Kennesaw State University’s Division of Global Affairs and its leader, Vice Provost Lance Askildson, received a 2016 Governor’s International Award during a ceremony Thursday at the Atlanta History Center. The awards recognize individuals and organizations working to build and strengthen Georgia’s vibrant international business community.

DGA and Askildson, who also serves as the University’s chief international officer, were chosen from three finalists for the awards’ international education category, one of seven categories honored during the 35th annual event. The awards are sponsored by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in collaboration with the World Trade Center Atlanta and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“The receipt of the Governor’s International Award for Education is an honor for Kennesaw State University and our Division of Global Affairs,” said Kennesaw State’s interim president, Houston Davis, who accepted the award on behalf of Askildson, who is in Australia teaching an education-abroad course.

“This award represents a validation of the important role that global education and study abroad play in shaping a well-rounded education for our graduates,” Davis said. “The KSU community should be very proud of the exemplary programs and services that distinguish our university and exemplify our commitment to innovation and to being a world-class academic institution.”

Askildson, whose leadership was cited in the award presentation, joined Kennesaw State in 2013. He presides over a division comprising two academic institutes, four academic centers, six university departments and a central administration office. The Division of Global Affairs employs nearly 200 full-time, part-time and affiliated faculty and staff members who annually produce or administer more than 200 international studies programs, courses and events. 

When he was nominated a finalist for the award, Askildson said: “It is a tremendous honor to be considered for a prestigious Governor’s International Award. I am especially pleased that the nomination recognizes the extraordinary work our Division of Global Affairs has been doing to assure that KSU’s students, faculty and community have access to a wide range of opportunities designed to foster international education, global community engagement and intercultural scholarship.”

Among the division’s award-winning initiatives are an education-abroad program that sent more than 800 students abroad in 2015-16 and the “Year of” annual country study, which has featured an intensive, yearlong examination of a different country or region for 33 years — currently the “Year of Russia.” Under Askildson’s leadership, the division this fall launched “Around the World in 80 Days,” an innovative education abroad program that is taking 12 students to four countries on four continents. As part of that program, he is currently teaching a course on internationalization in Sydney, Australia.