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Page 13
Campus Review
May 19, 2014
What are Your Thoughts on Transit in Clayton County?
Raj Sashti Appointed
Director of International Programs
“There was a lot of curiosity among the
students. They wanted to know more and
more about India,” she says of her lecture
to Lamb’s class. “They asked many ques-
tions; a good thing.
“Interaction between the teacher and the
taught is very important. It should be
encouraged all the more.”
Sharma is a great proponent of interaction
across cultures, hence her support of
expanding the relationship between Birla
College and Clayton State.
“In this age of globalization, it is easier
for student to enrich their experiences,”
she says. “These programs facilitate cul-
tural interaction, for the benefit of the
teachers and the students. Faculty
exchange programs help bridge the gap
between cultures. We should now move
towards student exchanges.
“The younger generation is responsible
for the growth of our countries. Let’s give
them a chance to see what lies on the other
side of the globe, to broaden their hori-
zons, and raise their aspirations. It’s very
much needed.”
Raj (Rajgopal) Sashti has been appointed
the director of the Office of International
Programs at Clayton State University.
Previously the director of International
Program Development in the Office of the
Vice President for Academic Affairs at
Southern Polytechnic State University, as
the senior international officer for Clayton
State, Sashti will report directly to Interim
Provost and Vice President for Academic
Affairs Dr. Kevin Demmitt and will work
closely with the deans, department chairs
and other campus unit heads.
Sashti's leadership responsibilities will
include oversight of a strategic plan for
Clayton State's international programs, all
student and faculty study abroad pro-
grams, fund raising, increasing awareness
of global issues, hosting visiting scholars
and dignitaries, developing international
partnerships and working with business
and civic organizations to promote greater
economic development in the Southern
Crescent of Atlanta.
Sashti is not a newcomer to Clayton State,
he has previously worked at the
University as the director of Nine
University and College International
Studies Consortium of Georgia, serving in
those capacities from 2004 to 2008.
During his prior tenure at Clayton State
Sashti:
* Received seven Fulbright-Hays direct
and matching grants for $525,000 to pro-
mote international education; developed
and
implemented
the
first-ever
Maymester student study abroad pro-
grams;
* Formed an effective Clayton State
International Education Business and
Advisory Council and secured external
funding for study abroad scholarships
from corporate and civic leaders;
* Provided overseas faculty development
opportunities for more than 50 Clayton
State and other USG faculty members to
study and travel in Argentina, Chile,
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South
Africa, Hungary and the Czech Republic;
* Secured two Fulbright Scholar-in-
Residence grants to host visiting scholars
from New Zealand and Thailand;
* Signed faculty and student exchange
MOUs with universities in Latin America
and Asia.
A recipient of three Fulbright grants to
Germany, Japan and Brazil, during the
course of his professional carrier, Sashti
has been awarded more than five million
in grants from U. S. government agencies
and non-profit organizations, has directed
more than three dozen Fulbright Hays
projects in various countries of East Asia,
South Asia, Southeast Asia; Sub-Saharan
Africa, the Middle East, former Soviet
Union, Eastern and Western Europe and
Central and South America.
Clayton State students, faculty and staff;
please provide your thoughts on public
transit in Clayton County! The Clayton
County Board of Commissioners has
hired a consulting firm to conduct a tran-
sit feasibility study, and they need your
feedback on this important issue. The
study will be asking the following ques-
tions:
Is transit service feasible in Clayton
County?
• If feasible, what types of services should
be offered?
• Where should transit operate?
• How should transit be funded?
•To assist in the preparation of a possible
public transit plan for Clayton County,
please take the survey at https://www.sur-
veymonkey.com/s/Clayton_Transit_Surv
ey.
Please also join in during the week of
May 19 for public meetings on transit in
Clayton County. The dates, times and locations
will be posted soon at the website,
www.Transit.ClaytonCountyGA.gov. Check
back often to learn about the project.
Sharma cont’d. from p. 5