In March 2018 a group of faculty leaders from USU’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS) traveled to Taiwan for a workshop hosted by National Chung Hsing University
(NCHU) and Don Wang — a CAAS alumnus who has been instrumental in connecting USU faculty and students with people and programs at universities in Taiwan.
Bonny Lu, an undergraduate at NCHU, studying insect and plant pathology, took part in organizing the workshop for the USU faculty visitors. As their translator and tour guide, she connected with Janis Boettinger, Janet Anderson, Paul Johnson, Simon Wang, Youping Sun, Scott Jones, and other professors, enjoying food, culture, and scenery with them. They were eager to explore new things and be friends with students.
Bonny’s interaction with the USU professors and their friendly demeanor piqued her interest in studying at USU. By Fall 2018 Bonny was attending USU on an exchange study abroad program. “I love USU because teachers here are always willing to help students, Bonny said. “Teachers work so hard to build us up as successful students.”
Janet Anderson invited Bonny to celebrate Christmas with her family and gave Bonny her first ski lesson. Janis Boettinger introduced lots of international activities to Bonny and helped get her involved in volunteering for fall harvesting of the organic farm. Paul Jonson was an academic advisor and connected her to the Department of Biology in USU, helped her find a part-time job and an undergraduate research project. Simon Wang gave her advice to overcome cultural shocks and learn new ways to communicate with people from different cultures.
Her study abroad experience would prove to be a pivotal moment in her academic career. As she explored the valley and the university, she discovered USU had an area of study that NCHU did not offer — Kinesiology and Health Science.
“USU is always my preference to study because I can work very hard in school but also enjoy my life going skiing or traveling to National Parks on the weekend,” Bonny said. “It is such a wonderful life balance to study here. Work hard and play hard.”
In 2020 Bonny was accepted to USU’s Master of Science in Kinesiology. Due to the pandemic and ongoing struggles at the consulate, her visa was delayed until spring 2021. Bonny is now at USU studying her passion, exercise science, and working as the first graduate assistant for Global Engagement, helping international student groups and the international student council.
A generous donation from Wang facilitated building international cooperation between institutions, opening the possibility for exchange students to study abroad. This paved the way for the International Partnership in Agriculture, Climate and Environment, a dual doctoral degree agreement between USU and NCHU. In the summer of 2019, USU students studied abroad at NCHU in Taiwan.
Contact
Ryan McLane
Senior Director Director of Development
ryan.mclane@usu.edu