South Launches New Faculty Ambassador Program

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Posted on July 30, 2024

Joy Washington

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The University of South Alabama’s Global USA Office has launched the USA Faculty Ambassador program to assist in recruiting prospective students in the United States and internationally. The program’s purpose is to promote global engagement and international recruitment.

“This new program offers faculty an opportunity to support South’s global engagement and international recruitment strategies,” said Associate Vice President for Global Engagement Dr. Richard Carter. “We are pleased that faculty have volunteered to represent the University, and we invite others to join this effort to strengthen existing partnerships and build new partnerships with international organizations and U.S. embassies in the United States and globally.”

The USA Faculty Ambassadors meet with prospective students and families during their travels and share information about South. Dr. Bhushan Lohar, assistant professor of systems engineering at South, recently recruited students while visiting family in his home country of India.

“I had a wonderful trip to India, where I met with students and families in Mumbai, Pune (aka Oxford of East), Aurangabad and Dhule,” Lohar said. “I spoke with them about South Alabama and welcomed two new Jaguars from Mumbai to our great University. During my trip, I had the opportunity to visit and present about South Alabama at the UG Institute and MIT India.”

Lohar traveled from his home country of India to earn his doctoral degree in engineering from South Alabama in 2022. After earning a doctorate from South, Lohar worked at Airbus and ultimately accepted a teaching position at South Alabama. He is currently employed full-time as a professor and is very instrumental in helping to create and launch the USA Faculty Ambassador Program. 

“I wanted to play a key role in recruiting students,” Lohar said. “We need more research scholars. Since I come from an international background, I know the process and can talk to the students and their parents about why they should choose South for either their graduate or undergraduate studies. We have great leadership at South. We are recruiting great students to South Alabama, and I am excited about the USA Faculty Ambassador program. We invite more faculty to join this initiative.”

Overall, Lohar visited six colleges and schools from four universities and shared brochures and other marketing materials including the popular South buttons that were given to prospective students.

The USA Faculty Ambassadors program allows professors who are experts in their field to share the opportunities available at South Alabama.

“While our Global USA office spearheads international recruitment for the University, our faculty have the best abilities to speak about their current research,” said Executive Director of Global Outreach and Professional Development Maya DeAndrade. “This is an exciting collaboration created by Dr. Carter to allow our talented faculty to share their expertise all around the world.” 

 

Spotlight on Faculty Ambassador Participants:

• Dr. Rebecca M. Giles, professor of leadership and Teacher Education – recruited in Greece
• Dr. Shenghua Wu, professor, Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering – recruited in China
• Dr. Joe P. Gaston, assistant professor –recruited in the Dominican Republic

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