Behind the Scenes with KGSP – Get to know your KGSP support team

KGSP students form strong relationships with their KGSP Advisors, who serve as the primary point of contact for their experience with the Program, but many other dedicated team members work to ensure students have unparalleled opportunities for academic success, network-building, and professional development. Building off the success of the recent KGSP Convocation in Chicago, get to know the team member who oversees delivery of that and other invaluable KGSP engagement opportunities.

Alison Roden is the Events Project Manager for the KGSP and has worked out of the Washington, D.C. office since 2022. She has a master's degree in International Education Management and a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Chinese. Prior to KGSP she also worked for a language education association and a consulting company in China. In this Q&A, Alison discusses her experiences on the KGSP staff over the past three years.

The above resume bio aside, I’m a small-town Oregonian who moved to the city to connect with people from around the world. Raised by two biologists, I have infinite respect for the sciences and am so pleased to now work for such a prestigious international STEM scholarship. Lastly, I’m a huge book nerd, so feel free to reach out for book recommendations!

When did you join the KGSP team and what roles have you held?

I joined the KGSP team almost three years ago in 2022 as a Program Coordinator. At the time I was hired to assist the Data team, but I ended up helping fill in for the Events team’s project manager shortly after. Since then, I’ve taken on more and more events related responsibilities and officially moved into the role of Events Project Manager in 2023.

My role encompasses everything from sourcing venues and vendors, developing agendas and communicating with students about our events, so in a way I wear many hats. It really is a fun job. The Pre-Departure Orientation is a wonderful opportunity to introduce new students to the Program and help them get to know both KAUST and their cohort. The annual Convocation, our largest event of the year, also takes quite a bit of work to put on, but it’s worth it. The level of energy, enthusiasm, and engagement between KGSP students, alumni and KAUST faculty is always inspiring to witness, so I’m proud to help facilitate that.

^{Alison speaking at a KGSP Pre-Departure Orientation}

What is your favorite KGSP memory about the program?

As you may have guessed, many of my favorite KGSP memories take place behind the scenes at events: making friendship bracelets for graduating seniors and cheering them on, driving golf carts around the KAUST campus, dinners with staff and alumni, listening to students passionately present their research, collecting student-made stickers, etc. There’s a lot of love that goes into these events and those little memories are the ones that add up in my mind.

From your behind-the-scenes role, what is one piece of advice you would give KGSP students?

Lean into your community. One of my favorite parts about delivering KGSP events is seeing the bonds being forged. The KGSP is unique for its level of support. Whether struggling to get through the academic year or preparing to embark on a new journey at KAUST, KGSP students are never alone. While I hesitate to use the term “networking,” that's essentially what our events offer, as your network is a resource you can always rely on, even years after graduation.

Tell us more about your interest in international education. With a major in Chinese and having worked in China, how has your international education experience impacted your life?

Because my major in college was Chinese, I studied abroad in China and Taiwan multiple times. In a strange way, I actually credit my current position at KGSP, a Saudi scholarship program, to my time living in China. On the surface, those experiences reinforced the importance of study abroad and fueled my passion for expanding access to international education. But on a deeper level, while in China, I met people who became influential in my life, including several writers from the Middle East. For context, I also enjoy novel writing and wanted to connect with fellow writers online. Because I lived in a time zone so far removed from America, it was more convenient to join a Middle East chapter. That’s how I made some of my best friends, one of whom was from Saudi Arabia. Before I knew it, I was learning Arabic, visiting a friend in Jordan, and applying for a job at a scholarship known as the KAUST Gifted Student Program. 

^{Alison visiting a friend, Wadi Rum, Jordan}