The 2019 Faculty Global Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Brent James, senior lecturer in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. James teaches Portuguese, Spanish and a variety of topics focused on Spain and Latin America.

The awards committee recognized James for his ability to create meaningful, accessible and immensely relevant global learning opportunities for Appalachian’s students and the local community.

Since 2009, he has participated in six international Appalachian Alternative Service Experience (ASE) programs, including programs in Belize, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He has also led five study abroad programs to Brazil and Spain and is planning a program for the summer of 2020.

In May 2020, James and a group of students will travel to the U.S.–Mexico border to experience the border crisis first-hand and learn about the issues and everyday lives of people who live near the border and their current realities.

The 2019 Staff Global Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Martin “Marty” Meznar, associate dean for global and civic engagement in the WCOB.

Meznar has initiated, developed and executed global opportunities for thousands of students during his time at Appalachian. Thanks to his advocacy and effort, each student in the college fulfills a global issues requirement ensuring that global competence is a central feature in every student’s experience.

During his tenure, he has implemented programs to Brazil, Thailand, Malawi, Cuba and other countries, and, this year alone, was responsible for overseeing faculty-led programs to 10 countries on five continents.

Recognizing that all students may not have the means and ability to participate in an education abroad program, Meznar finds other ways to ensure that every student has the opportunity to have a global experience in the college. He has hosted and supported numerous international visitors and visiting scholars from all around the world to support global learning and bring the world to Appalachian and Walker College.

Megan Aeschelman, a senior middle grades education major from Oak Park, Illinois, is a recipient of the 2019 Undergraduate Student Global Leadership Award. The awards committee recognized Aeschelman for her commitment to global learning.

She has participated in numerous Appalachian ASE programs during her time at the university, serving as a peer leader. Her service trips have focused on education and youth support in Ecuador, Guatemala and Georgia. Aeschelman is also a member of the ASE Executive Board; she helped plan and lead all of Appalachian’s 25-plus 2019 ASE programs.

While serving on the executive board, Aeschelman proposed and planned her own service program to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands to work with the National Park Service.

Senior Walker Ballard, from Wilmington, is a recipient of the 2019 Undergraduate Student Global Leadership Award. He is double majoring in music education and languages, literature and cultures with a concentration in German.

Ballard has extended his time at Appalachian to spend a semester studying abroad at a German university in order to add a German teaching licensure to his music education degree.

He is president of Appalachian’s German Club and a past presenter at the Appalachian Global Symposium, where he highlighted different ways education majors can engage in global activities while at Appalachian.

His award nominator described him as someone who “leads by example … by becoming a truly internationalized teaching candidate who is ready to share this with his future students.”

The 2019 Graduate Student Global Leadership Award was presented to Philip Gadzekpo, a doctoral student in Appalachian’s educational leadership program, which is housed in the Reich College of Education (RCOE). Gadzekpo was recognized by the awards committee for his global education outreach work — both within the university and in the region.

Gadzekpo, originally from Ghana, serves as a Cultural Ambassador for Appalachian’s OIED, visiting elementary, middle and high schools in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties to share his heritage and culture — including Ghanian music and dance — with students.

He also has engaged with the WCOB, the RCOE and the Beaver College of Health Sciences to discuss the use of technology, professionalism and education systems in Ghana.

The 2019 Local to Global Leadership Award was presented to senior management major Sirisha Karra, of Cary. The award recognizes an Appalachian student who has engaged with the local community in an innovative way and is prepared to expand their work on a global level at an international location.

Karra is the co-founder of a local branch of the Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development (CORD), a nonprofit organization that works with rural villages of India to support sustainability, rehabilitation, women’s empowerment and self-help. She founded the CORD branch while in high school and has continued to work with the branch during her time as a student at Appalachian.

Under her leadership, CORD raised $1,000 at a fundraiser to support girl’s education in India. Funding through the Local to Global Leadership Award will enable Karra to expand her work when she travels to India to implement CORD activities in the coming year.

Two-time Appalachian alumna Dr. Kimberly Green, a native of Winston-Salem, was presented the 2019 Global Engagement Award in recognition of her sustained contributions and support for advancing global learning at Appalachian.

Green is an assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders in WKU’s College of Health and Human Services and serves as the college’s chief diversity officer. At WKU, Green has taught 14 international courses to date, including courses in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

Her commitment to higher education and global learning extends to supporting her alma mater as well. She is a member of the Appalachian State University Foundation Board of Directors, through which she chairs the Academics and Scholarships Committee as well as the Governance Committee.

Additionally, Green is the co-founder of Appalachian’s Green/Reaves Scholarship for Global Experiences, designed to support and promote global experiences for Appalachian students from underrepresented backgrounds.

She holds a B.S. in communication disorders and an M.A. in communication disorders with a graduate teaching certificate from Appalachian.