Summer 2026 Exchange, Faculty Collaboration Highlight Growing Global Strategy

Alabama A&M University took a significant step in expanding its international reach Feb. 9, hosting leaders from South Korea’s Konyang University for the first in-person meeting between the two institutions and advancing plans for a Summer 2026 student exchange program.

The three-hour session in the LINQ Room 209 of the New School of Business focused on launching a proposed two-week summer program that could bring 20 to 24 Konyang students to campus, while also laying groundwork for reciprocal exchanges, joint research initiatives and long-term faculty collaboration.

Representing Alabama A&M were Donald Pearsall, assistant vice president for auxiliary enterprises; Dr. Andrea Hawkins, interim dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs (COBPA); Deborah Hunter of the Office of Research and Economic Development; Jacob Inglis of Global Ties Alabama; Dr. Xia Zhang, COBPA international program coordinator; and members of the COBPA International Program Committee, led by Dr. Doris Bestman and including Dr. Timothy Butzer, Dr. Sheri Keenan, Reuben Twijukye and Sonya Merritt.

The Konyang delegation was led by Prof. Seokhwan Bae, general director of Global University Initiatives, and Dr. Daegu Kim, director of the Office of Management Support.
University leaders outlined Alabama A&M’s existing global initiatives and its capacity to provide immersive academic and cultural experiences for international students.

“The visit from Konyang University reflects our shared commitment to preparing students for success in a globally interconnected economy,” said Zhang. “Our discussions were highly productive, and we are excited about the potential to launch a Summer 2026 program that integrates academic rigor, cultural immersion, and long-term faculty collaboration.”

A virtual follow-up meeting is planned to finalize next steps.

The visit builds on a Memorandum of Understanding approved in June 2025 — Alabama A&M’s first agreement with a university in South Korea — and reflects the institution’s broader strategy to expand global learning opportunities and strengthen its international footprint.
If finalized, the Summer 2026 program would further position Alabama A&M as a destination for international academic engagement while opening expanded global pathways for its students.