President Schuster and Delegation Visit Tashkent to Expand Webster’s Academic Offerings and Footprint in Central Asia

President Julian Schuster led a delegation of Webster University’s academic leaders to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May to take the next steps in expanding and strengthening existing academic programs and developing new offerings for the Central Asia region.  President Schuster; Vice President for Academic Affairs, Nancy Hellerud; Director General of Global Campuses, Ryan Guffey; academic deans; chess team coach, Liem Le; and the leadership of Webster University Tashkent (WUT) divided up to participate in numerous meetings and events over a three-day period. The visit culminated with WUT’s first four-year commencement ceremony on May 20 to celebrate more than 540 new Webster graduates.  

While in Tashkent, President Schuster met with the Minister of Health, Amrillo Inoyatov, to advance discussions on new health and science-related programs that Webster will offer in Uzbekistan.

Schuster, Hellerud, Guffey, WUT Rector Vassilis Polimenis, and Executive Director Rasul Rakhmonov met with representatives from several ministries, organizations, and institutions including: 

• Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kudratilla Rafikov, and Federation leadership to discuss areas of potential cooperation in education programs and training
• Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Sarvarkhan Buzrukkhanov, and other leaders to discuss the continued collaboration between Webster University and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in the operation of Webster University Tashkent   
• Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Youth, Science, Education, Health, Culture and Sports, Odil Abdurakhmanov, to discuss related activities at Webster University Tashkent and prospects for strengthening programs 
• U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jonathan Henick, at the U.S. Embassy to share information about Webster University in Tashkent and globally. Ambassador Henick also attended and gave remarks at the commencement ceremony on May 20 
• Leadership of the National University of Uzbekistan’s Faculty of Chemistry to tour facilities and to discuss potential joint programs 
• Director of the National Media Support and Community Development Fund, Nozima Davletova, to discuss potential collaborative projects 
• Leaders of Tashkent-based corporations and associations to discuss career-related opportunities for Webster University Tashkent students and graduates 

President Schuster and Chairman Rafikov.

On campus, Schuster, Hellerud, and Polimenis had the opportunity to meet with graduating students. The students provided information on projects they had undertaken during their time at Webster, including the establishment of more than 20 student activities and clubs ranging from football to chess to drama. They also provided feedback on how to strengthen and improve Webster for future students.   

Five academic deans traveled to Tashkent: Dean of the School of Communications, Eric Rothenbuhler; Dean of the Walker School of Business and Technology, Simone Cummings; Dean of the College of Science and Health, Michael Hulsizer; Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Danielle MacCartney; and Interim Dean of the School of Education, Stephanie Mahfood.   

The deans met with faculty heads, faculty, and students in their respective programs to share updates and receive feedback and input from their constituents. Rothenbuhler, who had traveled to Tashkent in 2019 to welcome the first class of BA in Media Studies students, returned this spring to bring honors cords and certificates to the 2023 graduates of the cohort.

Dean Eric Rothenbuhler with freshman students in media studies in 2019.

Dean Eric Rothenbuhler with graduating students in media studies in 2023.

Deans also met with several current and prospective academic partners while in Tashkent. 

• Cummings and Hulsizer visited the National University of Uzbekistan to meet with the deans of the faculties of chemistry and biology regarding exchanges and collaborative projects. Deans Hulsizer and Cummings with National University of Uzbekistan leaders.

 

• Cummings and Hulsizer also visited Tashkent Medical Academy, meeting with Rector A. Shodmonov and other leadership to discuss next steps related to the expansion of science and health-related programs in Uzbekistan under the partnership signed between Webster University and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health.
• Cummings and Hulsizer also visited the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute regarding cooperation in science and health-related offerings. Deans Cummings and Hulsizer with colleagues at the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute.

 

• MacCartney and Guffey met with Vice Rector for International Cooperation, Alisher Sakhibovich, and the leadership of the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages to discuss potential joint programs in English.Dean MacCartney and Director General Guffey with Vice Rector Sakhibovich and leadership of the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages.

The visit to Tashkent culminated in the commencement ceremony and surrounding activities on May 20 – a day of ceremony, photographs, memories, and receptions for over 500 graduates. 

WUT Deputy Academic Director Anthony Jarvis, MacCartney, Guffey, Rothenbuhler, Mahfood, Cummings, Hulsizer, Hellerud, Geneva Academic Director Eric Click.

One day later, on May 21, a new sign appeared at Webster University Tashkent: “Congratulations to the Class of 2024 – only 364 more days until your Commencement!”