Building bridges
Rosi Ponce brings world of experience to Brenau’s international endeavors
Prior to starting her role as executive director of international strategy and partnerships at Brenau in August 2020, Rosi Ponce spent most of her adulthood living in countries all over the world.
Growing up in Panama, Ponce’s interests and views were impacted by protests and the world around her. Since universities were shut down during that time, she decided to leave her home country after graduating from high school.
“I had to basically pack and relocate myself in order to further my education,” she says. “I saved money for a year. I was young then, and I felt I could do anything in the world.” Ponce went to Mexico City, where she earned her undergraduate degree in business. She continued her education by getting a post-baccalaureate degree in tourism, industry and international business, which served her well while living, working and traveling extensively in North, Central and South America. Ponce and her husband, Eduardo Nino-Moreno, whom she met while he was working for the United Nations in Panama, have moved 14 times during their 26 years of marriage.
In addition to her experience as an entrepreneur, Ponce has worked in the private sector as well as with governments and nongovernmental organizations. She held roles at two American universities before coming to Brenau.
“My experience abroad has touched me deeply and transformed me into who I am today,” Ponce says. “Because I have been blessed to grow as a human being after each place that I have been, and with each person that I have encountered during that journey, I value having the opportunity to help bridge Brenau with the world.”
Ponce met Brenau University President Anne Skleder at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where Ponce served as executive director of international engagement while Skleder was senior vice president and provost. Ponce says she was attracted to Brenau by its history, mission and the chance to work again with Skleder.
“Our mission is to prepare students to live extraordinary lives of personal and professional fulfillment,” she says. “Being that we live in an ever more interconnected world, I see my responsibility as helping our students understand themselves as global citizens able to positively impact their lives and their country.
“It is my goal to use every tool at our disposal to touch every one of our students regardless of field of study. All our students deserve the best quality education and the opportunity to develop the skills that will help them be more marketable in the 21st century, to have the ability to see themselves in a broader context and to be empowered to not be constrained by borders.”
“All our students deserve the best quality education and the opportunity to develop the skills that will help them be more marketable in the 21st century, to have the ability to see themselves in a broader context and to be empowered to not be constrained by borders.”
Rosi Ponce,
Brenau University executive director of international strategy and partnerships
Ponce’s role at Brenau includes leading a comprehensive, strategic and integrated approach to internationalization in order to facilitate academic exchange through travel and virtual means. She also assists in the university’s mission of providing students with academic excellence and
the skills necessary to be successful.
Efforts in this area include supporting studying abroad, international enrollment, internship, research and service abroad programs. Other initiatives include establishing or strengthening partnerships with an array of government agencies, universities and schools abroad, and developing campus activities and events to support global awareness.
“We are pleased to have Rosi on our team,” Skleder says. “She has been so beneficial to Brenau during her short time here, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on the international aspect of Brenau.”
In November 2020, Ponce was part of the team that negotiated an agreement with Panama’s financial aid agency that sponsors students abroad. Panama is five years into a 20-year reform of their educational system, which focuses on creating access to opportunities for bridging the equity gap and bilingualism as keys to becoming more competitive.
Ponce says she is very impressed with Brenau’s international partnership with China and is excited to help the university establish additional ones.
“I know how difficult it is to start programming with universities abroad,” she says. “And to see one from China, I think it’s really a strong indicator that our colleagues have the expertise, sensitivity and heart for these efforts. These are the qualities that made me very comfortable in coming to Brenau, and I know we can build from that.”