Kenny Kwarciany - Office of International Affairs
Meet Kenny Kwarciany who is a global education specialist who recently joined The Ohio State University’s Office of International Affairs and has been assigned to the College of Education and Human Ecology’s portfolio of programs.
Kenny has spent his career helping students explore the world through study abroad and global learning opportunities. Having worked at public and private universities as well as study abroad providers, he brings a well-rounded perspective to advising and program development. He is passionate about creating opportunities that spark curiosity and support students as they grow personally and professionally.
What’s the most unexpected place your work in global education has taken you?
On a site visit in Beijing, I was sightseeing in Tiananmen Square and joined a line without knowing exactly what it was for. To my surprise, it led me into the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. This turned out to be quite fortuitous, as visiting the mausoleum was at the top of my list of sights to see.
If you could instantly become fluent in any language, which one would you choose and why?
If I could instantly become fluent in any language, I would choose Spanish. As the unofficial second language of the United States, Spanish plays a critical role in communication, cultural exchange and community engagement. What’s your go-to travel snack or airport ritual? I usually try bringing my own snacks to cut on costs- veggies, trail mix and turkey jerky!
What’s a global dish you tried and loved—but can’t quite recreate at home?
Char Kway Teow. It’s a Malaysian noodle dish.
If you had to describe your job using only emojis, which ones would you pick?
🌍 💻 🎓 ✈️ 🤝
What’s a book, movie or podcast that shaped your global perspective?
Rather than a specific book or movie, my global perspective was shaped in a different way. Growing up near the Canadian border and taking trips to Toronto gave me an early awareness of geography and life beyond my immediate community. Those experiences sparked my curiosity about other places and cultures, which has continued to grow and shape my career in international education.
If you could design a dream global education program, where would it take place and what would it focus on?
If I could design a dream global education program, it would focus on architecture—specifically Brutalist architecture in England. The program would give students the opportunity to study this unique style in context, exploring its history, cultural impact and design principles while visiting iconic sites.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I’ve seen Tori Amos in concert 17 times.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a faculty or staff interested in starting a global education program?
Starting a global education program is an exciting and rewarding endeavor, but it also requires a great deal of planning effort and collaboration. My advice would be to choose a topic, theme and location that has broad appeal across disciplines and student interests.
How can faculty or staff get in touch?