The Future of Study Abroad in a Changing World

American colleges and universities have long viewed study abroad as a valuable investment in personal, academic, and professional development. In the last ten years, changes in domestic politics and the international economy have raised concerns about the future growth of international exchange. Join us Thursday, October 9 at 6 p.m. for a panel discussion with current college students and Fulbright scholars who will highlight the experiences of exchange participants as they maneuvered the ever-changing landscape of international education.

U.S. scholars and policymakers have hailed international exchange as a cultural and educational experience crucial for the advancement of American science and innovation and a powerful tool for public diplomacy. Introduced by Dr. Laurence Hare and moderated by The Honorable Cynthia Ackron Baldwin, this panel will discuss issues and hear stories and reflections from former international exchange alumni whose lives were transformed by the decision to travel, study, and teach outside of the United States. This program caps a day-long Youth Summit: Pathways to Global Citizenship held for area high school students, hosted by the Arkansas Chapter of the Fulbright Association.

Panelist Information:

• Jalen Humphreys – Clinton School sophomore
• Kaleb Love – Mississippi State University senior, Shackouls Honors College
• Noelia Santos – Arkansas Tech University graduate student
• Terry Vo – University of Arkansas alumni, District 17 Metro Councilmember, and Partnerships Director for API Middle, TN
• Moderator: The Honorable Cynthia Ackron Baldwin, Former jurist for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Fulbright Association former Board Chair
• Introduction by Dr. Laurence Hare – Executive Director of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement; Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; University of Arkansas

The program will be available on our YouTube channel the following day.

ASL interpretation is available during our events.

This program is in partnership with the Arkansas Chapter of the Fulbright Association and the Clinton Foundation.

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More About the Panelists

The Honorable Cynthia Ackron Baldwin was the first African American woman elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and only the third African American and the second African American woman to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in its over three- hundred -year history. She retired from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2008. After her retirement from the Court, she became a partner with Duane Morris and served as the first Vice President and General Counsel for the Pennsylvania State University. While a judge in commission, Justice Baldwin served a summer as a Fulbright Scholarship Lecturer on the Law Faculty of the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Dedicated to both her career and her community, she has demonstrated her commitment by serving on a multitude of not-for-profit, for- profit, university boards and alumni associations. In 2017, Baldwin was elected for the second time to the Fulbright Association Board in Washington, D.C. and elected as Chair for 2022 and 2023.

Baldwin is the recipient of several honorary doctorates from prestigious universities. Among her many awards are the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Women of Excellence Legacy Award, ATHENA Award, The HistoryMakers Award, and the Carlow College’s Woman of Spirit.

Jalen Humphreys is a second-year student at the Clinton School and a Program Associate at the Arkansas Research Alliance. With a background in Biochemistry, Jalen brings a very diverse and nuanced perspective to topics that provide critical feedback for organizational alignment and mission advancement. Jalen is passionate about youth mentorship, community development and urban planning, all of which blend together and inspire his participation in youth empowerment via education and resource allocation that support marginalized communities. Global studies and cultural immersion is another major passion of Jalen's and since his recent time in La Paz, Mexico, he is more than ever dedicated to working towards a reality where disadvantaged youth also have the opportunity to see the many wonders of the world. In his free time, Jalen enjoys spending time in nature, reading history and philosophy, and playing casual chess.

Kaleb Love is a senior at Mississippi State University studying computer engineering. He is a member of MSU’s Shackouls Honors College. In 2024, he studied global sustainability at the University of Exeter through the Fulbright UK Summer Institute program. He has an avid interest in exploring the functionality of today's technology and developing innovative ways to make technology more useful. Kaleb is very involved in his community and on campus. Kaleb enjoys learning, has a passion for helping others, and plans to use his career to greatly impact those around him. He is honored to participate in the Youth Summit: Pathways to Global Citizenship to share his experiences and promote international learning opportunities.

Noelia Santos is from Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is working towards her MBA in Digital Marketing. She is currently the marketing graduate assistant at the LeMoyne School of Business at Arkansas Tech University. Noelia co-chartered Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc., the first multicultural sorority in ATU history. SIA is dedicated to sharing the Latin culture and providing sisterhood and leadership. She also served as vice president at ATU's Latinx Student Organization during her undergraduate years. Noelia first studied abroad in Spain in the summer of 2024, thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Last summer, Noelia taught English at a local secondary school in Paris, France. She also attended International Business lectures and interacted with German students from a collaborative University in Giessen, Germany. All was possible thanks to the resources and scholarship funds provided by Arkansas Tech. After graduation, Noelia hopes to travel more and continue her passion for living abroad.

Terry Vo is the District 17 Metro Councilmember and Partnerships Director for API Middle TN. The first Vietnamese American elected to Metro Council, Terry champions inclusive, integrity-driven solutions for Nashville. A dedicated advocate for social change, she is the founding Immigrant Caucus Chair and serves as the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Entertainment Committee Chair.

Raised by Vietnamese immigrants in Fort Smith, AR, Terry holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Arkansas and a master’s in governance and public policy from the University of Queensland as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. As an undergraduate, she studied Japanese and abroad multiple times. Her global career was launched by two years in the Japanese English Teaching (JET) Program.

Terry has worked across nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, building bilateral relations between U.S. and Japan and connecting Tennesseans to affordable internet. She is a US Japan Foundation Program Fellow and proud alumna of Leadership Middle Tennessee, Leadership Tennessee, and the US Global Leaders Coalition’s Next Gen Global Leaders Network Class of 2024. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and leading the Beautiful Bookworms Book Club!

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