A word from President Starr

Friends:

As you well know, Baylor’s mission is not only “to prepare our students for worldwide leadership and service,” but to welcome others from around the globe so that we may learn from each other within the context of a “caring community.”

The opportunities that the Center for International Education offers are shining examples of global outreach. Throughout the year, our faculty and students travel to more than thirty coun-tries. This has afforded our students an extraordinary opportunity to study other cultures and learn from colleagues around the world.

CIE also offers valuable services to international students who choose to study at Baylor Univer-sity. This fall, Baylor welcomed 518 new and returning international students to campus - rep-resenting 71countries. They bless us by calling Baylor their second home.

Our motto, Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana - for Baylor and for the world - echoes the Great Commis-sion call of Matthew’s Gospel: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every-thing I have commanded you.” As a Christian institution of higher learning in this, the Global Century, our mission is as important as it ever has been.

Our University’s commitment to global education is as strong as ever. We are grateful for the important work of the Center for International Education in fulfilling Baylor’s lofty mission.

Yours sincerely,Kenneth Winston StarrBaylor University President

A Word From President Starr

Baylor in Maastricht

Bienvenidos!

Russian Exchange Student

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A Word From President Starr ...2

Baylor in Maastricht ...4

Bienvenidos!...6

Russian Exchange Student

Mamadou Diene‘s JourneyPAWS Partners

2011 Photo Contest Winners

2011 Photo Contest Winners 2

From Africa to Waco

International Student Wives

Breaking Barriers

A Word From Our Director

...8

...12...14...16...20

...22...24...26...28

Adviser Aids Students Travel‘...30

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Many people dream of one day going to Paris to see the Eifel Tower, London to see Big Ben, or Rome to see the Coliseum. Not many people get to see all three on the same trip. For a few lucky Baylor students every semester this dream becomes a reality. For one Baylor student, a trip to Europe was once in a lifetime.

Abilene, Kan. senior, Kelsey Stevens got to live her dream with Baylor’s study abroad program in Maastricht, Netherlands.

“It was amazing. Going to Maastricht gave me the chance to experience cultures I never thought I would be able to experience and see things I could only dream of seeing,” Stevens said.

In the Maastricht program, Stevens spent the entire Fall 2011 semester abroad. She took classes for eight weeks then spent a month traveling around Europe and learning about the culture.

The classes Stevens took were taught by Baylor faculty and faculty of Maastricht University.

“The Dutch professors were very culturally well-rounded, intelligent and enthusiastic about us learning. They worked with us and wanted us to succeed at everything we were doing. I learned a lot from them,” Stevens said.

The classes alone were not what attracted Stevens to the Maastricht program. The time spent visiting other countries is what

appealed to Stevens.

In total, Stevens visited 13 countries across Europe and got to see many of the world’s famous landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, the statue of David, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Buckingham Palace.

Stevens said it is hard for her to pick out her favorite country or place that she visited, because she loved them all.

Something that stuck out to her was visiting a friend from Germany who spent a year at her high school as a foreign exchange student.

“I got to see my friend Vanessa at her home in Germany. I hadn’t seen her in three years and getting to catch up with her was great. I also got to eat dinner at her grandparents house and have an authentic German meal in a German home.”

Baylor in MaastrichtBy Kyle Beam

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In addition to experiencing true German culture Stevens, along with 13 of her fellow travelers, got to experience something many others have not got the chance to experience, a cruise of the Mediterranean that traveled to Greece and Turkey.

“The cruise was great. We got to enjoy the time on the ship and eat lots of great food without having to worry about moving our stuff around for a few days. We also got to see Greece and Turkey, which very few of the people who have gone on the trip before have gotten to do,” Stevens said.

The semester spent abroad is something Stevens says she will carry with her for the rest of her life and something she would never trade for anything. But she does advise future travelers to plan ahead.

“It’s hard to plan everything. You have to know where you’re going to stay, what you’re going to do and where you’re going to eat because you are trying to do so much in such a limited time. Luckily for us I was traveling with my friend Tara and her mom had everything planned out and that lifted a huge burden off of us.”

