ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï

Table of Contents

• Standing Strong Amid Winter's Chill: A Call to Action from the Read Center Director
• Celebrating Excellence: Dr. Kayode Adewale’s Inspiring Journey in Global Education
• Aggarwal-Blackburn Visiting Scholar: Hasan Atak
• Fall 2024 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Photos

Standing Strong Amid Winter's Chill: A Call to Action from the Read Center Director 

As winter's chill settles over ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï, the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education remains committed and energized in our mission, despite recent setbacks. We are deeply disappointed to announce that, due to funding pauses by the U.S. State Department, our anticipated program to host 50 international English language educators at ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï has been canceled. This decision underscores a troubling lack of governmental commitment to economic development, international collaboration, and diplomacy at a critical time when global engagement is most needed.

The canceled two-week immersive program, initially scheduled to begin March 2nd in partnership with the ESL Center, would have gathered higher education and secondary school English instructors from around the globe. Participants were set to engage in dynamic workshops, faculty-led seminars, and insightful site visits, all aimed at promoting critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills essential for 21st-century education.

We see this as a crucial moment—a call to action for communities, universities, and States to advocate strongly for sustained investment in international education and programming. Now more than ever, it is vital that we reaffirm our collective commitment to fostering global understanding, citizen diplomacy, and intercultural cooperation, even when governmental support falters.

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 ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï 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 ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï to participate in an upcoming training program under his Transformation1090 initiative. Originally presented during his Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program at ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï 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 ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï

Dr. Adewale expresses his deep appreciation to ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï 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.

ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï 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.

Fall 2024 Fulbright TEA Photos