GOLDSBORO — Two Wayne Community College employees recently presented at the annual conference of the North Carolina Association of International Educators (NCAIE) held at Appalachian State University.
Languages and Communication Department Chair Allyson Daly and Foundation Coordinator Caleb Mitchell participated in a presentation titled “The Architecture of Strategic Collaborations to Promote Global Education Among North Carolina Students and Educators.”
The presentation highlighted the Scholars of Global Distinction program, a partnership between UNC World View and NC community colleges like WCC. Co-presenting with Daly and Mitchell were UNC’s Associate Director of World View Hazael Andrew, Assistant Director of Teacher-Student Initiative Courtney Harris-Brown, and World View Fellow Stephanie Morgan.
“We talked about all of the partnerships within World View and how World View partners with community colleges and K–12 faculty to raise awareness about global education, provide professional development opportunities, and give a pathway for students,” Daly explained.
Daly is WCC’s Scholars of Global Distinction liaison and helped start the program at the College. She also serves on the NCAIE board and has served as a curriculum consultant for UNC World View’s K–12 global fellows, providing global-focused lesson plans.
Mitchell is a graduate and former student leader of WCC’s Scholars of Global Distinction program. During the conference presentation, he was able to share how global education shaped his cultural perspective.
“It felt absolutely amazing to represent our Global Scholars program here at WCC,” said Mitchell. “The Global Scholars program has built much of my foundation as a college student, so being a part of the presentation with our partnership leaders to advocate for the program as a whole was truly a full-circle moment.”
The NCAIE is a professional organization of over 600 administrators, educators, and community volunteers committed to promoting the cause of international education in North Carolina. The mission of NCAIE is to support and enhance the effectiveness of professionals and volunteers who advocate for the education of international students and scholars and international, educational, and cultural exchange.
WCC’s Scholars of Global Distinction Program provides students with competencies and skills needed for an increasingly diverse workforce. Students gain an understanding of global cultural, political, and historical information through intensive courses and activities. Those who complete program requirements are entitled to wear a special stole during their graduation ceremony, receive a certificate, and have “Graduated with Global Distinction” printed on their transcripts. WCC joined the North Carolina Scholars of Global Distinction Program, a partnership between community colleges in North Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s World View program, in 2020.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.