View Larger Image Benjamin Mukera, a graduate assistant in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, describes the natural beauty of his native Tanzania.
Benjamin Mukera, a graduate assistant in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, describes the natural beauty of his native Tanzania. Image by Bryan Clifton

International Fest Celebrates Cultures of UAMS Students, Employees

By Chris Carmody

| Hundreds of people gathered recently at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to celebrate the countries and cultures represented at International Fest.

International Fest marked its return as an in-person event after three years of being held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tables set up along the concourse of the Education II Building displayed garments, jewelry and snacks from the native countries of UAMS students and employees. Nearby, attendees made their way through a lunch line that offered a taste of cuisines from Brazil, India, the Mediterranean region and more.

Lyn Gardner, RN, a nurse informaticist, stood behind a table that honored her Filipino heritage. Gardner, whose family is from Cebu, Philippines, came to the United States when she was 7 years old.

“I’m participating in International Fest to introduce the Filipino culture to Arkansans,” she said. “I want to represent where I came from.”

Gardner displayed a variety of wares from the Philippines, including asin tibuok, an egg-shaped item made from a rare sea salt. The large salt eggs are made through a labor-intensive process that takes three months to complete, she said.

Benjamin Mukera, MPH, a graduate assistant in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, spoke about the natural beauty of his native Tanzania. The country is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. Mukera also highlighted the Zanzibar archipelago, which is known for its pristine beaches and clear Indian Ocean waters.

Swahili serves as Tanzania’s official language, but the country has 126 spoken dialects. Mukera noted the diversity of people not only in Tanzania but also across the African continent.

“I think it’s important to raise awareness about different parts of the world,” he said. “Some people see Africa as if it were one country, but the continent has a lot of diversity in its nations and cultures.”

At another table, Naiha Ahmad, M.Phil., a student in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences program of the UAMS Graduate School, showed apparel and handmade jewelry from each of Pakistan’s four provinces.

Ahmad, who was born in Pakistan, talked about the resilience of the nation and its people. She noted that the country has seen positive developments in recent years, particularly for women.

“Women’s education wasn’t a priority 20 years ago, but now things are changing,” she said. “It makes me so happy to know that women are starting to be seen in every sector of the economy.”

Several UAMS employees represented Egypt at a table that featured a number of cultural items. Their goal was to be informative but also fun, teaching visitors about the culture while inviting them to dress up as pharaohs and pose for pictures.

“We are a part of the UAMS community, and we wanted to represent our home country individually and as a group,” said Hoda Hagrass, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Medicine’s Division of Clinical Pathology.

Rania Elkhateb (left), instructor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology, and Hoda Hagrass, assistant professor in the College of Medicine’s Division of Clinical Pathology, represented Egypt at this year’s International Fest.

Rania Elkhateb (left), instructor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology, and Hoda Hagrass, assistant professor in the College of Medicine’s Division of Clinical Pathology, represented Egypt at this year’s International Fest.Image by Bryan Clifton

Rania Elkhateb, M.D., an instructor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology, said it’s important that members of the campus community understand the cultures of the people around them.

“If you feel more welcome, then you’ll also be more welcoming of other people,” she said.

International Fest was co-sponsored by the UAMS Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DDEI) and by the UAMS Graduate School. Latrina Prince, Ed.D., associate dean for academic affairs in the Graduate School, said the school has one of the most diverse groups of students on campus, representing more than 25 countries.

The Sept. 30 event also marked the conclusion of DDEI’s Diversity and Inclusion Month. DDEI previously hosted its annual State of Diversity address; a seminar on “The Intersectionality of Diversity: Beyond Race and Gender”; and a virtual forum with Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion.