President’s Message: Expanding International Education Partnerships

Dear Bellevue College community,

I’m incredibly excited to announce a recent successful trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In early December, Vice President of Student Affairs Judith Hernández Chapar, Associate Vice President for International Education and Global Initiatives Jean D’Arc Campbell, and I traveled to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. The purpose of the trip, funded through the Bellevue College Foundation, was to strengthen, deepen, and expand our relationship with Complexe Scolaire Bellevue, a kindergarten, primary, and secondary school complex.

Bellevue College’s International Education program has partnered with the school since 2016. What was once a program serving 10 Congolese students, has now grown to approximately 200. Today, Congolese students make up about 17% of Bellevue College’s total international student enrollment.

The trip included a signing ceremony for a 10-year partnership extension in which 2,000 students made us feel incredibly welcome. But it was more than that. It was the opportunity to see firsthand how the work we do changes lives.

We were able to reflect on the work we’ve done and imagine the work we’ll do in the future. It was also a chance to connect with future students, parents, alumni, Complexe Scolaire Bellevue President Joseph Maloba Twite, and even the governor of the Haut-Katanga Province.

As Bellevue College continues to explore similar partnerships in other countries, I look forward to reimagining what it means to be a global community.

Sincerely,

Dr. David May

Bellevue College President