Stevens does hope to go back to Europe one day because there are many more things she wants to see that she didn’t have a chance to and things she wants to see again. But she is very thankful for the opportunities she had on the trip.

“If Baylor would not have offered the chance to go Maastricht I may never have gotten to go to Europe but I’m thankful they did. I just wish it could have been longer.”

Baylor in Maastricht

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Why do you work with CIE “Welcome Family” programs? I know that it can be lonely and a little frightening for an international

break from the stresses of academics.

student to be so far away from family. I want tohelp provide a place where they can call upon someoneto help them in need or to share some fun and a

What does it mean to your family?

wants and needs.

I think it broadens their viewsof other cultures and people. It lets them see we are all alike in many ways and have the same core

What activities have you done with international students?

their English vocabulary.

I’ve gone on someof the international student trips provided by CIE. I have lunch with my students and I have them cometo my home for meals. We like to play family/groupgames. Apples to Apples is a favorite. It is a veryfun way for international students to increase

What family traditions have you taught international students?

toast, biscuits & gravy.

The Brazilianstudents are always amazed at their firstAmerican breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit,

Bienvenidos!An interview with Lynae Jordan by Song Pham

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What places in Waco or the state have you taken international students?

Antonio, NASA in Houston, Cameron Park, andSan

shopping around Waco.

What cooking you have done with students?

love ranch dressing and are surprised by the

The Brazilian studentslove to share dishes from their country. They

many things you can dip in it.

Do you still keep in touch with students once they leave Baylor? Yes!Facebook and email are wonderful tools for keepingin touch around the world.

blessed beyond measure.

Do you recommend other to be involved in the CIE “Welcome Family” program?

I highly recommend this program. It is meant tobe a blessing to international students, to helpthem acclimate to the new culture and area, butin the end, it is the welcome family who will be

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Russian exchange student Anastasia Larchenkova doesn’t seem to have been shocked by her immersion into American culture so much as she seems to have been fulfilled.

Born in Voronezh, Russia, Larchenkova had never been to America, but decided to study abroad here rather than in Europe out of a desire to experience a completely new country. Thus, she arrived at Baylor in January and found a culture she now loves.

“Life here is so bright,” Larchenkova said, reflecting on her first two months in Texas.

From the weather to her classes to her new hobby of horseback riding, Larchenkova brims with excitement over every detail of her new life. The choices Baylor offers, she said, are the greatest thing about the university.

Even the freedom to choose her own classes contrasts with Russia, where students follow a set course track, she said.

“You have lots…hundreds, thousands, millions of opportunities,” Larchenkova said. “You can find yourself here, you really can find yourself.”

For Larchenkova, horseback riding had been a childhood dream left unfulfilled. But this semester, she rides about three times a week at a farm about half an hour from Waco.

“Like Disney, ‘dreams come true,’” Larchenkova

said. “Here, I do things for which I will never have time in Russia.”

She has found that the people themselves are different in America, too.

“In general people are different in Russia…people are scared to show their emotions. They don’t smile, they don’t laugh when they walk somewhere,” Larchenkova sad. “Here, people are so open.”

Although her first week in the states “was like something in a movie,” and her experience so far has been a good one, Larchenkova has found that there are indeed struggles in American life. Having seen the poverty in Waco, she said she no longer has illusions that everyone is happy in America.

Russian student strives to unite culturesBy Sara Tirrito

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“It shows me two [ends] of a stick,” Larchenkova said. “I like that I see two sides; not just positive, but negative too. It’s very important.”

As Larchenkova learns about life in America, she is also helping other students learn about Russian culture.

She has become an active member in the Russian club, which club president Liz Black said has helped make the club more credible.

“Just to have a real Russian there that the students can ask culture questions or language questions to is really great for everyone,” Black said.

The club took part in Baylor’s Global BU Vision singing contest Feb. 23, winning first prize in the traditional song category. Black said Larchenkova’s enthusiasm helped get the team excited.

Larchenkova even donned the club’s traditional Russian folk dress for the competition.

“Usually students are embarrassed to wear it because it is so traditional looking, but she was so excited to wear it so that was really fun,” Black said.

Aside from participating in the Russian club, Larchenkova tutors students in Russian on campus, hoping to help them cultivate a love for the language.

