(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 10, 2022

MAHWAH, N.J. – Ben Levy, Director of International Education at Ramapo College of New Jersey, was among the presenters at the annual conference of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), held in New Orleans. The presentation titled “Resources from the State Department: Building Back Study Abroad through Strategic Partnerships” was designed to discuss strategic partnerships between institutions of higher education and the U.S. Department of State to rebuild study abroad opportunities diminished over the past two years by the pandemic, and the global partnerships and activities that result.

“Ramapo College has been privileged to be recipients of various U.S. government grants in support of our internationalization and global engagement initiatives,” said Levy. “Through these grants, we have been better positioned to create greater access for diverse students to participate in global academic experiences, as well as continue to build a strategic, meaningful, bilateral and reciprocal network of global partnerships.”

Thanks to the support of a U.S Department of State IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad) grant, Ramapo College developed eight new programs titled “Global Field Experiences”. Through development of these programs, Ramapo College has further expanded and strengthened its global partnership networks in Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India & the UK. Levy discussed Ramapo’s best practices for establishing partnerships and maximizing these grants.

Levy stated that Ramapo has partnered with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) on virtual series such as the “Internationalization of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era” series providing both excellent resources to the international education community, as well as funded speaking opportunities for U.S. citizens to engage with international audiences (virtually and in-person).

“U.S. embassies and Fulbright Commissions frequently host expert speakers in their countries for short-term workshops, consultations, or related engagements both virtually and in-person,” Levy said. “These opportunities include developing training workshops, networking opportunities, and pilot programs to connect U.S. and foreign institutions and bolster opportunities for U.S. students to study abroad.”

Levy also had the opportunity for a private meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ethan Rosenzweig, recently appointed by the Biden administration. The meeting was hosted by Dillard University, a historically black university (HBCU) in New Orleans and another institutional recipient of the IDEAS grant.

“During this visit, I had the opportunity to present Ramapo College to him and the various ways that we globally engage,” Levy said. “He was impressed and even mentioned us in his morning conference plenary.”

Levy’s co-presenters for the AIEA conference session were Heidi Manley, Chief of USA Study Abroad, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State; and Adam Willcox, Research Assistant Professor, the University of Tennessee.

Caption:

L-R (front row): Dr. Roland Bullard (Dillard University); Heidi Manley (USA Study Abroad); Adam Wilcox (University of Tennessee)

L-R (2nd row): Ethan Rosenzweig (U.S. Department of State); John Sunnygard (Western Kentucky University)

L-R (back row): Courtney Williams (Dillard University); Ben Levy (Ramapo College)

 

 

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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