WKU News

JayTodd Richey was invited to speak at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC, before a host of high level dignitaries regarding virtual exchange at the Chris Steven’s Virtual Exchange Forum. Specifically, Jay Todd discussed the Soliya Program, which Dr. Soleiman Kiasatpour has been using in the classroom over the years. The Soliya Connect program has helped internationalize our students and has opened doors for our students from — Bailey Mack, who has not only participated in the program but has also worked for them as a facilitator, to JayTodd Richey who has now become a “spokesperson” for virtual exchange; and Corey Chestnut who traveled in the Netherlands with one of his Soliya partners who he maintained contact with after the program and is now teaching in South Korea. These are only a few of the students who have expanded their horizons through this program. Since 2007, 160 WKU students have completed the program and have shared their experiences with their peers in my courses. The WKU Soliya participants have weekly moderated conversations with fellow students from the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Asia and from around the United States regarding a variety of topics concerning the “west and the Muslim world.” Soliya inspires civic engagement, both locally and globally, by exposing our students to diverse perspectives on today’s most pressing issues and fostering critical thinking. Congratulations to Jay Todd on representing our university well and expanding our international reach!