“When you start to understand something, you start to love it,” Larchenkova said. “I wanted students here to love Russian…If they understand it, if they are good at it, they will love it.” She said that was her experience with Spanish — her fifth language — which she is learning at Baylor.

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“Anastasia has been one of the brightest pupils in my classroom this semester,” Sally Martinez, Larchenkova’s Spanish instructor, said. “She goes above and beyond the classroom work that I assign. She’s just a hard worker, and as a teacher I’m encouraged by her discipline in academics and just her enthusiasm about learning and being here.”

Aside from Russian, Larchenkova speaks English and Ukrainian, and understands German.

Martinez said she has noticed that Larchenkova “is very in tune with importance of appreciating other cultures.”

This is evidenced by the extra work it takes for Larchenkova to learn Spanish, as she has to translate between English, Russian and Spanish during each lecture, Martinez said.

“That effort alone proves to me that she is very interested in being able to communicate with other cultures and she’s willing to work very hard to do that,” Martinez said.

Larchenkova hopes to eventually work in the banking industry, where she can combine the various languages she has learned with her love for economics.

But for now, she is using her language skills to help bridge the Russian and American cultures at Baylor. She said she is certain Russians and Americans can be friends, and can enrich one another.

“I really want people to live in peace,” Larchenkova said. “I don’t want wars.”

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“When you start to understand something, you start to love it. I wanted students

here to love Russian…If they understand it, if

they are good at it, they will love it."

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Each year over 500 international students enter Baylor University as exchange students. With such a large number of students from varying backgrounds and cultures entering Baylor University, and most having never been to the United States, the question arises: how could Baylor make their stay more welcoming?

Baylor’s answer is Partners Around the World Sharing, or PAWS. The program was founded by Beth Walker to help international students transition into Baylor University and the United States.

When an international student arrives at Baylor, they have the option to enroll in the PAWS program and request a PAWS partner. At the same time, American students at Baylor are asked to sign up to be matched with an international student. On the second week

of arriving at Baylor, international students attend a party to meet their assigned partners.

Partners are chosen by many different qualifications. Rachel Hardgrave, a student worker for the center for international education, works closely with the matching process.

“It’s helpful for international students if they are paired with someone their age or a few years older,” says Hardgrave. “Matching someone who is learning a language with a native speaker can be a really helpful way to practice conversation. I also look at hobbies, interests and places students have traveled.”

After the initial meeting and introduction to their PAWS partner, international students can be as involved as they like when it comes to spending time together. Some partners will go to the movies or eat at surrounding restaurants. Usually, PAWS partners are left without a car to travel to surrounding areas and depend on their PAWS partners to take them shopping and to buy groceries.

Haruki Kubo is an exchange student from Tokyo, Japan studying at Baylor for one year. When he arrived, Kubo struggled with communicating with American students and keeping up with conversation. He lacked confidence in his English speaking skills.

When other exchange students placed in a similar situation would retreat and try to only

PAWS Partners Help Ease TransitionBy Brian Sanders

Haruki Kubo12

interact with fellow Japanese students, Kubo began to practice his English and became more and more involved with PAWS.

“PAWS has allowed me to enjoy Baylor University more,” said Kubo. “I have met so many people that will be my friends for the rest of my life.”

In the past, international students and their PAWS partners have enjoyed traveling together. Instead of staying at Baylor during Thanksgiving or Christmas break, international students will sometimes visit their PAWS partner’s family.

“[Students] will go visit their PAWS partners families or they’ll go together with a group of PAWS partners and take a trip,” says Smith. “They do a lot of that on the weekends during the semester.”

Whether an international student spends a semester or four years at Baylor, the PAWS program is a way to hopefully help students adjust to a new culture.

“They are always thankful that they participated in the program,” says Hardgrave. “I’ve never heard any international students say they regret requesting a PAWS partner.”

From left: Ms. Alice Starr, Daiki Nagao, Keita

Yamada, Haruki Kubo, Judge Ken Starr

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Luci Meredith

Logan Farmer

Lily Espinosa

2011 Photo Contest

Winners

Mandy King

Matt Dysart

2011 Photo Contest

Winners

Matthew ChanceMarley Huckabee

Ryan Duncan

Maxcey Kite

Ryan Reyna

“He says seven minutes.”

