Cathy Solheim, Family Social Science professor and director of graduate studies, shared her considerable international experience with a group of visiting scholars from Kazakhstan. The 14 scholars are from various regions of Kazakhstan and are building knowledge and capacity in research methods, innovative teaching approaches, and academic leadership, sponsored by the Bolashaq International Scholarship, a highly prestigious Fellowship in Kazakhstan supported by the government.

Solheim, who as a graduate student was among the first University of Minnesota scholars to travel internationally, shared her experiences in collaborating and co-publishing with international scholars and working in global settings. She has led numerous student study abroad courses to Thailand and her research agenda includes transnational family systems and refugee family resettlement and adjustment.

The Bolashaq Scholars are hosted as part of the College of Education and Human Development’s International Initiatives. Their six month program is designed to provide a structured experience with organized seminars, workshops, field experiences, and projects.