Creighton University, a Jesuit, Catholic institution renowned for cultivating compassionate and inquisitive leaders, prioritizes global engagement through education abroad, international research, and strategic partnerships, while offering essential support for international students and scholars. The university is currently seeking a dynamic Vice Provost for Global Engagement to lead these efforts, collaborating with various departments to enhance global initiatives, deepen partnerships, and create innovative programs in alignment with its Jesuit mission. Join a community committed to shaping tomorrow’s global leaders with vision and passion to build a more just world.
Omaha, Nebraska and Phoenix, Arizona
A private Jesuit, Catholic institution, Creighton University was founded in 1878 and is classified as a Research University – R2 (high research activity) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Creighton ranks in the top third of National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 rankings for “Best Colleges,” returning to the prestigious list for a fifth consecutive year. Offering a full range of undergraduate majors, masters and doctoral programs, as well as original research, Creighton students of all faith traditions learn to think critically, seek justice, serve others, and lead in their communities and on the global stage.
Creighton’s two campuses, located in Omaha, Nebraska, and Phoenix, Arizona, are home to nine colleges and professional schools. Rooted in the University’s Jesuit values and academic mission, Creighton pushes the boundaries of discovery. Faculty and students pursue new knowledge for the betterment of society, seeking to build a more just world.
Creighton University’s Omaha campus is located in the heart of the city’s Urban Core and just 10 minutes from the airport. With a footprint of 118 acres, the campus is home to undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools and colleges in law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing and business. With 80 percent of students enrolled from outside the state, Creighton University’s Omaha campus is also home to eight residence halls serving more than 2,100 students.
As one of the 50 largest cities in the United States, Omaha, Nebraska’s metropolitan area population is nearly one million. Known as the “Gateway to the West” and a Top 100 Place to Live in America, Omaha is a vibrant metropolis featuring a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The city’s skyline is complemented by the renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, consistently ranked among the best in the world, and a bustling downtown area in the historic Old Market district, where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic brick buildings. With numerous parks, trails, and green spaces, Omaha provides ample opportunity for recreation and relaxation. Omaha also boasts a thriving arts scene, with venues like the Joslyn Art Museum and the Holland Performing Arts Center. The city has an active sports culture that hosts the NCAA Men’s College World Series, the Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals), and a new women’s professional volleyball team: the Supernovas. The world comes to Omaha as well, through a diverse food and dining scene with an array of eateries and international flavor.
Additionally, Creighton University has a 195,000-square-foot Phoenix campus that opened in 2021 at Park Central in midtown Phoenix, along the Valley Metro Rail. The modern healthcare practice facility features cutting-edge technology, equipment, and space and enriches Creighton’s Jesuit education. One of the largest Catholic health professions educators in the U.S, the School of Medicine at Creighton University has campuses in Omaha and Phoenix. Other health professions fields include: Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies
As partners with the city in the development of a newly identified Phoenix Medical Quarter, Creighton University is invested in the growth of the city and access to innovative healthcare, bioscience, and medical education opportunities. While learning to become compassionate leaders, students can explore collaborative care and learn in state-of-the-art labs. Additionally, Phoenix provides a venue for exploring desert beauty, southwest culture, and outdoor adventures.
Creighton 150 Strategic Plan: Lighting the Way outlines a course to advance Creighton’s mission and vision of engaging students, faculty, staff, and alumni in critical analysis and thoughtful discussion of complex societal issues, putting bold leadership into action for the benefit of humanity. This is the Creighton difference. The Creighton community leverages comprehensiveness and complexity, pushes boundaries, engages the world, advances new knowledge, and leads the way in seeking creative solutions to some of society’s most challenging issues.
Mardell Wilson, E.dD., was named provost at Creighton University effective Oct. 1, 2020. Dr. Wilson previously served as professor and dean of the Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University(SLU). Her background in the allied health professions and her experience as a scholar and leader make her uniquely qualified to serve as chief academic officer for Creighton’s undergraduate and graduate educational portfolio, including its expansive health professions education.
In addition to the Office of Global Engagement, the Provost oversees Enrollment Management, Faculty and Academic Affairs, Learning Assessment, Libraries, Research and Scholarship, Student Life, Student Success, and all the schools and colleges.
Creighton University comprises nine undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools and colleges. Graduate programs include those in the School of Law, School of Medicine, College of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. With 140-plus academic paths, students have many options to explore their passions.
Between 450 and 500 students access education abroad through partner and affiliate programs and faculty-led programs. Approximately 150-200 students participate in Creighton’s ILAC program in the Dominican Republic, either in the semester program, at clinics, or other programs.
Creighton’s total student enrollment is just over 8,200 (4,200-plus undergraduates and nearly 4,000 graduate and professional students.) Nearly 200 international students from 52 countries call Creighton home. All first- and second-year undergraduate students are required to live on campus.
The Creighton Bluejays compete in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference
Creighton has over 300 student organizations, including undergraduate fraternity and sorority life.
Campus Ministry plays a significant role in student life, with interfaith celebrations, spiritual communities, and retreat opportunities at the Creighton Retreat Center in Iowa.
