
Strategic Partnerships: Oceania

Penn State's strategic partnerships in Oceania transcend traditional boundaries, embracing a global mindset that enriches every facet of university life. Through these collaborations, research, teaching, and service are elevated by invaluable international experience. Students and faculty immerse themselves in diverse perspectives, driving innovative research. Joint initiatives with leading Australian and New Zealand institutions tackle complex challenges interdisciplinarity, yielding impactful solutions. Whether conducting groundbreaking studies, instructing with a worldly lens, or serving broader communities, these Oceanic alliances infuse Penn State with global knowledge. International experience becomes the catalyst propelling education beyond borders and shaping a better world through transformative discoveries. Penn State exemplifies how a globally engaged university can thrive. For more information on our strategic partnerships in Oceania, contact Alexandra Persiko at axp1225@psu.edu.
Penn State's strategic partnerships in Oceania transcend traditional boundaries, embracing a global mindset that enriches every facet of university life. Through these collaborations, research, teaching, and service are elevated by invaluable international experience. Students and faculty immerse themselves in diverse perspectives, driving innovative research. Joint initiatives with leading Australian and New Zealand institutions tackle complex challenges interdisciplinarity, yielding impactful solutions. Whether conducting groundbreaking studies, instructing with a worldly lens, or serving broader communities, these Oceanic alliances infuse Penn State with global knowledge. International experience becomes the catalyst propelling education beyond borders and shaping a better world through transformative discoveries. Penn State exemplifies how a globally engaged university can thrive. For more information on our strategic partnerships in Oceania, contact Alexandra Persiko at axp1225@psu.edu.
Strategic Partnership Universities in Oceania
Alexandra Persiko, Director for Global Partnerships

Alexandra Persiko, Director for Global Partnerships, is responsible for Penn State Global’s strategic partnership initiatives. She manages a team focused on institutional partnerships in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eurasia, Europe and Oceania, as well as partnership agreements, and carries particular responsibility for the collaborations with institutions in Europe and Oceania. Alexandra has been working in the international educational field for thirty years, first for the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and subsequently as Director of International Operations at Prometric, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was responsible for the implementation and administration of testing centers worldwide, offering academic admissions tests and IT certification programs to international and U.S. students and clients.
Alexandra eventually returned to her home country of Germany and taught business English courses at the European Business School, Mainz University and the Universities of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden and Mainz as well as at numerous companies in the Rhein-Main area of Germany. During this time, she also provided translation and interpretation assistance to the governor of Rhineland-Palatinate during dignitary visits. After 11 years in Germany, Alexandra joined Penn State Global in 2018 and was initially responsible for partner engagement in the Europe and Oceania regions.
Alexandra is the recipient of a Fulbright International Education Administrator Award to France in 2024. She holds a BA in English Literature from Oberlin College and an MA in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).
Alexandra Persiko, Director for Global Partnerships

Alexandra Persiko, Director for Global Partnerships, is responsible for Penn State Global’s strategic partnership initiatives. She manages a team focused on institutional partnerships in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eurasia, Europe and Oceania, as well as partnership agreements, and carries particular responsibility for the collaborations with institutions in Europe and Oceania. Alexandra has been working in the international educational field for thirty years, first for the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and subsequently as Director of International Operations at Prometric, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was responsible for the implementation and administration of testing centers worldwide, offering academic admissions tests and IT certification programs to international and U.S. students and clients.
Alexandra eventually returned to her home country of Germany and taught business English courses at the European Business School, Mainz University and the Universities of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden and Mainz as well as at numerous companies in the Rhein-Main area of Germany. During this time, she also provided translation and interpretation assistance to the governor of Rhineland-Palatinate during dignitary visits. After 11 years in Germany, Alexandra joined Penn State Global in 2018 and was initially responsible for partner engagement in the Europe and Oceania regions.
Alexandra is the recipient of a Fulbright International Education Administrator Award to France in 2024. She holds a BA in English Literature from Oberlin College and an MA in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).
Recent News
Recent News

Penn State Global unveils new tool to assist faculty developing EDGE projects
Funded by the Penn State-Monash Collaboration seed grant, the project brought together educators, instructional designers, and administrators from both institutions.

Schreyer Scholars take their research overseas
Olivia DiPrinzio, Carolyn Mole and Ben Lindgren each spent two weeks abroad on research projects that are part of a collaboration between Schreyer and Penn State Global.

Penn State partners with Monash University for Australia water quality research
A group of Penn State students recently traveled to Australia as part of a partnership between Penn State and Monash University to conduct research.
More Oceania Partnership News
September 2024: Libraries and Monash University team up for final 'Great Rare Books Bake-Off'
September 2023: Libraries, Monash University team up for fourth annual Great Rare Books Bake-Off
July 2023: Penn State students to provide on-site coverage of Women’s World Cup
June 2023: Penn State Global announces Collaboration Program awards with Auckland
June 2023: Penn State Global announces Collaboration Program awards with Monash University
June 2023: Penn State hosts international pollinator conference
February 2023: Penn State, University of Auckland connect at Sustainable Tech Conference
October 2022: Penn State hosts strategic partner university’s president
More Oceania Partnership News
September 2024: Libraries and Monash University team up for final 'Great Rare Books Bake-Off'
September 2023: Libraries, Monash University team up for fourth annual Great Rare Books Bake-Off
July 2023: Penn State students to provide on-site coverage of Women’s World Cup
June 2023: Penn State Global announces Collaboration Program awards with Auckland
June 2023: Penn State Global announces Collaboration Program awards with Monash University
June 2023: Penn State hosts international pollinator conference
February 2023: Penn State, University of Auckland connect at Sustainable Tech Conference
October 2022: Penn State hosts strategic partner university’s president