Two University of Lynchburg faculty members recently completed tours of Kazakhstan, where they provided training for educators, nonprofit leaders, and health care workers.
The U.S. Department of State sent Erika Mork, an adjunct professor in the nonprofit leadership program, to the Asian country to teach workshops on grant writing and fundraising.
The project came about after Serik Abilov, director of the international office at Kazakh-American Free University, visited the University of Lynchburg last fall. As Abilov met Lynchburg faculty members, Mork told him about her experience working in State Department programs as a Fulbright Scholar. “He was interested in me conducting some training for faculty and staff there, and it has now turned into a larger initiative funded by the State Department … to benefit KAFU as well as other organizations across the country,” Mork said.
She taught workshops in three cities with 135 nonprofit leaders, university faculty and staff, and others attending.
“I met some really wonderful people working to do good in the world, and I hope what I taught them helped build their capacity to be even more successful in fulfilling their missions,” Mork said.
Dr. Jennifer Hall, director of Lynchburg’s Master of Public Health Program, gave presentations to professors, doctors, health care administrators, and others. Her topics included University of Lynchburg programs, since one of her goals was to establish new, international internship opportunities for Lynchburg students. But she also discussed health concerns relevant to Kazakhstan.
“I highlighted our public and environmental health system, and major issues facing Kazakhstan, including sodium intake, air pollution and radon, and shared public health and health promotion strategies,” Dr. Hall said. “It was a really great and productive trip.”
The University of Lynchburg’s ties to Kazakhstan began in 2017 when Dr. Rich Burke, professor of English, spent a semester at KAFU as a Fulbright Fellow. Read about his experience here.
