Flag display dedicated to international community

The international community at Augusta University is made up of 400 students, faculty and staff.  On August 29, a display of flags representing the home countries of these men and women was unveiled at the Jaguar Student Activities Center on the Summerville campus.

Dr. Scott Wallace, dean of student life, LD Newman, assistant vice president of international initiatives and Maria Darley, director of study abroad, attended the event and presented a plaque dedicating the flags to the Augusta student body.

“The diversity that is presented here at Augusta University is so very valuable to us as we grow as individuals, as an institution and as people,” Wallace said. “So, this is a wonderful day.”

Currently, there are 142 international students at Augusta University who together represent 39 countries.

“They are tennis players from Brazil, golfers from Spain, PhD students from India, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Nepal and the United Kingdom,” Newman said.

The 160 international scholars at Augusta University represent 18 different countries. There are also many international faculty and staff members on both the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses.

“Among our international personnel are your criminal justice professor from Canada, your accounting professor from South Korea, your education professor from Nigeria and many medical faculty and residents from places like India, Pakistan, Libya, Israel and Jordan,” Newman said. “I’m thrilled that our international community will be able to look up to the ceiling and see these flags that represents their nations.”

Study Abroad programs encourage Augusta students to experience the countries represented by these flags.

“Our university sends you to at least 18 of the countries represented by those flags,” Darley said. “Go see the flags up-close-and-personal and meet the people from those cultures and communities.”

Following the unveiling of the flags was a diversity party thrown by the Jaguar Production Crew that included multiple tables where students could learn more about the organizations and departments that work with international students and other diverse populations.

The flag dedication plaque will be located in the JSAC breezeway. For more information about Study Abroad, International Initiatives, Student Life or the Jaguar Production Crew, visit their websites.