Assemblymember Cahill hosts Dual Diploma luncheon, complete with authentic Turkish cuisine

State Assemblymember Kevin Cahill ’77 (Political Science) visited SUNY New Paltz on July 19 to share a meal and conversation with Turkish students enrolled in the SUNY-YÖK Dual Diploma program.

Cahill is a long-time supporter of Turkish students and cultural programming at the College. He has helped organize the Turkish Culture Night that has become a spring semester tradition at New Paltz, but in this smaller setting he was able to speak more directly with the students in attendance, talking about their backgrounds, their experiences in the program and their career aspirations.

About the Dual Diploma program
The Dual Diploma program is the result of a unique agreement between the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) and SUNY, which allows students to earn two diplomas by attending classes at one of several prestigious partner universities in Turkey and also at one of 11 participating SUNY campuses.

“The best thing these students get from this program is the international educational experience – the travel, the language immersion, the exposure to American culture and the ability to adapt to different environments,” Kathleen Bauman Geher, who directs the program for SUNY. “They return home to Turkey with a skillset that really sets them apart as they seek competitive jobs with multinational companies.”

New Paltz has one of the highest rates of enrollment in the Dual Diploma program across the SUNY system, hosting more than 100 students from Turkish universities annually. The College offers Dual Diploma programs of study in business, economics and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

More information about the SUNY-YÖK Dual Diploma program is available online.