Photo courtesy of: Office of Global AffairsOHIO Alumni and Friends Dinner in Botswana on June 14, 2018

Ohio University representatives will be visiting four countries in Africa in June and July to take part in a series of special events, including an international theater production, educational conferences, alumni gatherings, and activities featuring OHIO students involved in study away programs.

Lorna Jean Edmonds, vice provost for global affairs and international studies, will lead the delegation visiting the countries of Botswana, Ghana, Senegal and The Gambia in collaboration with Bose Maposa, assistant director of the Center for International Studies. Matthew Shaftel, dean of the College of Fine Arts, and Kate Albe, director of development, major giving for University Advancement, will join the delegation for the Ghana visit. A number of OHIO faculty and staff will also be involved throughout the visits.

“We are so proud of OHIO’s many alumni from Africa and excited to be involved in such high-profile international artistic events. Taking this opportunity to deepen our connection with Ghana is an important step in reaffirming the University’s commitment to a global artistic lens,” Shaftel said.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to visit with our strong alumni chapters in these four countries, to engage with OHIO students and faculty, and to meet with partners and other stakeholders,” Edmonds added. “It will also be an opportunity to discuss the future potential for collaborative research, creative and other scholarly activity and experiential learning. This visit is timely given our leadership’s global interests and to further draw attention to the depth and breadth of activities OHIO has on the continent of Africa.”

A few highlights of the trip will include:

• Meetings in Botswana with government officials and leaders from the University of Botswana. OHIO and the University of Botswana have a strong partnership that dates back to the 1980s.
• Visits to OHIO study away projects, research collaboration and research training projects in Botswana led by Professor and Director of Global Health Gillian Ice, Assistant Professor of Nursing Eliza Harper, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Zelalem Haile, Assistant Professor of Social Medicine Dawn Graham, Assistant Clinical Professor and Academic Coordinator Janice Howman and Assistant Clinical Professor Janice Wright.
• The celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the National Theatre of Ghana, including a symposium and the AGORO concert. The concert will feature several new African orchestral music, dance and theatrical works composed by OHIO Professors Paschal Yao Younge, composer, and Zelma Badu Younge, choreographer. The event will include performances from Ghana’s National Dance Company, National Symphony Orchestra, National Drama Company, and international artists from the United States and Canada, including several OHIO students and alumni.
• The 2018 African Educational Research Network (AERN) Summit, themed "Educational Research and Sustainable Development in Africa." Held in Ghana this year, the summit will be convened by OHIO Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education Emmanuel Jean Francois.
• Alumni events and individual visits with alumni in Botswana, Ghana, Senegal and The Gambia.
• Visits with university leaders in each country

For more information on the visit to the four African nations, please contact the Office of Global Affairs at globalaffars@ohio.edu or follow the trip on social media with the hashtag #OHIOAfrica18.