Cowley College Hosts Humphrey Fellows

During the month of April, Cowley College partnered with the Institute of International Education and the US Department of State to host four Humphrey fellows for the Community College Residency Program. The Humphrey Fellowship is a Fulbright exchange established by President Carter in 1978 to “embody the values of democracy, social justice, and a desire to assist the world’s developing nations” (Humphrey Fellowship).

The four fellows who matched with Cowley for their week long stay were Sanam Rasool of Pakistan, Baigalmaa Chinbat of Mongolia, Trim Berisha of Kosovo, and Francisco Vargas Chevez of Honduras. Each is completing a 10-month-long program at their host universities, Syracuse University, University of California, Davis, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Hosting individuals from diverse backgrounds has enhanced our cross-cultural understanding and ability to collaborate effectively. Seeing such a wide range of countries coming together to pursue knowledge and education is no small feat and one we are proud to play a part in. Cowley International Student Services Coordinator Alie Raga shared, “Meeting the Fellows was a great experience. They were super impressed with our college, the facilities, and the services we offer our students. In the past two weeks, I felt so proud of Cowley because not every college does as much as we do for our students”.

The Humphrey Fellowship mission aligns well with our commitment to global engagement and addressing pressing global challenges. Through this residency program, the fellows and the college community had the chance to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and discuss commonalities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Cowley Director of Mass Communications Meg Smith expressed, “I knew from the first time I heard about Gilman and the Humphrey Scholars that Cowley would be a great fit. After interacting with Alie in her role overseeing international students and meeting Dr. Bates, I felt like we had a great team that would take care of all of the requirements and needs of the visiting Fellows. Everyone on the team made their visit enjoyable and educational for the Fellows and our community”.

Cowley College students and faculty are grateful to have hosted these fellows, gaining insights into different cultures, perspectives, and approaches to addressing shared challenges.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu