CONWAY, Ark. (April 6, 2022) — Dr. Peter Gess was recently
recognized by NAFSA: The Association of
International Educators with the 2022 Arkansas State Award in
recognition for his contributions to the field of international education, the
State of Arkansas, and NAFSA Region III (which includes Arkansas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma, and Texas).
Dr. Gess became the College’s first Director of International
Programs in September 2007 and currently serves as Associate Provost for
Engaged Learning and Associate Professor of Politics.
“I am greatly humbled by this honor awarded by my peers
across the state,” Gess said. “I continue to be inspired daily by their efforts
to internationalize their own campuses. In today’s world, it is so very
important that we continue to provide global opportunities and cross-cultural
experiences for our students.”
Gess earned his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and
master’s in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Georgia in
Athens, where he worked as a public service faculty member.
“I
was thrilled to be able to present Peter with this year’s Arkansas State Award
from NAFSA Region III,” said Allyson Douglass, International Student Advisor
for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and NAFSA Region III
representative for Arkansas. “I’ve known Peter since he began his tenure in
International Education at Hendrix College in 2007. I met him through his
efforts in spearheading the Rwandan Presidential Scholarship Program, which
involved a consortium of institutions across the South that were fortunate to
receive gifted students during the program’s duration. Peter is well deserving
of this honor, and I am proud to call him both a colleague and a friend.”
About NAFSA
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s
largest and most diverse nonprofit association dedicated to international
education and exchange, working to advance policies and practices that ensure a
more interconnected, peaceful world today and for generations to come. The
organization serves the needs of more than 10,000 members and international
educators worldwide at more than 3,500 institutions, in over 150
countries. For more information, visit www.nafsa.org.
About Hendrix College
A private liberal
arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns
recognition as one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is
featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the
Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation,
and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides,
lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the
United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.