PVAMU awarded prestigious grant to expand global education initiatives

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Prairie View A&M University has been selected as a recipient of the Texas International Education Fund (TIEF) grant awarded by the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC). This prestigious grant program funds innovative international projects designed to bring global experiences to Texas campuses and expand educational opportunities.

PVAMU received the TIEF COIL Grant, one of 11 recognized faculty and staff projects.

Dr. Camille Gibson, an endowed professor of juvenile justice and dean of the Graduate School, and Dr. James Williams, a lecturer in the Department of Languages and Communication, are PVAMU’s grant recipients. Both are using the TIEF grant to foster international collaboration and student engagement.

Dr. Gibson’s project, funded by the COIL Grant, focuses on a virtual exchange between criminal justice students at PVAMU and students from the University of Madras in Chennai, India. This collaboration allows students to compare global justice systems, build problem-solving skills, and enhance their cultural competency. Gibson sees this initiative as key to advancing PVAMU’s global objectives in alignment with the University’s B-Global Quality Enhancement Plan.

This spring, Justice Studies faculty member Dr. Sherill Morris-Francis coordinated and led the criminal justice virtual exchange launch in the College of Juvenile Justice with Dr. Murugesan Srinivasan at the University of Madras in Chennai, India. There were over 30 students participating and several speakers from both continents. Having completed this pilot effort, other departments at the University now have a clear roadmap for doing a similar five-week virtual exchange.

“Virtual exchange programs require careful preliminary planning given different academic calendars, time zones, academic requirements, and technological infrastructure,” she said. “Program execution involves allowing time for rapport building and understanding the others’ culture to avoid inadvertent norm violations. Given our increased global world, students need these skills and knowledge to enhance their career success.”

Dr. Williams is using the Study Abroad Development Grant to expand opportunities for first-year students and those learning Spanish as a second language. His program will provide freshmen with immersive international experiences, breaking down negative ideologies about other countries.

“I have the opportunity to not only introduce students to a new country and culture but also dispel international myths created through news outlets and social media,” he said. “Ultimately, it is important to reciprocate study abroad experiences as it was provided for me.”

The TIEF grant supports his initiative through Summer 2026. This May, he led his second student trip abroad. Looking ahead, he plans to reapply for a larger TIEF grant to expand the program beyond its current scope.

Both projects reflect PVAMU’s commitment to global education and cross-cultural engagement, supported by the Texas International Education Fund’s vision of preparing Texas students to address global challenges.

“At the Texas International Education Consortium, we are inspired by the faculty and staff in Texas and around the world who accept the challenge to bring a broader global perspective to their students through international experiences in the classroom,” said Dr. William Smith II, TIEC’s Sr. Director of Global Education and Impact. “We are proud to support the wealth of creativity and cooperation among this year’s Texas International Education Fund winners.”