New Year - New Responsibilities!

Shelley Taylor has been named Director of Global Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  Shelley brings over 20 years of successful international program leadership to her new position. Shelley replaces Denise Bjelland who retired after 47 years of service at ISU.

David Acker’s title has been modified to Associate Dean for Global Engagement.  David has led CALS’ internationalization efforts since 1995.

New Funding Available for Creation of Study Abroad Programs

The CALS Study Abroad office is pleased to announce a limited amount of funding for travel grants available towards the development and sustainability of study abroad opportunities in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Approximate amount of funding could be up to $3,000.  Click here for more information.

International Travel Registration

Advance registration on the ISU Travel Website is required for all ISU employees who plan to travel on university business outside of the continental United States.  Enrollment for Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) coverage (also required) will also be completed within this registration process.  You can read the complete ISU policy on International Travel Registration here

Save the Date

Spring Study Abroad Fair

Thursday January 23, 2020
10:30- 1:30
6563 Great Hall Memorial Union

CALS Global Programs Hosts International Farmers Aid Association

The Global Programs Department hosted 34 students from Brazil, Japan and South Korea for a visit from December 2-7, 2019. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Global Programs Department has been hosting high school and undergraduate students from Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Bolivia, and Paraguay through a partnership with the International Farmers Aid Association (IFAA) for over 40 years . . . read more

Visiting Scholar from Hokkaido University, Japan

Tetsuya Yamada, senior researcher with the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) in Japan is visiting Iowa State University as a visiting scholar under the guidance of Dr. Asheesh Singh, Associate Professor in the Department of Agronomy. Tetsuya obtained his undergraduate degree from Hokkaido University and recently received his PhD from the University of Tsukuba in Japan. Tetsuya has focused his research on soybean breeding for higher yields, pod shattering tolerance and green stem disorder. Although rice is the main crop in Japan, soybean production is essential in the making of common foods such as tofu . . .read more

Global Collaboration on Food Security (Factor Analysis Podcast)

Listen to Ugandan Moses Kalyango's experience as an undergraduate student visiting Iowa State. Tom Brumm, Mary and Charles Sukup Global Professor in Food Security (2015) and associate director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, is Moses' faculty mentor https://soundcloud.com/user-903782874/ep109-global-collaboration-on-food-security

Marathon Run Raises $10,000 for Uganda Lunch Program

Spending spring break in Uganda changed Aly Stadtlander’s world.

She traveled to Uganda to study with the Iowa State University Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods program and worked with the school garden and lunch, nutrition education centers and livestock integration programs. The moment she realized she wanted to do something more was when she learned that children only get one nutritious meal a day during school. Stadtlander, a junior in animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said she noticed students trying to store food to eat later in the day and share with their siblings. That's when she knew she had to help . . .read more

Affording Study Abroad Informational Sessions

CALS Global Programs will host 2 informational sessions aimed towards students that are interested in learning more about study abroad opportunities, how to find available programs, and understanding the budgeting/financial aid aspect of study abroad. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: 031 Parks Library

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: 031 Parks Library

Student Spotlight

Riley Wilgenbusch

Major: Agronomy & Global Resource Systems
Experience: Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program: Rome & Uganda

"My favorite part of being abroad was getting to apply the things I’d been learning in classrooms to programs that are making real change in the world."

Riley Wilgenbusch, senior in agronomy and global resource systems, spent his summer traveling the world. He visited Rome during May and through the beginning of June and then spent a week exploring central Europe. Riley then traveled to Uganda through the end of July.

Riley’s experiences in Rome and Uganda were unique and different from one another. While in Rome, Riley worked for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to evaluate sustainability concerns surrounding a global shift towards plant-based diets. He also had the opportunity to meet with the U.S. Mission to the U.N. Agencies and the newly-appointed ambassador Kip Tom, presented to livestock policy experts. On a weekend trip to Tuscany, Riley also learned about agriculture in Italy. Read more

Tiffany Poen

Major: Agricultural Business and International Agriculture
Experience: United Arab Emirates and Exploring the Agri-Culture of Belize

"Even though the programs are suggested for sophomores and up, I was lucky enough to be accepted as a freshman, and it was the best experience I’ve had!"

Tiffany Poen is a junior studying agricultural business and international agriculture from Yetter, IA. Tiffany got a jump start on her adventure here at Iowa State by embarking on a study abroad travel course her freshman year. “Even though the programs are suggested for sophomores and up, I was lucky enough to be accepted as a freshman, and it was the best experience I’ve had,” states Tiffany. Her advice to students is to partake in at LEAST one study abroad experience in college. For Tiffany, studying abroad not only gave her an opportunity to travel outside of the U.S. for the first time and make friends within her major, but it also changed her global outlook and made her realize the importance of being a global citizen and immersing yourself in foreign cultures.

Marta Grant

Marta Grant is a junior studying Agricultural Business, Animal Science, and Spanish at Iowa State University. Marta will be spending spring semester at la Universidad de Extramadura in Cáceres, Spain studying Spanish. Follow Marta's blog here

Where Are CALS Faculty/Staff Traveling?

Please feel free to let CALS Global Programs know where you are traveling!  Information can be sent to gap@iastate.edu

January, 2020

Friday, January 17, 2020 Application Deadline: Fund for Education Abroad (FEAU) Scholarship

Thursday, January 23, 2020 10:30 - 1:30 ISU Study Abroad Fair

Tuesday, January 28, 2020 4:00 - 5:00 Informational Session: Affording Study Abroad

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 4:00 - 5:00 Informational Session: Affording Study Abroad

February, 2020

Saturday, February 15, 2020 Application Deadline: EARTH Service Learning on St.John

Global Update, a newsletter to keep Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty and staff informed of international activities and initiatives, is prepared bi-monthly. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Global Update subscribe" to gap@iastate.edu.  To unsubscribe, send "Global Update unsubscribe."