Central Asia is a critical region in post-Soviet geopolitics. Since 1991 the independent countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have navigated through the challenges of political and economic transition and negotiating new relationships with one another, as well as with powerful neighbors Russia and China.
The United States has also sought cooperation with the countries of Central Asia on pressing global issues that include democratic governance, international security, and energy markets. Fulbright exchange programs are part of the U.S. government’s engagement with the region.
In 2019, the Melikian Center began partnering with the International Institute of Education to host a pre-departure orientation (PDO) for Fulbright scholars, researchers and English language teaching assistants (ELTAs) awarded grants for study and work in Central Asia. The PDO draws on ASU regional and technical expertise, as well as the experience of U.S. Fulbright alumni, to prepare Fulbright grantees for success.
The 2019 PDO was hosted on the Tempe campus in July. Restrictions on travel in response to the Covid-19 pandemic pushed most Fulbright awardees to delay travel until January 2021, and the PDO online, with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous sessions. The orientations hosted by the Melikian Center in 2020, 2021, and 2022 have all been held online. The orientation for 2023 is currently planned for June.
Outcomes
2023
During the fifth consecutive summer, U.S. Fulbright awardees going to South and Central Asia participated in a virtual Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) hosted by the Melikian Center. The Fulbright program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and to the PDOs are administered by the Institute for International Education (IIE). This summer, in addition to the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and the South Asian countries of Bhutan and The Maldives, English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), student researchers, and scholars also heading to Bangladesh joined together for a series of sessions to get them ready for an adventure of a lifetime. The Melikian Center relies on colleagues and organizational partners to help provide these sessions. From ASU Global Launch, Vincent Lauter and Dilafruz Vosieva once again provided a toolkit containing a variety of techniques and strategies for teaching English, particularly for first-time instructors. Celeste Sepessy of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication joined Vincent Lauter this year to facilitate the session on Media Literacy and how to fold into daily classes discussions about information, its reliability, and thinking critically about information one reads. Dan Hart of the ASU Global Education Office and Carla Mahnke of the ASU Office of Human Resources helped to prepare the Fulbrighters for health and safety issues they could encounter abroad, including ways to maintain mental wellness in cultural and physical environments that are new and different. Rob Razzante, from the Asu Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, guided the awardees through the opportunities and obstacles of living their intricate identities in a different culture. To begin the orientation, Keith Brown (Melikian Center Director & School of Politics and Global Studies), Margaret Hanson (School of Politics and Global Studies), Saule Moldabekova (School of International Letters & Cultures), Olcay Unver (Polytechnic School), and Faheem Hussain (School for the Future of Innovation in Society) laid out an overview of the South and Central Asian region, while touching on the history, politics, language, and culture of the area. Alumni of the Fulbright program to South and Central Asia add their vital wisdom from experience in the region and the lessons learned.
2022
For the fourth summer in a row, the Melikian Center hosted a pre-departure orientation (PDO) for U.S. Fulbright awardees going to South and Central Asia. The program continues to be funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and to be administered by the Institute for International Education (IIE). English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), student researchers, and scholars heading to the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan again joined remotely with the U.S. Fulbrighters going to Bhutan and the Maldives for a program to help prepare them for their overseas experiences. The Melikian Center's colleagues from ASU Global Launch, Shane Dixon, Vincent Lauter, and Dilafruz Vosieva, provided valuable training and tools to the ETAs, many of whom were headed off to teach for the first time, and in a different culture from their own. Helping to prepare the Fulbrighters for maintaining personal health and safety abroad were Dan Hart of the ASU Global Education Office and Carla Mahnke of the ASU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. An ASU and Fulbright alumna, Elizabeth Blackburn, returned to walk the awardees through exercises preparing them to live their identity in a setting very foreign to their own. A general overview of the region, its peoples, languages, politics, and cultures was led by a team of Melikian Center faculty affiliates, including Keith Brown (Melikian Center Director & School of Politics and Global Studies), David Fossum (School of Music, Dance & Theatre), Margaret Hanson (School of Politics and Global Studies), Saule Moldabekova (School of International Letters & Cultures), and Olcay Unver (Polytechnic). Each member of the team brings a background of knowledge of the geographical region and of various languages and cultures of the region to the session. The entire orientation is invaluably enriched by alumni of the Fulbright program to South and Central Asia, who are generous with their advice and insights that they share with the outgoing awardees.