“Tell him not to hurry.”

The secretary laughed. “We don’t tell Mamadou to hurry. He rushes everywhere.”

The same way Mamadou Diene rushed to the United States, he rushed to make it to our 4 p.m. interview in the coaches office at the Ferrell Center.

“The Mayor” was as apologetic as possible for being late, even though he was simply held up at work.

If you ever saw a Baylor basketball game while Diene was playing, there was a 99.9 percent chance you would learn that earned his nickname because everyone on campus loved his friendly demeanor.

Growing up in Yeumbeul, Senegal, Diene always wanted to come to the United States. Every basketball player in Africa wants to come the U.S.

“It’s the mecca of basketball,” says Diene.

Diene first met Scott Drew, then a coach at Valparaiso University, while Drew was recruiting one of Diene’s good friends. Years later when Diene came of age, Drew approached Diene about playing basketball for Valparaiso.

During his courtship of Diene, Drew left Valparaiso after his first year as head coach in order to accept the same position at Baylor

University. With him, he brought Diene, one of his first and most successful recruits since arriving at Baylor.

“I was REALLY excited about coming here and getting the opportunity to play ball. Going to school was always important to me. My parents always emphasized school is No. 1 for me.”

Mamadou Diene’s JourneyBy Ben Friedman

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And so he came to Baylor instead of Valparaiso. Diene flew into DFW airport and caught a ride to Waco, the first city he saw in the U.S.

“In Senegal, you learn about the U.S. and the culture. But, you know, when I first came to Waco, I realized it wasn’t a big city like they show in the movies.”

As enthralled and excited as Diene was to finally be in the U.S., it wasn’t all easy. It wasn’t homesickness that really got to him.

“I was too busy to miss home or my family. They had me taking physicals, filling out paperwork for the NCAA, signing up for

“The hardest part was adjusting to practice. My body wasn’t used to the physicality and the weight room six days a week. I was so sore I couldn’t even walk to class.”classes, meeting my tutors… and then we started practice. I never had the time to miss them.”

The language barrier or a lack of familiarity with the culture wasn’t the hardest part. Diene had more difficulty adapting to the physical nature of practices and daily workouts.

“Adjusting to the English was tough but not too bad. I did better at that than practice,” said Diene. “The hardest part was adjusting to practice. My body wasn’t used to the physicality and the weight room six days a week. I was so sore after practice, I couldn’t even walk to class.”

As for Waco, Diene fell in love. Even though it wasn’t like anything he’d seen in the movies while in Senegal (New York City, Hollywood, Boston, Chicago), Waco made him feel welcome and he has paid it back as best as he can.

“I was really shocked by how people welcomed me, accepted me… The way people were nice to me really helped me adjust here. I made friends quick. I didn’t think that people would be that nice.”

“That’s one thing that made me really love Waco. That’s why I’m still here. It’s home away from home now.”

After graduating from Baylor, Diene stayed with the basketball program for two years as a graduate assistant, working closely with the team during their Elite Eight run in 2010.

His next job landed him at Vanguard Prep, a local middle school where he taught speech and coached basketball. Even though he’s moved on, Diene still volunteers as a coach at the middle school there, staying as connected as possible.

But now, Diene works as the Community Relations Coordinator for Visiting Angels in Waco, a company that provides in-home caregiving service to those who need it, mainly the sick and the elderly.

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Diene’s job is to visit nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living centers to talk to them about the company and what they do, offering their services to those who may be interested.

“We help them with anything they need to stay at home. Shopping, companionship, light housecleaning, cooking, whatever they need.”

Mamadou Diene began his journey to Waco as a young basketball player in Senegal with big dreams of coming to the United States. Along the way, he met Coach Scott Drew and helped turn around a basketball program in shambles. He followed that act by teaching his passion to young students in Waco and then working for a company that helps those in need.

Diene says he wouldn’t do anything differently.

“I wouldn’t change anything. ‘Enjoy the ride.’ If I had to make the same choice, I would do it again. There is a reason I came to Waco.”

