New Name for Office of International Affairs at Kent State

no longer has an Office of International Affairs. More precisely, it has a new name: the Office of Global Education.

Dr. Mary Anne Saunders, executive director of the office, said the name change helps reinforce that the office's focus is on education.

"It is a more precise term that reflects what we do here at Kent State — global student recruitment and scholar services as well as education abroad," she said.

It should also help redirect a few phone calls. Saunders said when "International Affairs" was part of the office's name, it caused confusion, and the staff fielded a lot of phone calls from people looking for a major in international affairs.

To clarify, the International Relations major is advised and administered through the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of Global Education (formerly International Affairs) recruits students from more than 91 countries, focusing on those who are part of Fulbright Scholar Program and other prestigious academic programs. To complement its international recruiting efforts, the office works with students studying at Kent State to ensure programming meets "the unique needs of international students." One example Saunders cites is the new International Village Experience in Van Campen Hall.

In addition to the name change, which was initially proposed by Kent State University President Lester Lefton, and changes to office signs and stationery, Saunders said the office's name had to be updated on numerous websites to reflect the change, as well as on nametags for the office staff. While gift items, like pens and notepads offered to visitors, will be reordered with the office's new name, Saunders said that nothing will be wasted — even if it bears the office's old name. "We'll use it internally," she said.

And although she'd hoped to see a new sign on the office door in time to welcome new and returning students, the sign had yet to arrive on Sept. 2. Saunders wasn't about to let that slow the office's work — she was off to visit the University of Sussex in Brighton, England, to discuss a potential partnership to offer study abroad opportunities to Kent State students.

While the university currently offers semester abroad opportunities in Geneva, Switzerland, and Florence, Italy, the office has had many inquiries about an English-language option for education abroad programs, she said, and she's eager to add more.

"Our students should have the same number of opportunities as those at any major university," Saunders said. No matter what the sign says on the office door, she's clearly focused on global education.