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Gregg Orifici, director of global initiatives at the Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø Center for International Education and Global Engagement, recently talked with Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø Today about his program and how donors help make it successful.

What is the mission of the Center for International Education and Global Engagement (CIEGE)?

Helping students access the world as their classroom, encouraging diversity on campus, engaging global faculty and scholars, welcoming more international students to Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø — these are just some of the ways the CIEGE embraces the vision for an internationalized Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø.

Your Philanthropy Creates Possibilities

Explore the many ways you can support Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø, including endowing a fund or making a bequest, at unh.edu/give/how-to-give.

Our development staff would be happy to work with you.

Seems like a big undertaking — what keeps the CIEGE staff motivated?

We believe that internationalizing the Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø campus and creating meaningful global experiences for our students isÌýmore critical now than ever. Exposure to different cultures and perspectives is an essential component of a university education.

What were some of your major accomplishments this year?

Our international student population grew, as Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø was home to 1,170 students from 74 different countriesÌýand 180 exchangeÌýscholars. We saw a 5.6 percent increase in the number of undergraduate students studying abroad. For the first time, we awarded the new diversity scholarship that helps four students study abroad.

How has donor support helped you achieve CIEGE'sÌýgoals?

Donor support of all levels helps to fund scholarships to make study abroad more affordable for low-income and first-generation students.ÌýThe (603) Challenge funds from this year will help launch the much-needed Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø International Student Emergency FundÌýto assist students in managingÌýunforeseen events like medical emergencies or hardships as a result of changes in national policies affecting U.S. diplomatic relations with other countries.

What do you want donors to know about their gifts to CIEGE?

That their gifts, of whatever amount, inspire us to keep going, to work harder,Ìýeven in these challenging times, and under significant financial constraint, knowing that our mission is shared.