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Imagine packing up and going to school in a completely different country. Weekend trips home aren’t an option and your family can’t stop in and visit at the drop of a hat.

Many Baylor students know this way of life all too well. One student, in particular, made the trek all the way from Kenya to get an education at Baylor University.

Joy Cheptoo Poghisio, a freshman from Nairobi, Kenya, decided to take the leap and see what Baylor had to offer.

Poghisio was born in Lincoln, Ill., but her family moved to Nairobi when she was a baby and she considers Africa her home.

“Technically, I’m an American citizen, but I lived in Kenya for most of my life and my family is still there, so I still consider myself a Kenyan,” said Poghisio.

Her father, Samuel Poghisio, also happens to serve as a Member of Parliament, in additon to being minister of information, technology and communication in Nairobi.

After finishing up with school in Kenya, Poghisio decided she wanted to go to college in the states and began attending Saddleback Community College in California.

“I wanted to go to a school somewhere in the states, so I was living in California while I applied to schools,” said Poghisio.

It was during her time in California that her father found out about Baylor from a group of students on a mission trip in Nairobi at the time. Her father was impressed by what he heard about the school from the students and told Poghisio about it on a trip to see her in California.

“He later came to visit the campus and told me about it. I looked it up online and liked it so I decided to apply,” said Poghisio.

Poghisio loved that Baylor was small and offered a religious component, which was something she was definitely looking for in a university. The avid traveler also liked that the school was located in an unfamiliar area.

“It was somewhere I had never been before. I’d never even heard of Waco,” said Poghisio.

After two years of searching for the right school, she was excited to begin a new chapter in her life with the support of her loved ones.

“My family was just relieved that I had chosen a school already because by that time I had been out of high school for almost two years,” said Poghisio.

Poghisio has come a long way from Kenya. As for what the future holds, she has no problem waiting for it to unfold.

From Africa to WacoBy Janette Artea

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Imagine moving to another city. Or another state. Or to the other side of the world. For the Baylor International Student Wives group, this frightening thought is a reality.

For Baylor graduate student Bethany Parrott, the interest in international work started with a job in Indonesia teaching English for a few years.

As the leader of the Baylor International Stu-dent Wives group, she hopes that the group will give her the experience she needs to work internationally. She says that a large part of sharing the gospel is meeting practical needs.

This group serves as a place where the wives can find fellowship with one another and in their community.

Baylor International Student WivesBy Courtney Roberts

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The group was founded last fall when Baylor Spiritual Life saw a need to reach out to the families of international graduate students at Baylor. The group consists mostly of women whose husbands are attending Baylor for higher degrees. Whatever their reason for coming to Baylor, most of these women do not have many people to connect with.

There are usually between six and eight wives, along with their families, involved at one time. These families come from countries such as India, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, China and Romania.

“It’s encouraging to watch them come together and realize that we’re not that different, though we’re from different cultures,” says Parrott.

Their religious beliefs are different as well, something that one would think is a common denominator for the fami-lies of Baylor students. The Baylor International Student Wives group’s parent group is Baylor Spiritual Life, but religion is not the explicit focus of the group. The group talks about culture and faith often, but it’s, “more of a hang out,” says Parrott.

The group was designed with community in mind. The women meet weekly to visit places in Waco and enjoy their new surroundings. The group is for the wives of the international students, but they try to involve the rest of their families as much as possible. Before Easter, the women plan to bring their children to an Easter egg dying party as a way of introducing them to American culture.

“I had such a great time being in this fellowship. I had a wonderful time, made new friends, and had a great time sharing and hearing the other wive’s stories. International Spiritual Wives group made me feel so welcome as we turn this place into our real home,” said Mettasari Budikartono.

The feeling is mutual for Parrott, who said, “It’s been good to watch them find their community in this group. Good for me, but definitely good for them.”

The Baylor International Student Wives meet Thursdays at 2 p.m. at the Quadrangle apartments on 5th street. If interested, email Bethany Parrott at Bethany_Parrott@baylor.edu for more information.

