On October 2, Kevin Reiling, Regional Director for American Councils for International Education, had the opportunity to conduct a pre-departure orientation for 12 students from Vitebsk State University (VSU) who will be departing for the U.S. at the end of the month. The group, led by Denis Berezko – VSU law instructor and Professional Fellows Program (PFP) 2018 alum – are participating in the second part of a reciprocal exchange with Wayne State University in Detroit, initiated by Mr. Berezko last year following his experience in the U.S. and funded in part by U.S. Embassy Minsk.

Also present at the meeting were Marian Reich – Acting Director, Global Ties Detroit; Steven Rybicki – President, Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters and Board President, Global Ties Detroit; Jaclyn Assarian – Associate Director for International Programs, Wayne State University and Global Ties Board Member; Marina (Maka) Janikashvili – Program Officer, Community Connections, World Learning, D.C.; and Edward Clemente – Hearing Commissioner, Michigan Liquor Control Commission, Global Ties Detroit Board Member. Global Ties hosts participants through PFP and engages directly with American Councils (AC) on the Russian Business Leaders program and hosts participants in the Detroit area through other U.S Government-sponsored programs, including Open World and Community Connections.

VSU continues to be a strong supporter of AC through its work with EducationUSA on building institutional partnerships, participating recently in two workshops conducted at AC’s office in Vilnius, funded in part through the U.S. Student Mobility office at ECA.