Celebrating OHIO Global Graduates: Spring 2021

Hello, Global Graduates! We hope your celebrations during Commencement Weekend were joyful. We are so thrilled to cheer you all on as summer starts and you have transitioned to OHIO Alumni! A few reminders:

• OHIO Alumni Affairs has provided arched OHIO Lapel Pins for our new Global Alumni- be sure to pick yours up at ISFS during office hours (Tuesdays and Fridays 9:30-11:00 weekly). Please take your photo ID with you. Wear it with pride!

• Connect with Global Affairs on Social media to stay in touch. We want to know what you all are up to and also share what’s going on in OHIO’s global engagement. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn  

• A Virtual Yearbook is coming later this summer with crowd-sourced photos and memories. Keep in touch and submit YOUR photos HERE.  

• Join the Bobcat Network, update your Info with Alumni Affairs, and check out Global Alumni Networks! 

Read through messages of encouragement and congratulations from across Ohio University! 

The Global Health Initiative sends out congratulations to these international students who completed their Graduate Global Health Certificate this spring! Jainaba Suso, African Studies; Amogelang Dijeng, African Studies; Fatou Drammeh, African Studies; and Angela Naa Odofley Manko, African Studies. Great job all! 

-Debra McBride, MA, Interim Director Global Health Initiative, CHSP

On behalf of the faculty and staff in the College of Business, I’m thrilled to congratulate our international Business Bobcats on your graduation! We are very proud of all you have accomplished during your time as a student. You have been a vital part of the college, sharing your culture and experiences, and helping to create a rich learning environment. As you graduate and move on as a global citizen, remember the College of Business and Ohio University will be your home forever! 

-Dr. Jackie Rees Ulmer, Dean, College of Business 

Congratulations on your graduation from Ohio University!  Two of my children are graduating also!  Thank you for traveling so far from home to attend our university. You being here made Ohio University, and Athens, a better place.  Wishing you the best on your new journey!

 -Michelle Steele, Accountant, The Ohio University Foundation

This year OHIO is celebrating graduation of 196 international students from 57 countries. I congratulate all international students who prevailed against all the odds posed by the pandemic. From my experience as an international student, I know it is a major feat. I convey my heartfelt congratulations to all the students on this joyous occasion. As the Faculty Advisor of the Bangladesh Student Association at OHIO, I also want to congratulate 6 Bangladeshi students who are graduating this year. Kudos and best of luck with your future endeavors!!! 

-Mohammad Rifat Haider, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Public Health, CHSP

To Sai, Manmath, Srijita, Satrajit, Dibya, Harshil, Akhilesh, Purvik, Aditya, Ishan, Hardika, Ria, Anil, and any other graduating students from India I may have left out – Congratulations on your achievements. You have achieved more than just a degree. You adapted to a different social environment, learned life skills and thrived!

I would have liked to meet you all while you were here and hope to meet some of you when you return to visit your alma mater, on a significant alumni event.  I wish you the best, as you embark on new adventures!

-Dr. Vic Matta, Associate Professor of Analytics & Information Systems Department, College of Business

The faculty and staff in the College of Fine Arts congratulate our international graduating students— you truly inspire us!  

We are better for having known you, worked beside you, grown with you, and we’re proud of all you have accomplished during your time as a student. Your insights and perspectives, curiosity and generous spirit helped create a more meaningful and profound environment for us all. No matter where you go, as global citizens impacting the world with your artistic talents, the College of Fine Arts and Ohio University are your forever studio & your forever home. 

 - Dr. Matthew Shaftel, Dean, College of Fine Arts

The College of Arts and Sciences is home to 69 international undergraduate and graduate students representing 30 countries who are completing their degrees and moving on to proudly represent OHIO as global citizens and leaders.

On the Arts & Sciences celebration page, learn more about just a few of the outstanding students graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences this spring. Read their stories and more from the Class of 2021.

Congratulations to all the College of Arts & Sciences graduates!

-Florenz Plassmann, PhD, Dean of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations, Pruch (Santa) Kijkla on your achievements and graduation. On behalf of the Thai community in Athens and the Thai Student Association, I would like to say that your success has made all of us all very proud. Against all odds, you have thrived and become an inspiring chemical engineer. Your contributions to the community here and your department will always be remembered. We are excited to work with you as OU alumni and we wish you all the best in all aspects of your life. Go Bobcat Santa!!