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Abby Pinto

Elizabeth Tuthill

Caitlin Kyle

Katrina Cheesman

David Lau

Jake Patterson

David Lau

Jake Patterson

Abigail Porter Haley Pfaff

Ally GutierrezFlora Park

Hannah Taylor

Brittany Staton

New adviser uses experience to guide students’ travel

By Amanda Thomas, Baylor LariatBaylor’s newest study abroad and exchange student adviser has travel experience to spare.

Jimmy Ilseng, who graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in literature and linguistics, spent years traveling through Eastern Europe and Northern Africa as a member of the Peace Corps after spending time as a ski instructor in Colorado.

Ilseng moved to Avon, Colo., following his graduation. He was waiting on his invitation to join the Peace Corps — a decision that could take six to 12 months. Ilseng said he packed only what he could fit into his Toyota Camry before he set off for Avon, where he had friends. He wanted to take his time making the transition from college to real life. Once there, Ilseng received a job teaching snowboarding at Beaver Creek Resort, where he lived in a four-bedroom condominium with nine other people.

“It was honestly one of the better, but short periods in my life,” Ilseng said. “There was ski and outdoor gear everywhere — it was awesome.”

After two ski seasons, he received his invitation to the Peace Corps, moving to Romania in 2006.

In the Peace Corps, Ilseng taught comparative literature on the secondary and university level, American history and civics on the secondary level, and English as a second language to ninth-graders. Ilseng also worked

with the Romanian Ministry of Education to develop local and national academic competitions for secondary students, including public speaking, creative writing and thespian competitions. “All three of these competitions evolved into sustainable programs and are conducted to this day,” Ilseng said.

During his sojourn, Ilseng also traveled to Morocco, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey and Lebanon.

He said one of his fondest memories was arriving in Budapest, Hungary, with two other volunteers and discovering the Sziget Island on the Danube River two days before the island opened for an arts and music festival called the Sziget Festival.

“Randomness or synchronicity, I don’t know, but we ended up seeing Radiohead, Gomez, Tool, Manu Chao and more bands with 500,000 other people from across the globe,” Ilseng said. “Me and two fellow Peace Corps volunteers had literally arrived in Budapest with no plans and nowhere to stay and nothing to do. It was a score and a half.”

After three years volunteering for the Peace Corps, Ilseng returned to Colorado and was later accepted to Vanderbilt graduate school. There, he enrolled in the International

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New adviser uses experience to guide students’ travel

By Amanda Thomas, Baylor Lariatschool. There, he enrolled in the International Education Policy and Management program.Ilseng graduated from Vanderbilt in May 2011 and started work at Baylor in December. Ilseng said he decided to take the job at Baylor to be closer to home.

“I have family in Austin and Dallas,” Ilseng said. “I am getting back to family and friends. It’s a full circle.”

Ilseng said he believes his traveling and love of culture have helped him gain knowledge he uses to advise students. In his new position, Ilseng helps them choose where they want to study abroad and determine what they want to gain from the experience.

Green Bay, Wis., senior Mollie Munro has been Ilseng’s student worker since he arrived at Baylor. Munro helps Ilseng prepare students for their study abroad experience and gives them advice. Munro, who is going to

Africa with the Peace Corps in July, said she enjoys hearing Ilseng’s Peace Corps stories and advice.

“He is helping me prepare,” Munro said. “He is really a great resource to have.”

International student relations coordinator Melanie Smith occupies the office next to Ilseng’s. She said Ilseng fits the role of study abroad and exchange student adviser well.

“He is an extraordinary person for that position because of his extensive knowledge,” Smith said. “His guidance will help the

At Baylor, Ilseng said he plans on helping students get the best international education and experience they possibly can.

“There is a place for every student,” Ilseng said. “I set up students for success.”

students’ experience.

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Living in a dorm is often one of the most exciting and memorable times in a college student’s experience. Being able to live with students their own age and be in close community allows for a fostering of ideas and new changes. But how do international students adjust to living in a completely different culture in such a short amount of time?

Baylor University has launched its own Global Community Living and Learning Center (GC-LLC). The GC-LLC is a housing option for both international and residential students that share a love of global experiences and ideas.

International students can apply online and must wait to be accepted into the residential community. Once accepted, students have the option to choose between three different

suite types. The suite types range from current world affairs, language immersion, and mission suites.

