From Culture Shock to College Leadership: University of Tulsa’s Vivian Wang Makes it Personal

Many international education professionals find their career inspiration from personal experiences either studying abroad or being an international student at a US university. For Vivian Wang, Vice Provost for Global Engagement at University of Tulsa, her experience studying in Oklahoma after growing up in Shanghai reshaped her opinion of herself as an educator and set her on the path towards leading internationalization strategies, embracing global partnerships, and advocating for more supportive study abroad programs for students in the US. Key Insights & Timestamps: [00:00] Podcast begins [01:25] Culture Shock: Shanghai to Oklahoma & Vivian’s experience in international ed [04:45] International from Tulsa: Global education under one centralized office [07:33] Data Storytelling Essentials: Reflecting national trends & Tulsa trends together [10:26] Uncertainties & Lessons Learned: Navigating geopolitical policies & climates [15:56] Rapid Fire Questions: Vivian talks cultural identity, mentorship & motherhood Guest Spotlight Vivian Wang: Vivian Wang is the Vice Provost for Global Engagement at University of Tulsa. She is an experienced international educator with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She is skilled in international programs, global partnerships and internationalization strategies. Vivian has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration from Oklahoma State University. Key Takeaways: How Does Tulse Define Success? “Our student success is incredibly important in how I define my success in [international education].” As an international student herself, Vivian feels a personal connection to the international goals of University of Tulsa, especially in regard to how international students thrive on campus. Beyond percentages and rates, Vivian hopes her role empowers students to seek a global education and connect with the world around them. How Does Vivian Leverage Data? “I think it's so important that we have that information and that data to convey our story and our impact.” University of Tulsa’s stakeholders are incredibly interested in the success of international programming, and Vivian finds herself often reporting data on a quarterly basis to cover everything from student feedback to social media engagement. Data is everything in international ed, and Vivian is excited to see data technology focused on so heavily by companies like Via. How Can International Ed Navigate Uncertainty? “I think we need to truly convey our mission of having that transformational experience for students.” With grants on hold and immigration policies changing, Vivian doesn’t want higher education to lose sight of the value of internationalizing. Students deserve a global education and universities need to stay strong in their beliefs of the impact of international programming. Resources Mentioned: University of Tulsa | utulsa.edu Connect with Vivian: LinkedIn For More Information: Learn more about the Association of International Education Administrators at AIEAworld.org. Visit ViaTRM.com to learn more about Via TRM and access to additional resources. Stay Connected: Support Via Voices by subscribing on YouTube: youtube.com/@viatrm Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/via-voices Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3R0BcoxUC6Xzr1SW7CCT2t