From teaching English in Romania and mastering Mandarin in Taiwan to presenting historical research in Sarajevo, Old Dominion University students are taking their education around the world.
Behind a growing number of those opportunities is the Graduate School’s Office of International Collaborations (OIC), which provides one-on-one guidance to students navigating highly competitive international scholarship applications. For Jaye Brayboy (B.S. ’26), that support helped turn a longtime goal into reality.
Jaye, who has always wanted to study abroad in a Mandarin-speaking country, jumped at the opportunity to participate in Middlebury College’s eight-week immersion program for Mandarin.
“Until last summer, I hadn’t had the chance to be immersed and specifically surrounded by fluent speakers, 24/7, 100% of the time, no breaks,” she said. “I gained a lot of conversational skills there. My speaking and language comprehension increased by leaps and bounds.”
Jaye says none of this would have been possible without Patricia Schiaffini-Vedani, Ph.D., director of the OIC, who introduced her to the program and supported her through the application process.
Dr. Schiaffini-Vedani said Old Dominion University students have distinguished themselves by earning these competitive scholarships that recognize academic excellence and leadership.
“Since our office was established in the summer of 2024, we have achieved unprecedented success in the number of students receiving nationally and internationally competitive awards,” Dr. Schiaffini-Vedani said. “This is the first time the University has had an office dedicated to promoting a portfolio of more than 20 international scholarship opportunities, while also providing comprehensive support throughout the application process.”
Jaye, who graduated in the spring with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and double minored in Chinese and Applied Language Studies, is continuing her global studies this fall in Hualien, Taiwan, where she earned a full scholarship to the National Dong Hwa University Master of Arts program in Ethnic Relations and Cultures.
Jaye’s international and language awards also include the Linda Hyatt Wilson Graduate Scholarship in China Studies, being named a U.S. Fulbright Program semifinalist and earning a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Scholarship.
Jaye is just one of many students who have worked with OIC to broaden their academic horizons.
Since the OIC’s inception, students have earned U.S. Department of State-funded scholarships and fellowships, including Gilman Scholarships and Boren Awards to study and conduct research abroad. Several students have also been named Fulbright semifinalists or received Fulbright awards.
Fifteen students received Trailblazers Scholarships, an OIC program supporting international experiential learning opportunities such as conducting research, presenting at international conferences and participating in other noncredit academic experiences abroad. Recipients have completed projects in countries including Greece, Morocco, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Katie Sturniolo (M.A. ’25), received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award to Romania. After graduating with a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, she applied to a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award to gain teaching and language experience that would support her interests in linguistic education, translation and language analysis.
She chose Romania because of her interest in the country’s culture and language as a crossroads between Latin and Slavic roots.
“I found out about Fulbright English Teaching Assistant positions through OIC and was supported with my application by having my essays drafts reviewed and received feedback by Dr. Schiaffini-Vedani,” she said. “She has also helped link me to others at the University receiving Fulbright grants.”
One graduate student has taken advantage of numerous scholarships and was awarded a U.S. Department of State Boren Award for the study of languages and regions considered critical to U.S. national security.
Now studying in Africa, he said OIC helped him discover and apply for scholarships and provided extensive support as he crafted and refined his applications. He encourages other students to consider studying abroad.
“Studying abroad is an exceptional opportunity to grow yourself by experiencing challenges, ideas and flavors that you would never have imagined,” he said. “I keep seeking it out for a reason.”
The Study Abroad Office and English Language Center are under the OIC’s umbrella. While the University’s Study Abroad Office helps undergraduate students study abroad for credit, OIC supports both undergraduate and graduate students as they pursue international experiential scholarships and learning opportunities.
These opportunities include international research, conference participation, English teaching abroad, international service-learning projects and post-graduation programs, such as Fulbright and the Peace Corps.
Through individualized mentorship and application support, Old Dominion University is ensuring more undergraduate and graduate students pursue international opportunities. As students travel abroad to study, conduct research, teach and present their work, those experiences are expanding what an Old Dominion University education can make possible.
For information about international opportunities, visit the websites of the Office of International Collaborations and Study Abroad.