In a warm, candid and hopeful conversation, writer and founder of Cultura Nomada Foundation Nariste Alieva speaks with Dr. Mary Stegmaier, Vice Provost for International Programs at the University of Missouri. Together they discuss enhancing collaborations between American and Central Asian universities, emphasizing student mobility, joint research opportunities, and the future of academic collaboration for Kyrgyzstan.
Academic diplomacy has grown in significance in a world where global partnerships increasingly shape events, nurturing intercultural relations and cooperation. In this exclusive feature for Cultura Nómada, writer Nariste Alieva sits down with Dr. Mary Stegmaier, Vice Provost for International Programs at the University of Missouri, to discuss the growing academic bridge between the United States and Central Asia, especially focusing on the newly signed agreement between Ala-Too International University (AIU) and the University of Missouri.
On May 22, 2025, the two institutions signed an MOU catalysing a strategic collaboration in a variety of fields, such as medicine, law, political science, and journalism. The MOU offers potential cooperation concerning research grants/projects, academic exchange schemes, and scholarships for AIU students going to graduate study in the U.S., among other aspects that could also encompass joint faculty projects.
This conversation sets out to explore the academic vision that accompanies institutional commitments applied toward a single promising venture and what it might hold for the coming generation of global thinkers.
Nariste Alieva: Dr. Stegmaier, welcome to Kyrgyzstan and International Ala-Too University. It is indeed a great honour to have you with us today. The primary reason I have invited you for a talk is because I would like to draw public attention to your outstanding activities promoting international cooperation in the Central Asian region, especially with Kyrgyzstan and the United States. One of the results of these activities is, of course, the collaboration between Ala-Too International University and the University of Missouri. What was the inspiration behind the creation of such a chance not only for AIU but also for other institutions in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Thank you for having me here today. It’s truly an honour to be here, and that’s an excellent question. My field is political sciences, I study international and comparative politics, post-Soviet politics. My interest in Central Asia began during my earlier visits to Kyrgyzstan in 2015 and 2017 and later when I spent more time here in 2020 and 2021. And that’s really when I got to know some colleagues at local universities, but also about the idea of bringing American students to Central Asia to learn about the region, to appreciate the culture, and to learn about the people, the history, the environment. There’s so much we can learn here. In 2021, that was the first year that I brought a group of students to Kyrgyzstan for two weeks, and I have done that annually each year. It’s been a really rewarding experience for me, but also for my students and some of the professors who come along on the program.
Nariste Alieva: That’s a wonderful long-term commitment. It’s also encouraging to know that your initiatives have included real exchanges – professors, researchers, and students alike. Could you elaborate on some of those specific interactions, especially any that involved Ala-Too University?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Yes, we have different agreements with universities both in Kyrgyzstan and also Uzbekistan. But recently, over the past year, I’ve come to know Ala-Too International University because a student who was on my study abroad program here in Kyrgyzstan two years ago, she is currently a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant here at Ala-Too International University.
She’s finishing up this academic year and has shared with me what a wonderful experience she has had here. I also had a chance last year to get to know a journalism professor who is currently a Fulbright Scholar in the United States.
We hosted her at the University of Missouri, where she presented to journalism school students. And we also have a club, the Russian, East European, and Central Asian Student Club. She presented to the club and met with some of my students who have been to Kyrgyzstan or who are here currently. So that’s where we got the idea of ‘we already have cooperation.
We have a University of Missouri alum who’s here currently, and we’ve already hosted one of your professors. So, it seems like a very natural fit for us.
Nariste Alieva: That’s remarkable. Now, considering that the University of Missouri has over 300 programs, and hosts students from over 100 countries, what specific areas is your university currently focusing on in terms of research or student exchange? What should prospective students from Ala-Too and Central Asia more broadly – know when considering applying?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: When I was here on Thursday, I had a chance to meet with some of your students who are interested in pursuing master’s degrees and PhDs in the United States. One of the things that I enjoy doing when I am travelling internationally in my role is to meet with students and tell them about opportunities to study in the U.S. And also fellowships and scholarships and assistantships that can help cover the costs of studying in the United States, especially for graduate programs.
So that is one area that we are quite interested in: attracting the best students from around the world, but also Central Asia, to our university, as well as other universities in the United States. Therefore, share information about how the American higher education system works and how to apply for scholarships or assistantships that will help pay for the tuition or living expenses.