Each of the three suites focus on a different aspect of the global community. The current world affairs option gives students the opportunity to discuss and learn more about current events occurring in the world around them.

Language immersion suites make up the largest portion of suites. Three students interested in learning a particular language are placed and live with a native speaker of the language. This opportunity gives the three students a great way to practice and hone their speaking skills.

Breaking BarriersBy Lindsey Tigert

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The last of the three suite options are mission suites. These suites will focus on students who are interested in doing mission work abroad or at home, serving the world community and global social justice issues.

Accepted students will have the opportunity to rank their suite type preferences and language if desired.

All students participating in the GC-LLC are required to take a class each semester.

The benefits of living in the GC-LLC are enormous. Entering students will have the opportunity of living in a close-knit community and with peers that share similar global interests. By being a part of such a unique community, students are also given the opportunity to serve in different committees based on their personal interests. Committees include marketing, cuisine and special events.

And as students continue to live amongst the

same group of peers, mentorship develops between the lower and upper-class students.

“It’s cool for our freshmen because they’re the only freshman in the entire residence hall and all of the upperclassman want to make sure they’re successful,” said Holly Joyner, program director. “They all have the same interests so it’s exciting for them.” The unique living arrangements in the GC-LLC are beneficial for both residential and international students at Baylor. Students are still able to receive the dorm-like experience while also creating and maintaining close friendships with their residential peers. Baylor University created the GC-LLC for international and residential students in an effort to foster global awareness and community.

“If you’re looking for other people who are passionate about global awareness, GC-LLC is for you,” said Joyner. “It’s a really good experience for everyone involved.”

Breaking Barriers

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Thank youcontributers!

The motto of the Center for International Education captures our understanding of our purpose and

our task: “Bringing the World to Baylor, Sending Baylor to the World.” In this year that I have served as

Interim Director I have been keenly impressed with the opportunities, the challenges, and the potential for

growth for the Center in its ongoing responsibilities to meet the needs of Baylor students—those who have

left homes and families on far away shores to pursue their studies in Waco, as well as those who in their

desire to expand their own educational horizons look beyond their own shores to enhance the global di-

mension of their academic experience. At the very core of Baylor’s Mission Statement is a global

commitment “to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic

excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” Obviously, integral to fulfilling this

mission is the work of the Center for International Education. I know that I speak for the entire CIE staff

in saying that we are firmly committed to our task. We consider it a privilege to serve Baylor and its

students, both here and abroad, in pursuing this quest for worldwide leadership and service.

A word from our director

Naymond Keathley

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First of all, I would like to thank everyone at the Center

for International Education for allowing me creative reign

over this wonderful project. I have truly enjoyed working on

this magazine, and I appreciate your trust in allowing me to

work on it.

A big thanks to Carol Perry for giving me this project and

supporting me every step of the way.

Thank you to Kaitlyn Rollins, Brian Sanders and Kyle Beam

for all of your help with writing and layout, and for dealing

with all of my frantic emails and phonecalls!

A HUGE thanks to all of the writers of the wonderful stories. Without your interesting and engaging content, this magazine would not have been possible.I am truly grateful to all of you for your help and support.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope you have enjoyed the

magazine.

Sincerely,

Thank youcontributers!

The motto of the Center for International Education captures our understanding of our purpose and

our task: “Bringing the World to Baylor, Sending Baylor to the World.” In this year that I have served as

Interim Director I have been keenly impressed with the opportunities, the challenges, and the potential for

growth for the Center in its ongoing responsibilities to meet the needs of Baylor students—those who have

left homes and families on far away shores to pursue their studies in Waco, as well as those who in their

desire to expand their own educational horizons look beyond their own shores to enhance the global di-

mension of their academic experience. At the very core of Baylor’s Mission Statement is a global

commitment “to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic

excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” Obviously, integral to fulfilling this

mission is the work of the Center for International Education. I know that I speak for the entire CIE staff

in saying that we are firmly committed to our task. We consider it a privilege to serve Baylor and its

students, both here and abroad, in pursuing this quest for worldwide leadership and service.

Naymond Keathley

Sarah Watson

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