Office of International Programs

Dr. Rachel Shinnar, recipient of the 2025 Staff & Faculty Global Leadership Award, is a transformative leader in advancing global learning at App State. She has designed and led short-term study abroad programs to Spain, Cuba, and France, while also mentoring colleagues in developing similar opportunities. Through her innovative Collaborative Online International Learning courses with partners in Taiwan, Israel, and Germany, Dr. Shinnar has opened meaningful global engagement pathways for students who may never travel abroad. Her internationally co-authored, multilingual research and frequent presentations in Europe further extend App State’s global reach, but her greatest impact is reflected in the students whose lives she has changed by inspiring curiosity, expanding perspectives, and fostering a deep commitment to global understanding.

Daniel Nana Dwuma, recipient of the 2025 Graduate Student Global Leadership Award, has demonstrated exceptional global leadership since beginning his graduate studies at App State in Fall 2024. As Treasurer of the Graduate Student Government Association and Senator for the MSADA program, he has strengthened student governance while also helping organize the statewide International Engagement and Global Leadership student conference. Daniel has shared his expertise and lived experience through presentations across multiple App State campuses, offering meaningful insights into Ghanaian culture, food, and healthcare. His commitment to supporting international students is equally impressive: as INTAPP’s Spring 2025 airport pickup coordinator, he led a team of volunteers to welcome new students and help them transition into life in Boone. Through mentorship programs, cultural exchange events, and the International Friendship Program, Daniel has fostered inclusion, encouraged intercultural dialogue, and helped build a more globally engaged graduate community.

Maria Fernanda Yzaziga Hurtado, recipient of the 2025 Undergraduate Student Global Leadership Award, plays a vital role in bringing a global mindset to App State. Since joining International Appalachian (INTAPP) in 2022, she has risen from general member to Social Chair, Vice President, and now President, continually expanding and reimagining the organization’s impact. Drawing on her own experience as an international student studying environmental science, Maria Fernanda has created new social events, revitalized longstanding INTAPP traditions, and built spaces where international and domestic students can connect meaningfully. Her warm, welcoming leadership style encourages others to explore global perspectives, share their cultures, and take the first steps toward studying abroad. Above all, she is dedicated to helping others experience the same life-changing opportunities that have shaped her own journey at App State.