The University’s strategic plan clearly emphasizes Creighton’s vision of educating globally oriented students, engaging in a global community, and meeting local, national, and global needs. Creighton aims to develop global leaders who can offer sustainable solutions to complex transnational issues. The Office of Global Engagement (GEO), in partnership with the broader University community and partners, leads the academic community to realize these ambitious goals. The Global Engagement Office encompasses an extensive portfolio. In addition to units typically found in a central international office (Study Abroad, International Recruitment and Admissions, International Student and Scholar Services, Global and Community-Engaged Learning, and Intensive English Language Institute (IELI), the GEO broadens comprehensive global engagement to include: the Institute for Latin American Concerns (ILAC) in the Dominican Republic, the Asian World Center, the Global Scholars Program, Jesuit Worldwide Learning, and Sustainable Creighton. More can be found on each of these units here.
GEO’s mission is “To expand our capacity to serve in solidarity with neighbors and nations to bring expertise, innovation, compassion, and leadership as committed partners in meeting the complex challenges of the present and in realizing the possibilities for the future on a local, national, and international scale.”
Creighton University has been in partnership with the community in the Dominican Republic (DR) for 50 years. Located in Santiago, DR, and in connection with the Centro de Education para la Salud Integral (CESI), Creighton students, faculty, and staff work to expand health services to the community, demonstrating the Jesuit value of “for and with others.” ILAC’s solidarity with campesinos in more than 40 villages exemplifies Creighton’s mission, vision, and values, as evidenced through clinical healthcare delivery and numerous sustainable development projects. Across the history of the partnership more than 5,600 Creighton students have served more than 200 rural Dominican communities.
Learn more about working at Creighton University: Change the World From Here.
Dive into a nuanced exploration of the global discourse surrounding higher education in the United States. Join us for a panel discussion with esteemed international educators as we embark on a journey through the lenses of culture and international perspective, examining how global audiences interpret and engage with the ‘anti-woke’ discourse within the context of U.S. higher education. This engaging panel discussion will delve into the intersections of culture, ideology, and education, and the complex landscape of how international audiences perceive the ‘anti-woke’ narrative that has emerged within U.S. academia.
Whether you’re a senior international officer, or simply curious about the diverse viewpoints shaping U.S. higher education, this podcast episode will provide an invaluable space for critical analysis and insightful conversations.
Fanta Aw is a distinguished leader in international education, renowned for her extensive contributions to global learning, cross-cultural understanding, and educational equity. With a deep commitment to fostering connections between diverse cultures and promoting educational excellence, she has significantly impacted the international education community.
Fanta Aw’s career has been characterized by her dedication to advancing global education initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion, and nurturing partnerships that transcend borders. She has held influential roles in various organizations, advocating for the importance of international collaboration and learning experiences that empower individuals to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
As a thought leader and visionary, Fanta Aw’s insights and expertise have shaped discussions on the future of international education, emphasizing the significance of equitable access, cultural exchange, and lifelong learning. Her work has not only elevated institutions but has also inspired countless individuals to embrace the transformative power of global education.
Date: September 14th, 2023
Time: 12 noon ET
An experienced global researcher and administrator, Mark Beirn brings a critical approach to risk management, factoring structural racism and identity-based violence into his rubric for supporting equitable global mobility.
Specialization Areas:
– Global Risk Management
– Education Abroad
– Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in International Education
– Health and Safety
– Curriculum Development
Stephen Appiah-Padi is an international educator with several years of teaching and administrative experience in both 4 and 2-year HEIs. An experienced global education practitioner-scholar, with a demonstrated history of success in the field.
Dr. Appiah-Padi has a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada in Educational Policy & Administration with a specialization in International/Intercultural Education.
At Northwestern College, he provided oversight in the administration of education abroad and international student services. In Lansing, Michigan, he first oversaw diversity and intercultural education at Lansing Community College, and later created the Center for International and Intercultural Education (CIIE) which merged intercultural engagement and international education programs of the institution, and he became its first director. Additionally, Dr. Appiah-Padi taught a course, “Diversity in the American Workplace”, to undergraduate management students of the College. In his current position, he provides leadership and vision in advancing strategic internationalization initiatives, including international partnerships and study abroad programs at Bucknell University.
Dr Appiah-Padi has created and facilitated several workshops for faculty and staff development in higher education and in business organizations. He has presented at several national and international conferences. In NAFSA, among several volunteer leadership positions, he has served as Dean of the Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication Workshop, the Leadership Development Committee member, Chair of the Africa Special Interest Group, and a Fellow of the Global Fellowship Program for mentoring emerging leaders of internationalization in African HEIs. He currently serves as a member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.
Dr. Rosa Almoguera has worked as an international educator for over twenty years. She was trained as a Hispanic Philologist at the Universidad Complutense, in Madrid, and did her M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. Her Ph.D., from Universidad Complutense included a field study and edition of written balladry “Romancero”. During many years Rosa combined teaching and her role as a senior administrator at the Fundación Ortega-Marañón in Toledo, Spain. At the Foundation, Rosa directed and, in many cases created, programs for the University of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Princeton, Ohio State, Arcadia, and the University of Chicago. She has also been a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota, University of Portland, and Interamericana de Puerto Rico.
Beginning in 2016, Rosa works as an international education consultant for both public and private European and US higher education institutions. Rosa has been successful in developing new partnerships and programs, as well as helping improve already existing ones.
Rosa is a member of Forum and NAFSA and has presented with higher education professionals on innovative academic and research programming, STEM in study abroad and Nationalism in Europe. Rosa is currently completing the final Professional Certification from the Forum on Education Abroad.
