51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Table of Contents

• From the Director
• The Return of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program
• Welcoming Back Fulbright TEA Alumna Olena Riabushenko
• Teaching Without Borders (TWB)
• Design Innovation Hub Faculty Fellowship Opportunity
• 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to Host Access English Exchange Program
• Looking Ahead: Preparing for the Read Center’s 40th Anniversary (2027)
• Closing

From the Director

Greetings colleagues and friends,

As we move into the spring season, the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education is excited to share several updates that reflect our continued commitment to global engagement, innovative partnerships, and meaningful professional learning opportunities. From welcoming international scholars to expanding partnerships abroad and supporting faculty innovation here at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, we are energized by the momentum ahead.

Most importantly, we are thrilled to see international exchange returning to campus in full and meaningful ways—reaffirming the Read Center’s mission to connect 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to the world through intercultural learning, partnerships, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Below are a few highlights from our work this semester.

The Return of the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program

We are proud to share that the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program will return to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø this summer. This program plays an important role in preparing international Fulbright students for academic success and intercultural engagement as they begin their studies in the United States. The Read Center is proud to share leadership of this program with Dr. Debbie Rozner and the ESL Center.

The return of this program is especially meaningful as it signals renewed momentum for global exchange and international academic collaboration. We look forward to welcoming Fulbright participants back to campus and supporting their transition into U.S. higher education, while also enriching our 51³Ô¹ÏÍø community through cultural exchange and shared learning.

Welcoming Back Fulbright TEA Alumna Olena Riabushenko (Ukraine)

This summer, we are thrilled to welcome Olena Riabushenko, a former 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program participant from Ukraine, who will be joining 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as a participant in The Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program.

The Edmund S. Muskie Professional Fellowship Program provides an exciting opportunity for U.S. organizations and universities to host talented, motivated, and multilingual graduate students during the summer. This prestigious program places selected Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program grantees from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia in professional internship experiences designed to strengthen practical skills, expand professional networks, and support participants’ long-term career goals in their home countries.

The Muskie Professional Fellowship Program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

Olena’s return is a powerful reminder of the long-term impact of exchange programs and the lasting relationships built through educational diplomacy. During her time at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as a Fulbright TEA participant, Olena made meaningful contributions to our campus community and strengthened cross-cultural learning in our classrooms. We are proud to support her continued academic journey and look forward to the perspectives and experiences she will bring to campus this summer.

Teaching Without Borders (TWB): Global Teacher Preparation in Action

The Read Center continues to advance Teaching Without Borders (TWB)—an emerging initiative designed to strengthen global and intercultural learning opportunities for pre-service teachers and education students at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

TWB supports innovative teaching partnerships and global learning experiences that prepare future educators to thrive in diverse classrooms and international contexts. As this initiative grows, we are exploring opportunities to expand participation, strengthen program design, and connect TWB with global partners and professional development models abroad.

More updates on TWB will be shared soon as program planning continues.

Design Innovation Hub Faculty Fellowship Opportunity

The Read Center is pleased to partner with the Design Innovation Hub to support the Design Innovation Faculty Fellows Program, a summer fellowship designed to help faculty develop innovative, globally engaged projects.

This fellowship supports faculty in designing and advancing innovative international education projects that integrate global engagement, intercultural learning, and applied scholarship. Emphasizing collaborative design, reciprocal partnerships, and shared expertise across global and local contexts, the fellowship enables faculty to deepen their international engagement practice while producing scholarship, curricula, or programs that address complex global challenges. The fellowship is open to full-time faculty from any discipline with an interest in international, intercultural, or globally engaged teaching, research, or community partnerships. This fellowship is supported by Design Innovation and the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education.

Faculty can apply online on the Design Innovation website by March 20th.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø to Host Access English Exchange Program: Integrating Emerging and Innovative Technology in the English Language Classroom

We are thrilled to share that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs, to host the Exchange Program: Integrating Emerging and Innovative Technology in the English Language Classroom in Summer 2026. This two-week exchange will bring 25 international English language educators to campus for an immersive professional experience focused on innovative technologies, artificial intelligence, and forward-looking approaches to English language teaching. Most importantly, it marks the continued return of dynamic, in-person international exchange programming to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Led by the Gerald H. Read Center in partnership with the ESL Center and the Research Center for Educational Technology, the program will be guided by Dr. Debbie Rozner and Dr. Annette Kratcoski, whose leadership in English language education and technology integration makes 51³Ô¹ÏÍø uniquely positioned to host this initiative. Through hands-on workshops, campus and school visits, and meaningful cultural engagement—including our beloved Friendship Family program—participants will collaborate with faculty, students, and community members. We are proud to welcome the world back to Kent and grateful to our campus partners and supporters who make this work possible. 

Looking Ahead: Preparing for the Read Center’s 40th Anniversary (2027)

As we look toward the future, we are also excited to share that the Read Center is beginning preparations for a major milestone: our 40th Anniversary in 2027.

Over the past four decades, the Read Center has served as a hub for international engagement at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø—supporting global partnerships, exchange programs, faculty

development, student opportunities, and intercultural learning experiences that have shaped generations of educators and leaders.

In the coming year, we will be working to identify meaningful ways to celebrate this legacy, honor our alumni and partners, and highlight the remarkable impact of international education across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and beyond. We look forward to sharing more as planning continues—and we welcome ideas from our community as we prepare to celebrate this important anniversary.

Closing

As always, we are grateful for the faculty, partners, alumni, and supporters who make this work possible. The Read Center remains committed to expanding global learning opportunities, strengthening intercultural understanding, and building impactful partnerships that benefit 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and communities around the world.

We look forward to a vibrant summer of international activity on campus and beyond—and we welcome your ideas, collaborations, and continued engagement.

With appreciation, 

M. Amanda Johnson, Ph.D. 
Director, Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education 
51³Ô¹ÏÍø