Source: Kristine Young, 785-532-5990, kkristin@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.umsl.edu/services/abroad/maui/

Monday, Nov. 8, 2010

YOUNG TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF MID-AMERICA UNIVERSITIES INTERNATIONAL

MANHATTAN -- Kristine Young, assistant provost with Kansas State University's office of international programs, has been elected president of Mid-America Universities International.

Young will serve a two-year term starting in January 2011. She was elected to the post at the organization's recent fall conference at K-State.

"Mid-America Universities International is a consortium of 15 universities in the Midwest that work together to actively promote overseas educational opportunities for students and international teaching, consultation and research opportunities for faculty," Young said.

Participating consortium institutions include K-State, Baylor, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Nebraska-Kearney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Texas Tech University and Texas State University-San Marcos.

The consortium partners with the Utrecht Network Exchange Program, a network of 31 European universities in 29 countries that promotes scholarly exchange of students and faculty between the U.S. and Europe.

K-State was instrumental in getting the consortium established in 1975, which has existed under various names until becoming Mid-America University International in 1995. The consortium was created under a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant, most notably resulting in the Maui-Utrecht network, Young said.

As president Young will provide leadership in developing new relationships; facilitate effective institutional dialogue about issues related to the internationalization of higher education of member institutions; call and lead the biannual meeting of the consortium members to share information; facilitate collaboration on external joint grant opportunities with member institutions; and establish formal site visits with international partners to promote study abroad.

Young has been with the office of international programs since 2007, although she has served in multiple roles with the university on and off since 1978. She has a bachelor's in history from K-State, a master's in human resources from Ottawa University in Kansas, and a doctor of education from Spalding University, Louisville, Ky.