For Penn State students who choose to study abroad, Ruth Pflueger is an invaluable resource for making the process go smoothly.
As campus representative for Global Programs, Pflueger, director of the Learning Resource Center, encourages students to study abroad through presentations, weekly sessions, personal advising and print and digital media campaigns. She supports faculty to create embedded courses and helps craft international collaborations that expand opportunities for both Penn State and international students.
For that work, Pflueger has received Penn State’s 2016 W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award.
Pflueger also helped develop the Toolkit, which for nearly a decade has been used to add an international presence to current course offerings at five Penn State campuses.
“Under her coordination,” a nominator for the Kopp award said, “the nature and meaning of the (study abroad) experience has gained currency among both faculty and students.”
Students applying for prestigious international scholarships and fellowships also greatly benefit from Pflueger’s services.
One student, who landed several international study scholarships, including the elite Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, said Pflueger quickly set him at ease during the process, saying, “We’ll make it happen.” The student credits Pflueger with being a driving force in being able to continue his education, earning his master’s degree in Shanghai, China.
“Ruth proved to me that borders are a state of mind and have no place in a Penn State education,” the student said. “Ruth truly did help me ‘make it happen.’ Life happened – and the direction and successes of my life – and of so many others – is not in small part due to the remarkable talents and attentiveness of this exceptional woman.”