UWyo MagazineBringing the World to Wyoming

May 2016 | Vol. 17, No. 3

The 2016 Chinese New Year celebration at UW included cultural performances and cuisine.

The 2016 Chinese New Year celebration at UW included cultural performances and cuisine.

UW provides a global education by welcoming international students, hosting cultural events and much more.

By Micaela Myers

Less than 5 percent of the world’s population lives in the United States. Understanding other cultures and learning new ways of looking at issues benefit University of Wyoming students during school and as they enter the globally competitive job market.

“International exposure challenges status-quo thinking and enables the ability to compare and contrast situations,” says Cameron Nazminia, a UW graduate and current chair of UW’s International Board of Advisors. Nazminia’s work has spanned the world, with engagements with the World Bank Group, Newmont Mining Corp. and most recently as a policy adviser to Gov. Matt Mead.

“It is a big world out there, and we come from a small state, so there is a lot to be learned from other parts of the world,” he says. “On the other side of the coin, we as Wyomingites have a lot to offer as well.”

While approximately 400 UW students study abroad each year, internationalization efforts at home help all students achieve a broader education. One of the main ways UW brings the world to Wyoming is by welcoming more than 800 international graduate and undergraduate students from nearly 90 different countries.

“By having international students on campus, it diversifies the classroom experience,” says Jill Johnson, admissions associate director, who also oversees the International Students and Scholars (ISS) office. “They bring a different world view and perspective to the classes that they’re in. We also host a ton of different events on campus every year, and a lot of our Wyoming students get the opportunity to attend those events.”

International students share their cultures by welcoming all UW students to participate in events such as the Indian Diwali celebration, Chinese New Year, International Education Week, African Awareness Week and Celebrate Nepal.

“Those kinds of events and educational opportunities are really important for our Wyoming students, who may not get the opportunity to travel or study abroad,” Johnson says.

Recognizing the importance of internationalization, Johnson and her team recruit students from all over the world and hope to welcome even more international students to UW in the years to come.


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