Meet Global Programs’ New Leaders Focused on Partnerships and Health, Safety, and Security

in Global Matters
March 21st, 2023

Lisa Stinnett Turker and Kevin Kugel fill key positions

Lisa Stinnett Turker and Kevin Kugel have recently joined the ranks of the Global Programs Global Partnerships & Support team. Delighted about their appointments to Managing Director of Partnerships and Support and Associate Director of Health, Safety and Security, respectively, we sat down with Lisa and Kevin to learn more about their career paths and what their roles entail for Global Programs and the University.

 

1. You both have interesting backgrounds. Can you talk about your path to becoming Managing Director of Partnerships & Support, Lisa? And Kevin, your path to becoming Associate Director of Health, Safety and Security?

Lisa:

I’ve always been interested in other cultures and how people interact across borders. I was fortunate to study in Copenhagen when I was an undergraduate student and that experience reinforced my desire to learn more about the world outside the U.S. While completing my Master’s degree in International Relations, I ran an afterschool program for young students, which I really enjoyed. After graduating, I knew I wanted to continue working with students but I also wanted the chance to live abroad again. An opportunity arose in Kazakhstan and I took a position teaching and managing graduate English programs at KIMEP University in Almaty. I also worked for the U.S. Mission to Almaty on projects with USAID/CAR and volunteered at the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia.

I moved to Turkey in 2010 as a lecturer and international advisor at Istanbul Arel University in Turkey. In addition to teaching and working with Erasmus Plus students, I assisted with the implementation of the Bologna Process requirements, which aimed to reform higher education in Turkey in line with the European Higher Education Area standards. I became a mom in Istanbul and it will always be a special place for me!

In 2016, I returned to the U.S. and joined the University of Arizona first as Associate Director for Study Abroad where I focused on operations and student engagement and later as Director of Arizona Abroad Locations where I built and managed a network of dedicated study abroad sites in collaboration with partner institutions. Building on my study abroad experience, I became the Assistant Dean of International Education in 2020 managing UA’s micro campus dual degree partnerships, global online pathway programs, and noncredit programs offered abroad. All of my roles in higher education have focused on creating and implementing strategies and programs that make higher education accessible to students around the globe and promote cross cultural cooperation.

Kevin:

My path to Global Programs was a little atypical, I think. I went to college at the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as an Army Officer upon graduation. I spent just over 22 years as a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense officer and lived all over the country, including some time overseas. My last role in the Army prior to retiring was as the Professor and Chair of Military Science for the Providence College Army ROTC program. It was during those four years that my appreciation for and love of college/university campuses as learning communities fully developed.

I decided to use the skills and knowledge I had developed to continue my public service after retiring from the military. I spent a little over three years as the Director of the Emergency Management Agency for Providence, RI. At PEMA I was able to re-invigorate their disaster response volunteer program, led the effort to update several major emergency management plans, and developed and implemented an active shooter/threat response training program for all city employees.

I left Providence just before the outbreak of Covid-19 to join CVS Health where I ran their corporate Emergency Operations Center for several years. The EOC was responsible for all non-IT incident management company wide. Part of my responsibility there included managing the Covid-19 Command Center which coordinated the response to any Covid-19 positive employee for all 10,000+ retail and corporate locations nationwide.

After experiencing the corporate sector, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to return to a university setting and put my experience back to work supporting students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to being a contributing member of the Global Programs team and the Terrier community.

 

2. What does your role entail for BU Global Programs? How can people across BU expect to work with you, and when should folks reach out?

 

Lisa:

My role in Global Programs is focused on working collaboratively across campus and internationally to build relationships in support of the University’s 2030 Strategic Plan. As part of the Global Partnerships team, I will help to create and operationalize initiatives designed to facilitate, highlight, and expand BU’s global footprint. Faculty or staff interested or already engaged in any type of global activity should reach out. We’d love to help where possible and spread the word!

Kevin:

As the Associate Director of Health, Safety and Security I am responsible for coordinating Global Programs’ international health and safety strategy. My responsibilities include the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, procedures, and activities associated with travel preparedness and incident response for the BU community on any University-sponsored or sanctioned global activity. Additionally, I chair BU’s Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee and Global Program’s Safety Management Team.

I serve as a resource for all University students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators regarding health, safety, and security abroad. I am always available to assist any member of the BU community to ensure their University-sponsored or sanctioned global activity is as safe as can be, but the earlier I get involved the easier it is take the appropriate pre-departure steps to identify and mitigate any possible risk to health, safety, or security.