College of Coastal Georgia Wins International Education Award

The College of Coastal Georgia was recently honored by Phi Beta Delta, an honor society that recognizes and encourages intellectual and academic achievements in the field of international education.

Coastal Georgia’s Theta Iota chapter of Phi Beta Delta was presented with the 2018 Eileen Evans Outstanding Chapter Award—just one year after the chapter’s founding. The award was given during an awards ceremony at the 32nd Phi Beta Delta annual conference on May 15.

Each year, Phi Beta Delta gives the award to a chapter that demonstrates growth and development, expands outreach within and beyond the academic community, and provides service to Phi Beta Delta.

“The selection committee was very impressed with your chapter’s commitment to international education. We encourage you to continue this path and applaud your successful programming, which shows your strong efforts to promote excellence in global education,” noted Dr. Guillermo de los Reyes, director of awards, Phi Beta Delta.

Interim President Meg Amstutz offered praise for those whose efforts garnered the attention of Phi Beta Delta.

“The College’s faculty, staff, and Office of International Education have worked tirelessly to advocate for the value of global education and to embrace Coastal Georgia’s international students,” said Amstutz. “I am so pleased to see their efforts recognized with this award.”

The Eileen Evans Outstanding Chapter Award is named after the former Executive Director of the national organization. Coastal Georgia is only the second institution in Georgia to have been awarded this overall outstanding chapter award, the other being the Tau chapter at the University of Georgia in 1988.

“On behalf of our chapter, we are honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” said Dr. James (Jim) Lynch, director of institutional effectiveness, interim director of international education and founding member. “The members of our chapter have embraced the objectives of Phi Beta Delta to promote the internationalization of the curriculum; advocate for programs of study that prepare students to be globally competent; and identify international and intercultural educational opportunities for students and faculty.”

Theta Iota chapter executive board members include Tyler Bagwell, campus coordinator; Dr. Patrizia Stahle, president; Dr. Orsolya Kolozsvari, vice president; Dr. Carla Bluhm, secretary; Connie Toler, treasurer; and Ashma Sapkota, student representative.

Phi Beta Delta was founded in 1986 at California State University at Long Beach and became a national organization in 1987. Today, the society is comprised of more than 190 chapters at colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.