OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS HOSTS 2022 GLOBAL VISION AWARDS

 

The Global Vision Awards were established in 2003, by the Office of International Affairs to highlight the excellence of exemplary efforts of individuals and teams who enhance our university and higher education by reinforcing the value of global understanding, cultural competency and the sharing of ideas, programs, teach, research and academic experience.  Units across the University contribute to the program with the proceeds going to a fund to support TTU international students' academic studies.

The 2022 Global Vision Awards, presented by Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovanec and Provost Ron Hendrick in a ceremony on 14 April 2022, included:

The Global Engagement Community Award which recognizes significant contributions to international understanding and engagement in the greater Lubbock Community.  Texas Tech's Hospitality Services team was recognized with Honorable Mention for its contributions in bringing numerous multi-cultural events each year to celebrate and learn about global cultures through diverse international dining choices.  

The winner of the Global Engagement Community Award went to the Vietnam Center and the Institute for Peace & Conflict whose efforts and global vision bring graduate applications from students around the world to study courses in history, strategic studies, and political science.  In addition, the Vietnam Center and the Institute for Peace & Conflict share information across the globe through 10 million digitized archival pages, 30 international conferences, fellowship programs and study abroad experiences in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Donald R. Haragan Study Abroad Award recognizes the development and implementation of study abroad programs that support TTU's commitment to providing high quality international education experiences.  Dr. Eric Fried of the J.R. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts' School of Music, was this year's winner, recognized for his leadership in developing music-friendly study abroad programs.  His innovative courses include an Opera Walk visiting sites related to works of famous composers, late-night concerts in historic settings, and multi-cultural experiences including Sephardic, Arabic, Sufi, and other Islamic, Medieval and Renaissance music.  

The Faculty International Scholarship Award recognizes a faculty member for excellence and sustained international scholarship.  Dr. Natalia Velikova Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Retail Management in the College of Human Sciences was recognized for her contributions to her commitment to excellence in her research interests spanning from Kenya to the Caribbean and her contributions to the enhanced knowledge of wine marketing and tourism and improving business practices in wine regions around the world.  

Dr. Tigga Kingston, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, was the winner of the 2022 Faculty International Scholarship Award.  She is a global leader of bat research and has been conducting international research for more than 30 years.  Dr Kingston takes an integrative approach that seeks to explain the great diversity of bats in tropical forests and how this diversity responds to human disturbances such as deforestation, cave disturbance, oppression, and hunting.  She works primarily in the rainforests of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines). More recently her research has expanded to projects in Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya) and South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan). 

The Global Vision Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the internationalization of TTU through his or her many years of leadership in promoting international scholarship and teaching. Professor John Barkdull was the 2022 recipient of this award.  Dr. Barkdull's many achievements over his 30-year academic career at Texas Tech include the establishment of the Global Studies degree program at Texas Tech, teaching many international relations courses, and serving as the director of the International Studies Minor. He has also worked to increase awareness among Global Studies students about opportunities in the TTU study abroad program, Peace Corps Certificate Program, and employment opportunities within the State Department. John also recently began the process of establishing a Global Studies Graduate Certificate, which is currently under review.

The Campus Internationalization Award recognizes a College, Department, or an Office within the Texas Tech University System that has made significant contributions toward internationalization.  The Award for 2022 was presented to TTU K-12, a unit of the Texas Tech University eLearning & Academic Partnerships division.  TTU's K-12 a complete online school district, offering quality, accredited education through Texas Tech Elementary, Middle and High Schools. Full-time students who complete the state requirements earn a Texas high school diploma upon graduation.  Over the last five years, TTU K-12 has actively grown our international and increased our presence to 40 schools in Brazil and one in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, with partnerships in San Jose, Costa Rica; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Buson, South Korea; and Cancun, Mexico. Currently, there are 1,200 full-time international students enrolled in TTU K-12. The partnership in Brazil has just started increasing numbers of international students taking middle school courses, which increases the pipeline into high school. Two new partnerships were signed during the pandemic with South Korea and Mexico. 

The day's celebrations ended with a dinner and the presentation of the Global Citizen Award.  The Global Citizen Award is presented by Texas Tech University's Office of International Affairs to a distinguished individual who has made significant contribution toward internationalization of higher education.  This year's winner was Dr. William Brustein, who recently stepped down as the Special Assistant to the President for Global Affairs to be the Eberly Family Distinguished Professor at West Virginia University.  Dr. Brustein has spent his administrative career focused on international education.  he was the Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs and President of The Ohio State University Global Gateways.  Widely published in the areas of political extremism and ethnic/religious/racial prejudice, William Brustein has served as president of the Association of International Education Administrators, chair of NAFSA's International Education Leadership Knowledge Community, and chair of the Senior International Officers of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. 

The Global Vision Awards had some very impressive nominations this year, and the work that has been accomplished has made an incredible difference for our students, our campus, and our global recognition.  

For more information and to see previous winners of the Global Vision Awards, please visit:  Global Vision Awards.