2010–2011 Humphrey Fellows Focus on Higher Education Studies
by Joe Savrock (August 2010)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Thirteen international professionals are participating in this year’s Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at Penn State. The Humphrey Program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from specific countries around the world to selected universities in the United States for public service, advanced study, professional training, and work-related experiences.
The one-year non-degree Humphrey Program provides its fellows with combined academic and professional development opportunities. President Jimmy Carter established the program in 1978 in honor of the late Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.
Penn State has hosted Humphrey fellows each year since the program was established. The College of Education is the University’s administrative home of the program.
The Humphrey fellows represent a diversity of origins and cultures, but this year’s participants have a common thread: They all work in the field of higher education.
“This year’s fellows bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to Penn State,” said Leila Bradaschia, director of Penn State’s Humphrey Program. “They are university administrators themselves, and I anticipate the connections they make here with Penn State faculty and administrators will be insightful and rewarding on both ends. We have a solid program planned for the group, and our year is off to a great start.”
The 2010–2011 Penn State Humphrey fellows are:
Jacqueline Austin
Barbados
Director of Industry Services, Barbados Community College
She is responsible for customized curriculum design, business planning, workforce development, staff management, and student affairs. Her objective during her fellowship year is to develop her competencies in higher education administration. She has particular interest in leadership, curriculum design, programming, assessment, and student learning and development.
jja207@psu.edu
Romina Avila
Panama
Coordinator of Accreditation, Santa Maria La Antigua Catholic University (USMA)
She is responsible for all aspects of the accreditation process for her university. During her fellowship year, Ms. Avila intends to improve and gain experience in the evaluation and accreditation processes in higher education.
rua134@psu.edu
Olga Buchko
Ukraine
Education Administrator and Coordinator, Quality Assessment team, Odessa National Maritime Academy
She plans to gain knowledge and develop her skills in policy, planning and administration of higher education. She is especially interested in assessment and monitoring education quality.
ovb100@psu.edu
Ilangalibalele “Edward” Dhlamini
Zimbabwe
Bursar, University of Zimbabwe
He is responsible for all fiscal matters of the university. He wants to focus his fellowship year on business development and management with an in-depth study of project management, strategic planning, and financial management.
ied105@psu.edu
Mateo Estrella-Durán
Ecuador
Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality, Universidad de Cuenca
He is vice president of the Ibero-American Society of Tourism & Law, a former vice minister of tourism, and he has worked in many positions in public and private organizations. Mr. Estrella-Durán has conducted important specialized consulting projects of tourism in Ecuador and abroad, focusing on strategic planning and tourism management destinations. He is interested in administration, finance, policy, and management.
mue128@psu.edu
Renata Horvatek
Croatia
International Relations Officer, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb
In her position, she coordinates international agreements with partner universities, manages the exchange of students and professors, and develops, manages, and promotes outreach activities. In addition to higher education administration, Ms. Horvatek is interested in improving access to higher education for underrepresented groups.
ruh158@psu.edu
B. Venkatesh Kumar
Mumbai
Professor, Tata Institute of Social Science; Director, Indian Council for Social Science Research
As a Humphrey fellow, Dr. Kumar would like to learn best practices of American universities in terms of governance, effective fundraising, international collaborations, public-private partnerships, and industry linkages. Dr. Kumar is interested in learning ways to rejuvenate public universities in India.
bvk109@psu.edu
Anne-Marie Niandou
Cote d'Ivoire
In-Service Teacher Advisor, National Ministry of Education; Lecturer, College of Statistics and Applied Economics
She also is a member of the National Pedagogic Commission of Education and a mentor at the Teacher Training College of Abidjan. She wants to work in higher education administration and enhance her knowledge of curriculum design, pedagogy, vocational and lifelong learning programs, and the use of technology in higher education.
axn214@psu.edu
Srifani Simbuka
Indonesia
Lecturer of English, Manado State Institute for Islamic Studies
She also is a researcher, academic advisor, and head of the Institute’s language unit. She would like to obtain skills and knowledge in the area of Higher Education Administration with a focus on developing a Department of English Teaching at her institution.
sus339@psu.edu
Amany Soliman
Egypt
Assistant Lecturer, New Valley Branch of Assuit University
She is completing her dissertation on the academic standard of quality assurance and accreditation in postgraduate programs. Ms. Soliman is interested in education quality, management, research, policy, finance, administration, human rights, and academic freedom.
ams847@psu.edu
Armend Tahirsylaj
Kosovo
Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Education, University of Prishtina
He is enrolled as a Ph.D. student at the University of Vienna, Austria, with a focus on roles of instructional regimes on student achievement. Mr. Tahirsylaj would like to expand his knowledge of curriculum and instruction, assessment, research methods, and institutional management.
aut159@psu.edu
Karma Thinley
Bhutan
Senior Program Officer, Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education
He participates in the development of higher education in the country. Mr. Thinley would like to study the higher education systems of other countries, accreditation systems, the internationalization of higher education, and distance education.
kut130@psu.edu
“Micah” Weiguo Yang
China
Professor and Vice Chair of the School Council, School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University
He is a teacher, researcher, and academic advisor. Dr. Yang would like to improve his problem-solving abilities, leadership and communication skills, and policy planning and decision-making abilities. He also hopes to continue his research on labor issues and preparing youth for employment.
wuy109@psu.edu
