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Paul Geis, a doctoral student in cultural foundations, was one of 13 advanced doctoral students awarded the University Fellowship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Read further to learn more about his research, future goals and Kent State experience.

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1. Please give a short overview of your research.
   
   My research focuses on the concept of ‘study’ as an educational way of thinking about what happens in university student experiences abroad. I am interested in understanding how students encounter the location abroad through practices of study. My dissertation combines conceptual humanities inquiry with an in-depth qualitative empirical study.
    
2. What made you choose to pursue your graduate degree here at Kent State?
   
   The multi- and interdisciplinary nature of the program in Cultural Foundations at Kent State was a perfect fit for me and my professional goals. A strong core of humanities coursework spoke to the liberal arts student in me; coursework in comparative and international education connected to my professional background; and the ability to pair conceptual inquiry with qualitative empirical work appealed to me as a practitioner in higher education.
    
3. What do you enjoy most about attending Kent State for graduate school?
   
   The perspectives of so many international colleagues at Kent State greatly enriches my doctoral experience. From sharing an office with a doctoral student from Kyrgyzstan for three years and working with faculty with extensive international backgrounds, to having classmates from China, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uganda, Northern Cyprus, Indonesia, the Philippines, Venezuela and beyond, I thoroughly enjoy the international academic community that surrounds me.
    
4. What are your future goals?
   
   I hope to obtain a leadership position as a scholar-practitioner in international education at a university. Ideally, I will have opportunities to continue teaching – a passion that was nurtured through my graduate assistantship.
    
5. What does this award mean to you and how will it aid you?
   
   I appreciate the opportunity that the University Fellowship affords me to pursue full-time academic work for another year. I am able to defer my job search and dedicate extended periods of time to my research.