Student recruitment is one key area of focus. At the University of Missouri, we also offer programsthrough our Asian Affairs Center – one designed for students and another specifically for professors.
It is a one-semester or one-year program that introduces students to American culture and life and business leadership and also helps them improve their practical English speaking and reading skills. It’s not a traditional course, but it’s like a study abroad opportunity for Central Asian students and students from around Asia to spend a semester in the United States.
And it is a more affordable option also for students from Asia to spend a shorter period of time, four months, in the United States. We also offer a similar program for professors. We run these semester programs for professors from Asia and they also have opportunities to engage with faculty and professors in their research areas.
You also asked about research. This is something that, when there’s a new cooperation, exploring the areas where we both have strengths and complementary skills. I know that AIU has a fantastic journalism department.
Our journalism school is one of the best in the world, and when AIU professor came to give presentations in journalism at the University of Missouri in March, the journalism faculty were so impressed, and so I hope that we may see some collaboration in this area, but I think there’s also potential for collaboration in medicine, in medical research, and in environmental research. We just had a presentation about environmental issues and sustainability in Kyrgyzstan, and I was thinking of some of my colleagues at the university who may be quite interested in applying for research funds or grants to cooperate in these research areas.
Nariste Alieva: That’s quite promising. So, just to clarify, the agreement between Ala-Too International University and the University of Missouri includes not only research partnerships but also possibilities for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral student exchanges?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Yes, so the cooperation agreement that we just signed will help facilitate research and applications for grants, but also opportunities for student mobility. I hope in the future when I bring students to Kyrgyzstan that we might spend a morning or afternoon here meeting with some of your professors, but that there will be opportunities for your students to come on short-term programs to Missouri or to study for a master’s or Ph.D.
We can also explore dual bachelor’s degrees or joint bachelor’s degrees.
Nariste Alieva: With promising opportunities on the horizon, the conversation naturally turns to what lies ahead. As the next academic year approaches, are there any concrete plans already taking shape in anticipation of September?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Yes, I expect that we will get our journalism leaders together for a Zoom meeting to talk about potential cooperation. There may be an opportunity for me to do a Zoom session for interested students to learn about specific areas of study. In the United States, for students who are interested in applying for master’s or PhD programs, typically the application deadlines are in December or January.
Some programs will admit students later, but if students apply on time, in December or January by the deadline, then they are considered for fellowships or scholarships or other funding opportunities. If students wait to apply until April and May, usually the money, the scholarship money, has already been awarded to the top students in the first round.
In the fall semester, usually I do some room sessions for interested students, and sometimes I travel a bit as well to visit universities. Since I’m here right now, I will be in Kyrgyzstan for two weeks with my students, and we will also go to Uzbekistan. We will visit some of our other partner universities in Jalalabad and Osh and also in Tashkent.
We currently have at the University of Missouri 22 students from Uzbekistan. So many students that this spring, they established an official student organization called the Uzbek Student Association, which means they, as an official student organization, get some money from the university to organize cultural events and bring in speakers.
I will also do some recruitment activities and meet with admitted students, but also students who are interested in studying at the University of Missouri.
Nariste Alieva: That’s a remarkable example you’ve shared, and it speaks volumes about the University of Missouri’s longstanding academic legacy – particularly in the sciences. The university’s contributions to chemistry, for instance, include Nobel Laureate Dr. George Smith, whose groundbreaking work brought international recognition. Beyond the sciences, Missouri is also widely respected for its excellence in the humanities – notably in journalism, creative writing, and English. The university’s creative writing programme, for example, owes much to the foundational work of Professor William Peden, who helped shape its national reputation.
Given this breadth of academic strength, could you share more about the University of Missouri’s flagship programmes for our students and researchers? At Ala-Too International University, we are proud of our robust departments – in journalism and in information technology, medical sciences and law. Might there be potential for collaboration or joint programs between Missouri and AIU programs as well?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Yes, absolutely, so just some general background information about the University of Missouri. We were established in 1839, so we are close to 200 years old. We are the main state university in the state of Missouri. We consider ourselves the flagship university. We have around 31,000 students; they’re studying at the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. level.
