*UPDATE November 11, 2015 – Mark’s full presentation is now posted !
Mark Lester, Co-Director of Augsburg鈥檚 Global Campus in Nicaragua, will be speaking at , this weekend in Washington, DC. The theme of the event this year is 鈥淏ridges鈥�.
Mark will be presenting on the topic, 鈥淏eyond Immersion and Service:聽 Bridges for Institutionalizing the Impact of the Global South on our Educational Mission鈥�. This presentation uses the experience of a 30 year collaboration between Augsburg CGEE, the , and the Research and Development Institute 鈥淣itlapan-UCA鈥� in Nicaragua. The presentation is meant to provoke reflection on the gaps between the reality of the Global North and South, and the important role institutions can play 鈥渁s bridges鈥� between those realities.
Mark will be presenting during breakout session #3, on Sunday, November 8th, from 1:10 鈥� 2:00 PM.
Andrea Dvorak, Assistant Director of Off-campus Study, Dulce Monterrubio, Director, Latin@ Student Services, and and Augsburg alum Zitlali Chavez Ayala聽(’15), will be speaking at NAFSA鈥檚 regional conference in Des Moines. NAFSA聽is the premier national organization for international educators. The theme of the conference is 鈥淧lanting Seeds. Sharing the Harvest鈥�.
Andrea, Dulce, and Zitali will be presenting on the topic, 鈥淏reaking Barriers: Best Practices Working with Undocumented and DACA-mented Students鈥�.聽From NAFSA conference site: 鈥淭his interactive session will introduce up-to-date information on federal and state regulations, address ongoing barriers to accessing higher education, and guide you in providing services and support for undocumented and DACA-mented students. We will also share strategies for offering informed education abroad advising, and provide examples of programs that are undocu-friendly. Most importantly, you鈥檒l hear from a recent college grad about her college and study-away experience as a DACA-mented student. You will walk out with confidence in your knowledge about serving these students and empowered to support them within the structures of your state, program, or institution.鈥�
Congratulations, Andrea, Dulce and Zitali on representing Augsburg鈥檚 value of breaking down barriers to access higher education for a wide variety of students!
Dr. Ann Lutterman-Aguilar, Director of Augsburg鈥檚 Global Campus in Mexico, will be speaking at SIETAR鈥檚 annual conference in Orlando. is the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. The theme of the conference (having its 15th year celebration) is Expanding Intercultural Horizons: Competencies for a Diverse and Global Workforce.
Lucy Hardaker (hardaker@augsburg.edu), one of the newest CGE staff members, is highlighted this month!
Position and primary duties?
I am聽CGE’s Outreach and Enrollment Specialist. 聽I visit schools around the country to meet with study abroad advisors, faculty, and students about CGE programs. 聽I am a student’s primary contact after they inquire or express interest in our programs. 聽I really enjoy answering student questions and helping them understand the study abroad enrollment process. 聽I also assist with the management of our social media channels. 聽One of my favorite projects is working with our Alumni Ambassadors, a program through which returned students work closely with interested students in selecting and preparing for a CGEE experience. 聽If you want to be an Alumni Ambassador or are interested in connecting with one, contact me at the above email address.
In what year did you start with CGE?
2014
Share with us a brief educational and work history.
I studied as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and, while I was there, I worked two different jobs. One, at a small scrapbooking and craft supply store, and the other at the international student services office on my campus. My time as a student assistant in the international office set me on a path to international education as a career. Once I graduated, they hired me as the host family coordinator where I matched international students to families within the Eau Claire community. 聽After a few years working professionally in Eau Claire, I moved back to my home of Saint Paul, Minnesota to pursue my Master鈥檚 degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Minnesota and to work with international students there as well. My job was to coordinate short-term programs, where I got to plan and lead educational field trips around the Twin Cities as a way聽to help students聽increase their understanding of US culture and the English language. I also assisted the international student recruiter in her job to recruit students to study in Minnesota.
Where are you from?
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Where do you work?
Minneapolis office
Most rewarding part of your work with CGE
I have been interested in intercultural connections and international travel for as long as I can remember, so I find it very rewarding to get students excited about study abroad. I love to hear the stories from the students after they return, too – to share in the joy of a transformative experience.
Most challenging part of your work with CGE?
Seriously – seeing the student鈥檚 photos! It鈥檚 painful to see all the places I still want to go in my life. My fingers start itching for online flight searches…
While all CGE visits and resource people are important and valuable, are there any particular stories/encounters that are particularly poignant for you personally or for our participants? 聽
I鈥檓 still pretty new to CGE so I don鈥檛 have as many stories to draw from yet. However, each time I hear a story from a student that didn鈥檛 think they would ever be able to go abroad, I am quite happy to know that they found a way and that they chose us. I believe that CGE鈥檚 style of program is such a fantastic way to experience international travel 鈥� I wish my school had known of it when I was studying abroad!
What are your hobbies/personal interests?
My hobbies include: scrapbooking, riding my bike, and hibernating during Minnesota winters with Netflix!
聽Where is your favorite place to travel or what is your dream destination for the future? 聽
My favorite place I have visited is Annecy, France, a small mountain town in Eastern France. I consider this my favorite travel memory because it holds a special place in my heart as the first international travel experience I had. I went to France for 3 weeks with my high school French class and have been smitten with travel and culture ever since. Annecy was my favorite from the trip as it is a beautiful town filled with wonderful people! And as a Minnesotan girl, I had never seen mountains before so visiting the French Alps was a very special experience.
