The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences recently announced the appointment of Katie Sabo as associate director for global engagement.

Sabo, who was previously senior study abroad advisor in the Kristen Collier Wright Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange, takes on this leadership role within Fulbright College's Office of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement.

In this position, the first of its kind in the college, Sabo will be responsible for coordinating with the Study Abroad Office to manage and promote the study abroad portfolio in Fulbright College, train faculty in best practices for program development, and cultivate strategic partnerships both on and off campus.

She will also take the lead in coordinating recruitment activities for students interested in studying abroad and in working with academic departments to identify the best opportunities for their students overseas. 

"This is a fantastic hire for our office. There is no one more qualified than Katie Sabo to take on this role," said Laurence Hare, executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement.

"Our faculty are going to benefit tremendously from her expertise as they build their own programs, and our students will gain immeasurable experience from the high-quality study abroad programs that we will develop through Katie's leadership in Fulbright College," he added.

Likewise, Sabo said she is "thrilled to join the office in this new role."

"I have enjoyed supporting students in making study abroad a transformational part of their academic career," she said. "Now I look forward to collaborating with our community to serve Fulbright College's mission by expanding these opportunities that facilitate student success and global citizenship."

Sabo grew up in Fayetteville and earned a B.A. and M.A. in French from the University of Arkansas. Her interest in study abroad grew from her experiences as an undergraduate, when she participated in an immersive French program offered by Arkansas faculty in Besançon, France.

After a two-year stint as an instructor of French, Sabo joined the U of A's Office of Study Abroad in 2016. In recent years, she managed the Fulbright College study abroad portfolio, supported efforts to build inclusive programs, mentored students applying for international education scholarships, and supervised the office's program management and application software.

Sabo has also traveled widely in support of programs, working in China, Denmark, Ghana, Spain and Sweden. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Outstanding Mentor and Staff Gold Medal Awards from the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. She has also maintained a national service profile as a program advisor ambassador for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, as a reviewer for the U.S. State Department's Critical Language Scholarship, and as a Board of Advisors member for American Institute for Foreign Study. 

The Fulbright College Office of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement was established in November 2023. Its mission is to supervise the Fulbright Honors Program and general education curriculum, support study abroad and global learning in Fulbright College, and promote high-impact learning opportunities for Fulbright College undergraduate students.