The Center for International Studies’ new major concentration in Global Security Studies was featured in Texas State’s student newspaper, the University Star. Dr. Paul Hart, Director, and Ms. Amy Oakes, Program Coordinator, expound on the development and future of the program. To learn more in-detail information about the new major, check out the University Star’s article.
Undergraduate and Graduate Student of the Year
Zayna Abdel-Rahim, International Relations major and triple minor in Diplomacy, Japanese, and Arabic, was awarded the Undergraduate Student of the Year for the Center for International Studies. Zayna has received numerous awards, including the prestigious U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Morocco (2024), and the Defense Language and National Security Education Office’s Boren Award to study in Japan (2023). Zayna is the President of the Model Arab League and is an officer of the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. Zayna’s peers often describe her as an inspiration and amazing mentor.
Adrian Leal, thesis-track graduate student, completed the Center’s highest reviewed thesis for 2023-2024. He has served as the Student Government Election Board Chair while also working full-time in TXST’s Human Resources Department. He was accepted as a PhD candidate in Sociology at UT Austin and will start his studies in Fall 2024.
Center Awards Admin and Faculty of the Year
Each year the Center acknowledges the hard work that people around campus do to support International Studies students and opportunities. For the 2023-2024, Dr. Thillainatarajan “Thilla” Sivakumaran was awarded Administrator of the Year and Mr. Oliver Del Cid as Faculty Member of the Year.
Dr. Sivakumaran is the Vice President of Texas State Global and his work establishing new hubs and exchange programs worldwide is instrumental to providing increased study abroad opportunities. His support and collaboration also led to the creation of new
programs through TXST Global.
Mr. Oliver Del Cid, Director General of National Security for Belize and guest professor, taught the inaugural Diplomacy Seminar course offered in Spring 2024. His support and collaboration was integral to the development of the Diplomacy minor and the Center looks forward to his expertise teaching future sections of the Diplomacy Seminar course, IS 4388. Mr. Del Cid is an alum of Texas State university and former ambassador for the state of Belize.