-Pittaya Paladroi-Shane (Ajaan Fon)

Congratulations Hsuan Chih for completing your master’s degree in biological sciences! As former international students (from Taiwan!) ourselves, we understand the effort it takes to study and live in a different culture. That makes your accomplishments today all the more significant and sweet. We are glad to have met you at our house, and we hope you have enjoyed your time in Athens. Good luck with your future endeavors!

Best, Chao-Yang Lee and Ting-Ting Lin

Congratulations Yun Ju for completing your master’s degree in music! As former international students (from Taiwan!) ourselves, we understand the effort it takes to study and live in a different culture. That makes your accomplishments today all the more significant and sweet. We hope you have enjoyed your study with Dr. Fisher and your time in Athens. We wish we had the opportunity to see you perform live. Good luck with your future endeavors!

Best, Chao-Yang Lee and Ting-Ting Lin

Congratulations Ming-Shiun for completing your master’s degree in photography! As former international students (from Taiwan!) ourselves, we understand the effort it takes to study and live in a different culture. That makes your accomplishments today all the more significant and sweet. We hope you have enjoyed your time in Athens. Good luck with your future endeavors!

Best, Chao-Yang Lee and Ting-Ting Lin

Congratulations Yen Chung for completing your master’s degree in business administration! As former international students (from Taiwan!) ourselves, we understand the effort it takes to study and live in a different culture. That makes your accomplishments today all the more significant and sweet. We hope you have enjoyed your time in Athens. Good luck with your future endeavors!

Best, Chao-Yang Lee

Congratulations on your graduation, Fatou! You are not only the best and most dedicated Wolof instructor (all students have said this many times) but you are also a wonderful colleague that everyone including myself, has enjoyed working with. Your knowledge of Wolof and culture has helped enrich the students’ lives as well as allowed them to achieve their academic goals. I will never forget your beautiful and colorful fashion collections that you wore around campus. We look forward to seeing more of your great work as a feminist community leader, and of course as Bobcat Fatou. Wish you all the best!

-Pittaya Paladroi-Shane (Fon)

Congratulations, International graduates of the Class of 2021 at Ohio University.  My name is Dr. Catherine Cutcher and I am the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Programs in the Center for International Studies.  I am also a two-time OU alumna and have earned both my Master's and Ph.D. at Ohio University. One of the great joys and honors of my career is working with international students and alumni.  

This year, I have been especially impressed by how you all have adapted and persisted against incredible odds during the COVID-19 global pandemic.  You have been so strong, resilient, persistent, and successful.  Some of you have led the International Student Task Force to assist other students and to reach out to the local community.  

We are so grateful for all you have brought to our campus.  You have enriched our university and brought diversity to our campus and communities. You have served as global leaders and ambassadors of your home countries and cultures.  You have engaged in research, scholarship, and creative activities and have created new knowledge and innovation. We are so proud of you and all of your achievements.

Welcome to the community of scholars and the global family of Ohio University alumni.  No matter where you go, there you are!  Go Global Bobcats!  

-Dr. Catherine Cutcher, Assistant Director for Undergraduate Programs in the Center for International Studies

Congratulations to our international graduating students! 17 years ago, I came to the United States as an international student myself. I know the challenges associated with pursuing academic excellence away from home, family and friends first hand. Your diligence, knowledge, and performance continue to inspire us and make us proud. As you move towards new prospects and adventures as a #GlobalBobcat, we hope that you will remember Ohio University as your second home, and your professors and friends as your second family. We wish you the very best, and as we say in my native language Turkish: Tebrikler, yolunuz açık olsun!

-Dr. Nukhet Sandal, Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations on not only earning your degree, but also for preserving, surviving, and navigating through one of the most difficult times the world has experienced in over a century. And, you did it while living in another country. Truly, you represent dedication, intelligence, open-mindedness, and grit. You are a model for us all, and I will continue to talk about you as an example to my own children.

Wishing you a bright and peaceful future!

-Andy Ray, Director of International Student Services, Graduate College