2021
At the end of June 2021, in cooperation with the Institute for International Education (IIE), the Melikian Center hosted a virtual pre-departure orientation (PDO) for U.S. Fulbright scholars, student researchers, and English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) heading in the fall of 2021 to five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and Bhutan. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by IIE. 2021 was the third year that the Melikian Center partnered with IIE to host the Central Asia PDO and the second time this orientation was conducted remotely. Key contributors included Dan Hart in ASU’s Study Abroad Office and Carla Mahnke from the Office of Equity and Inclusion, who briefed participants on issues of personal health and safety in the region. Sessions specifically geared towards the English Teaching Assistants were run by colleagues Shane Dixon, Vincent Lauter, and Dilafruz Vosieva from ASU’s Global Launch. Elizabeth Blackburn, two-time CLI alumna (2014, 2016), former Fulbright ETA in Kazakhstan (2016-17), and former Program Coordinator for Global Initiatives at the Cronkite School, also drew on her own experience to address PDO participants’ questions and concerns about living and working in a culture and place very different from their own. Faculty affiliates of the Center, Dave Fossum (School of Music), Margaret Hanson (School of Politics and Global Studies), and Saule Moldabekova Robb (School of International Letters and Cultures), served on a panel with Keith Brown to guide the Fulbright awardees through an overview of the region’s people, culture, and politics. All of the presenters were aided by Fulbright alumni, who gave valuable insight from their experiences of being on the ground in Central Asia.
2020
In October 2020, in cooperation with the Institute for International Education (IIE), the Melikian Center hosted a virtual pre-departure orientation (PDO) for U.S. Fulbright scholars, student researchers, and English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) heading in January 2021 to five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and to Bhutan. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by IIE.
This was the second year that the Melikian Center partnered with IIE to host the Central Asia PDO. It was the first experiment by the Fulbright Program in offering a remote PDO. ASU’s experience and expertise in both synchronous and asynchronous online education were major assets in the planning and implementation process. Videographer Ari Gajraj, who has made major contributions to the Center’s enhanced multimedia outreach efforts, produced videos which, according to IIE staff, set a new standard for other regional PDOs. Key contributors included Dan Hart in ASU's Study Abroad Office and Carla Mahnke from the Office of Equity and Inclusion, who briefed participants on issues of personal health and safety in the region. Additional orientation for the English Teaching Assistants was provided in synchronous sessions run by colleagues Shane Dixon, Vincent Lauter and Dilafruz Vosieva from ASU’s Global Launch. Elizabeth Blackburn, two-time CLI alumna (2014, 2016), former Fulbright ETA in Kazakhstan (2016-17) and now Program Coordinator for Global Initiatives at the Cronkite School, also drew on her own experience to address questions and concerns expressed by the new Fulbrighters, eager to take up their delayed awards
2019
Nearly 30 U.S. Fulbright scholars, student researchers, and English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) heading to four Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) and Bhutan traveled to Tempe for several days of pre-departure orientation in late July and early August. They were joined by 13 returning Fulbright alumni.
For the first two days, Shane Dixon and Vincent Lauter from ASU Global Launch led the U.S. Fulbright ETAs and ETA alumni in a workshop preparing those headed abroad to teach English in Central Asian classrooms by sharing best practices and helping them to prepare a toolkit for their in-country use. On the second evening, the ETAs were joined by the U.S. Fulbright scholars and student researchers for an inspirational keynote address by David Merkel, who, among other positions, has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Director for South and Central Asian affairs at the National Security Council, Director for European and Eurasian affairs at the National Security Council in the White House.
On the following two and a half days, the Fulbright awardees and alumni participated in sessions and panel discussions, such as the “Role of Fulbright in Public Diplomacy & Policy” led by Keith Brown with panelists Mark Moody of the Department of State, Asiyat Suleimenova of the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan, and Laurie Wolfe, a U.S. Scholar Alumna to Uzbekistan. The alumni provided invaluable advice and tips to the Fulbrighters preparing to go abroad in country-specific sessions and in general sessions, such as “Your Identity Aboard.”
