Douglas Rhoads and Adnan Alrubaye, director and associate director of the cell and molecular biology graduate program, recently attended recruitment fairs in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to bolster international student recruitment at the University of Arkansas. The pair's efforts yielded interest from nearly 300 prospective students.

"Faculty play such an important role in recruiting students and bringing talent to our university," said Curt Rom, associate dean for International Education. "Having Dr. Rhoads and Dr. Alrubaye take a recruiting leadership role is beneficial, not only for their program, but for the university as a whole. By working to increase international student enrollment on our campus, the learning of all our students is broadened and a greater international awareness is developed in our students and faculty."

While in Kuwait, Rhoads and Alrubaye met with representatives from the country's Ministry of Higher Education. They also visited Kuwait University, where they toured the College of Science and several university labs.

While in the United Arab Emirates, the pair met with the U.S. ambassador and representatives of the U.S. embassy in Abu Dhabi, as well as representatives from EducationUSA. EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of international student advising centers. Rhoads and Alrubaye also met with several United Arab Emirates University faculty and staff and visited the campus' Plant Genetics Center.

The recruitment trip was funded by the Office of Graduate and International Recruitment and Admissions, the Graduate Recruitment Assistance Fund, the Office of Sponsored Student Programs and the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.