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A Warm Welcome from the Read Center Director Amid the Winter Chill 

As winter’s chill settles over Kent, the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education is bustling with energy and excitement. We are thrilled to announce that, in partnership with the ESL Center, we will soon welcome 50 international English language educators to Â鶹´«Ã½ as part of a prestigious U.S. State Department grant-funded program.

Beginning March 2nd, this two-week immersive program will bring together higher education and secondary school English instructors from around the world to explore innovative approaches to integrating 21st-century skills in the classroom. Through interactive workshops, faculty-led seminars, and engaging site visits, participants will gain practical tools to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy in their teaching.

Kent State’s College of Education, Health, and Human Services (EHHS) faculty will play a pivotal role, leading sessions that bridge theory with hands-on application. Participants will also visit local partner schools to observe best practices in action, engage in cultural excursions, and take part in community-building activities that highlight the spirit of global collaboration. 

This exchange underscores the Read Center’s mission to foster cross-cultural understanding and advance educational innovation. We look forward to the vibrant discussions, meaningful connections, and transformative learning experiences this program will bring to our campus. 

Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this exciting journey!

Â鶹´«Ã½ to Host Prestigious Exchange Program on Integrating 21st-Century Skills in English Language Classrooms

The Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education at Â鶹´«Ã½, along with partner, the ESL Center, is set to host the Integrating 21st-Century Skills in the English Language Classroom exchange program. This initiative will welcome international educators for a two-week immersive experience focused on enhancing English language instruction through critical thinking, problem-solving, media literacy, and digital citizenship.

Kent State’s long-standing commitment to global education, recognized with the 2022 Senator Paul Simon Award for Internationalization, makes it an ideal host for this program. The Read Center and English as a Second Language (ESL) Center will facilitate dynamic academic workshops, site visits, and cultural engagements to equip educators with innovative teaching strategies.

Program Highlights:

• Workshops on Project-Based Learning (PBL), student-centered instruction, and integrating digital tools into language teaching.
• Site Visits to local schools, Kent State’s Center for Teaching and Learning, and the International Institute of Akron to explore best practices.
• Cultural Immersion through the May 4th Visitors Center, Playhouse Square, and the Friendship Family Program to foster cross-cultural exchange.

A key component of the program is its emphasis on civic engagement, integrating Kent State’s historic May 4th legacy into discussions on free speech and critical thinking. Participants will also develop actionable classroom improvement plans to implement in their home countries.

Celebrating Excellence: Dr. Kayode Adewale’s Inspiring Journey in Global Education

We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Kayode Adewale, Ph.D., a distinguished global educator and a proud member of the Â鶹´«Ã½ network and former Fulbright TEA scholar. His dedication to transformative education, particularly in underserved communities, continues to make a lasting impact.

A Milestone Achievement in Educational Evaluation

On February 5, 2025, Dr. Adewale successfully defended his Ph.D. in Educational Evaluation at Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria—the nation’s first university dedicated to education and a leader in pedagogical innovation across Africa. His research underscores a commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and equipping educators with cutting-edge strategies.

Global Recognition and Prestigious Honors

In recent months, Adewale has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to education, earning multiple prestigious accolades:

• Top 50 Finalist, GEMS Global Teacher Prize (January 15, 2025) – Selected among the world’s top educators for his outstanding dedication to impactful teaching.
• Appointed Ogun State Education Ambassador (January 21, 2025) – Honored by the Ogun State Government for his relentless efforts to elevate education in Nigeria.
• Recipient of the Global Teacher Grant (IREX, 2025) – Awarded funding for his initiative "Transformation2060: One Clinic Per School," aimed at enhancing STEM education and student learning outcomes in Ogun State.

A Call for Collaboration: Join Transformation1090

Adewale extends an invitation to Â鶹´«Ã½ to participate in an upcoming training program under his Transformation1090 initiative. Originally presented during his Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program at Kent State in October 2023, this project focuses on:

• Equipping educators with digital skills
• Enhancing content creation for modern teaching
• Driving student engagement through innovative learning strategies

A Heartfelt Thank You to Â鶹´«Ã½

Dr. Adewale expresses his deep appreciation to Â鶹´«Ã½ for its support in shaping his global teaching perspective. He looks forward to fostering meaningful collaborations that will drive transformative change in education worldwide.

Let’s celebrate his achievements and support his mission to make quality education more accessible!

Aggarwal-Blackburn Visiting Scholar

Hasan Atak

Hasan Atak, Ph.D., a visiting scholar from Turkey, has been with EHHS for six months as a Aggarwal-Blackburn Visiting Scholar. In Turkey, he held the position of full professor and is currently associated with the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education, working under the mentorship of Martin Jencius, Ph.D., from the Counselor Education and Supervision program.

Atak’s primary research examines the mediating role of the therapeutic alliance in the relationship between masculinity-related factors, knowledge and attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals, and sexual orientation counseling competency among counseling students in Turkey and the United States. Additionally, in collaboration with Jencius, he has completed a review and scale development study on schadenfreude, resulting in the creation of the Multidimensional Schadenfreude Scale, with the review paper already published. The team has also submitted a bibliometric study on learning analytics.

His ongoing empirical research includes the development of several psychological scales, including the Perception of Threat to Masculinity Scale, the Third-Parent Awareness Scale, the Triangulation in Relationships Scale, and the Ambiguous Loss Experience Scale for Parents of LGBTQ+ Individuals. Moreover, he is co-authoring a review on ambiguous loss experiences among parents of LGBTQ+ individuals. In addition to these research endeavors, Atak and his collaborators are in the final stages of completing two books: Personality Disorders and Basic Statistics in JAMOVI – A Data Analysis Manual.

Â鶹´«Ã½ has provided an inclusive and supportive academic environment that has facilitated Atak’s research and professional development. The university fosters a strong sense of community, respect for diversity, and a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that all individuals feel valued and supported. The collaboration and support he has received from colleagues, particularly at the Gerald H. Read Center, have been instrumental in advancing his work.

Atak expresses his gratitude for this opportunity and extends his sincere appreciation to Amanda Johnson, Ph.D., and Martin Jencius for their guidance and support.