December 13, 2011

Scholarship Established in Honor of UCSB Communication Professor

In honor of his extraordinary contributions to the field of international education, the Council for International Education and Exchange (CIEE) has established a $25,000 scholarship in the name of Michael Stohl, a professor of communication at UC Santa Barbara. The scholarship also recognizes Stohl's contributions to the organization's Academic Consortium Board and commemorates his retirement from the CIEE board of directors.

"Stohl Scholars," as scholarship recipients will be known, will include students who come from nontraditional backgrounds, are economically challenged, or are first-generation college students. The financial support will enable them to pursue study abroad, or to conduct international research as part of a study abroad program.

In announcing the new scholarship last month at the organization's annual conference in New Orleans, Robert Fallon, chair of the CIEE board of directors, noted that in keeping with Stohl's long commitment to public higher education, students from public institutions will receive special consideration when scholarship recipients are selected.

"Our campus community is proud of Professor Stohl's contributions and the inspiration, mentorship, and encouragement he provides to students from all backgrounds," said UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang. "The creation of the Stohl Scholarship is a wonderful and meaningful way for the Council for International Education and Exchange to honor Professor Stohl for his leadership in international education, his longtime service to the CIEE Board, and most of all, his vision and his dedication to helping students."

Noted Melvin Oliver, UCSB's SAGE Sara Miller McCune Dean of Social Sciences: "This award recognizes a distinguished career of engagement with international scholars, as well as Professor Stohl's continuing commitment to the value of international studies and education. In addition, it demonstrates the great value of our faculty to public service and the common good. Professor Stohl brings UCSB and the Department of Communication great honor with this award."

Stohl served on the board of directors of CIEE from 1990-93, 1995-2000, and 2001-11, and was board chair from 2004-2010. He was a founding member of the CIEE Academic Consortium Board, which was established to provide member institutions with oversight of the academic programs established for study abroad students. While serving as chair of the Academic Consortium Board, Stohl was instrumental in creating the external evaluation protocols, which made CIEE the first and only provider of study abroad programs to establish independent external committees to both review and publish reviews of all CIEE programs provided to students. This independence and transparency of process and content remains unique today.

"I am honored and humbled that CIEE created this scholarship in my name," said Stohl. "And I am truly delighted that the scholarship will both open doors to study abroad that might otherwise have been closed to the students who will receive them, and reward those students who propose interesting and meaningful research projects."

CIEE is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization composed of more than 400 member institutions whose mission is "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." To fulfill that mission on behalf of its members, CIEE provides outbound international education experiences for university students, faculty members, and administrators, as well as study, work, and internship opportunities for people coming into the United States.

Through its 138 individual programs, CIEE sends more than 6,000 U.S. students each year to study at international universities in 40 countries, and brings more than 25,000 international students to the United States for short-term work experience. In addition, CIEE, through its advocacy efforts, supports initiatives, viewpoints, and policies that are conducive to advancing international education and exchange by working with government officials, collaborating with other advocacy groups, and raising public awareness about the values of international education.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.