UC International Announces Recipients of Third Century Faculty Awards to Support Global Study

Dozens of University of Cincinnati faculty and staff are making traveling plans as a result of awards to increase excellence in study abroad experiences.

The grant programs totaling $100,000 annually are coordinated by UC International as part of the first phase of UC’s Creating Our Third Century commitment to invest in people – faculty, students, staff and alumni. The awardees were selected following calls for proposals last semester.

Twelve recipients were announced for the new Faculty-Led Study Abroad Mentoring Grant, which involves shadowing a study abroad-experienced faculty member who was organizing a short-term study-abroad program on the December break, 2015 spring break, 2015 May break or the 2015 summer semester.

Fourteen people were awarded the Faculty Study Abroad Program Development Grant, which allows recipients to plan new study abroad opportunities by supporting an exploratory travel to their destination of interest previous to developing the course.

Recipients of the Faculty-Led Study Abroad Mentoring Grant

• Omotayo Banjo, a UC assistant professor of communication, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) – Mentoring faculty member is Todd Herzog, associate professor and head of German Studies (A&S), who is leading a study-abroad course to London and Paris in May, 2015.
• Paula Breslin, academic director, internship program and environmental studies program (A&S) – Mentoring faculty member is Elissa Yancey, educator associate professor of journalism (A&S), who is leading a study-abroad course to India during spring break in March, 2015.
• Sherry Donaworth, assistant professor of clinical nursing (College of Nursing) – Mentoring faculty member is Tina Weitkamp, associate professor of clinical nursing (Nursing), who is leading a study-abroad experience to the Dominican Republic in January, 2015.
• Timothy Forest, assistant professor of history, UC Blue Ash College – Mentoring faculty member is Michael Roos, professor of English and communication (UCBA), who is leading a study-abroad program to the United Kingdom during summer, 2015.
• Gergana Ivanova, assistant professor, Department of German Studies (A&S) – Mentoring faculty member is Joyce Miller, adjunct instructor, Romance Languages and Literatures (A&S, who is leading a study-abroad language immersion program to Florence, Italy, in summer, 2015.
• Shannon Schaffer, assistant professor, Judaic Studies (A&S) – Mentoring faculty member is Matthew Kraus, assistant professor, Judaic Studies, who is leading a course to Israel and Jordan during summer, 2015.
• Sarah Manchak, assistant professor of criminal justice, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) – Mentoring faculty member is Xan Boone, assistant professor educator, School of Social Work, College of Allied Health Sciences, who will be leading an experience to Nicaragua in May, 2015.
• Jennifer Lewis, associate director of undergraduate programs, Carl H. Lindner College of Business (LCOB) – Mentors are Lee Armstrong, associate director of international programs (LCOB), and David Rapien, assistant professor-educator of operations, business analytics and information systems, (LCOB) who are leading a business course to Germany in May, 2015.
• Michael Odio, assistant professor, sport administration (CECH) – Mentor is Lee Armstrong, associate director of international programs (LCOB), who is leading a service-learning course to Guatemala over spring break in March, 2015.
• Heidi Grappendorf, assistant professor, sport administration (CECH) – Mentor is Mary Steffel, assistant professor of marketing (LCOB), who is leading an experience in France and Belgium during spring break in March, 2015.
• Noel Anderson, assistant professor, School of Art, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) – Mentoring faculty member is Kris Holland, assistant professor of art (DAAP), who is leading a seminar to Germany during summer, 2015.
• Rebecca Tudor, director of undergraduate student enrollment, College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) – Mentor is Eugene Rutz, academic director of CEAS, who is leading an engineering course to the United Kingdom during spring break in March, 2015.
  

Recipients of the Faculty Study Abroad Program Development Grant

• Christopher Auffrey, associate professor, planning (DAAP) – India
• Omotayo Banjo, a UC assistant professor of communication (A&S) – India
• Willie Clark, assistant professor, Professional Practice – Hong Kong
• Vittoria Daiello, assistant professor of art (DAAP) – Italy
• Eva Floyd, assistant professor of music education (CCM) – Austria, France and Hungary
• Mohammed Elayyadi, adjunct instructor, romance languages and literatures (A&S) – Morocco
• Jeff Kastner, assistant professor, engineering education (CEAS) – Guatemala
• Jonathon Kreger, associate professor, composition musicology and theory (CCM) – Austria
• Sarah Manchak, assistant professor, criminal justice (CECH) – Scotland
• Chuck Matthews, distinguished teaching professor of entrepreneurship and strategy (LCOB) – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Kevin Raleigh, associate professor educator, geography (A&S) – Ireland
• Gergana Ivanova, assistant professor of Japanese literature, Department of German Studies (A&S) – Japan
• Josh Beck, assistant professor of marketing (LCOB) – Spain
• Cheri Westmoreland, director of inclusion and retention (Student Affairs) – Costa Rica
  

UC International is promoting more than 90 faculty-led study abroad programs over the current academic year, compared with 60 faculty-led programs in 2013-14.

The Third Century investment in UC International is part of more than $6.5 million in permanent funding for initiatives ranging from faculty development and research; undergraduate and graduate research and student success; development for staff; diversity initiatives and excellence in e-learning.