But we also have professional programs in law, in veterinary medicine, and for medical doctors as well. We are a comprehensive university; we have fields from arts and science, humanities, sciences, social sciences, journalism, business, architecture, law, veterinary medicine, medicine, and engineering.
I’ve probably forgotten some, but that’s the whole range. We are comprehensive, just like you are here at Ala-Too International University. We also have a large reach in terms of international students and scholars at our university. We have around 1400 international students who represent over 100 countries around the world. We are very excited. This fall, we will be hosting a Fulbright Scholar from Osh State University at the University of Missouri, where she will be spending the year working on her research projects. But I know she will also be doing presentations to students and some lectures to our classes.
It’s a really wonderful way to share information about Central Asia, about Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with American students because American students, unfortunately, they know a lot about certain regions of the world, but Central Asia is not an area that many students know a lot about. They’re interested in learning. They’re excited to hear about the beautiful nature here in Kyrgyzstan, about the wonderful food, the culture, the religious practices and the rapid economic development that is currently happening in the country. So it’s really a wonderful place for our students to study, but not all of them can actually come here to travel or to have this type of experience. So having international students study with us and having scholars come and visit and talk about their research, talk about this region of the world. It really enriches the experience for our students and professors on our campus in Missouri.
Nariste Alieva: We are looking forward to welcoming esteemed professors and lecturers from Missouri University toInternational Ala-Too University. As part of this growing partnership, could you offer some advice to our aspiring students of Ala-Too International University who dream of studying abroad, particularly in the United States?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: First of all, congratulations on studying at really one of the top universities in Central Asia. It’s exciting for us, as the University of Missouri, to partner with Ala-Too International University. As you’re thinking about your academics and what you want to do in your career, sometimes students think – “Oh, I’m not smart enough to study in Europe or study in the United States”, or “I don’t have enough money”or “it’s a little bit frightening to go someplace that’s brand new where you don’t know many people”, but it’s definitely possible. And if that’s something that is a goal of yours, explore what the opportunities are. Reach out. You can reach out to me. You can reach out to the EducationUSA offices.
There’s the American corner here in Bishkek. There’s the American corner in Jalalabad and in Osh and elsewhere. They are a great resource to learn about American academic programs, master’s degrees, and also to share with you on opportunities for funding.
How can you afford to study in the United States? There are opportunities, and especially at the master’s and PhD levels, for strong, passionate students who are really driven to study in a certain field. There are financial opportunities available so that you can afford to study and earn a master’s or PhD in the United States.
Nariste Alieva: Doctor Stegmaier, as a leading academic and a woman in a prominent academic leadership role, how do you see these educational partnerships impacting diversity and female leadership – particularly in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia?
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: That’s a really excellent question. When I come to Central Asia or other parts of the world that I travel to, I am always so happy when I meet with university leadership, and I do have a chance to meet with some women, people from different backgrounds, and it tells me that there are universities out there that care about advancing everyone who is bright, regardless of your background or your identity. That we all have opportunities to shine and to use our skills to the best of our abilities, because that is what higher education is about. We want to be our best so that we can show students and younger people what the opportunities are. And on our campuses in America, we love to see all different kinds of students.
It means that when we are teaching classes, when we are having our classroom discussions, we get different religious perspectives, we get different cultural perspectives; not just different perspectives from around the United States, but here in Central Asia, you have different practices around nature. For example, you have some very traditional sustainable practices that we can learn from that we don’t have in our own culture, for example. And there are things that students from Central Asia can learn from American students that you can bring back to your country as your countries develop.
It’s not just one country telling another country what to do, but it is this give and take and sharing our experiences and how we have worked to address challenges and problems. There are so many things that are impacting the world today that it’s so essential that we share our ideas and perspectives. I think that’s really the only way that we can solve some of the really big challenges that impact all of us.
Nariste Alieva: Absolutely. It is inspiring to see how the academic community can become a place where men and women collaborate on global challenges – bringing their unique voices and strengths together.
Dr. Stegmaier, thank you for this inspiring conversation. We hope this is just the beginning of a fruitful collaboration.
Dr. Mary Stegmaier: Thank you for such an engaging and meaningful discussion. I’m truly glad to be part of this process. We are building bridges – not only between universities, but also between cultures, generations, and people. And I’m confident that together, we can achieve a great deal.