Olcese retired in May after nearly eight years as director of International Student Services and almost two decades of advocating for international education in Kansas. Throughout his career, Olcese has been a local, regional and national leader in international education.

Read Article on Chuck Olcese

Soltanshahi Named ISS Director

KU International Affairs is delighted to welcome Ali Soltanshahi to the Jayhawk family as its International Support Services director. Serving in the field of international education since 2001, Soltanshahi worked at four higher education institutions before coming to KU.

Article on Soltanshahi