Cholpon Bakirova is a long way from home. But the visiting 28-year-old scholar from the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan would make you think otherwise.
Her articulate delivery of English would not be obvious because it is her third language behind Kyrgyz and Russian.
Bakivora can be found around the CSULB campus where she attends classes in the history department because she is part of the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP).
According to its website, the program’s overall mission is to foster opportunities for Eurasian and Southeastern European higher educational systems, to increase access to academic resources and educational perspectives, and to promote the development of a growing network of academics among those regions and in the United States.
In the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, Bakivora has been an instructor of American studies and English for the Institute for Integration of International Educational Programs at Kyrgyz National University since 2002. She is now a full-time teacher as well, a position that takes at least four years to secure.
“I am here to develop some courses on American history,” Bakivora said. “If I am going to be teaching American history [back in Kyrgyzstan], I should learn and experience it not from the book but from an American history professor.”
This is Bakivora’s third time in the United States. Her first trip brought her to Mississippi for three months in 1996 when she was in high school.
“Its south, and different, but it’s still an important part of the United States,” Bakivora said.
Her second trip was in 2006 to study U.S. foreign policy at the University of Kentucky. She developed a course through her Kentucky experience and currently teaches the course in Kyrgyzstan.
According to her program, her duties include attending classes, conducting at least two presentations, volunteer work and attending conferences.
Bakivora has several reasons why she likes attending CSULB.
“I like that it’s a huge university, well, it is for me at least,” Bakivora said. “Also, I like how it’s so diverse. There are so many students from different countries, backgrounds and cultures. It seems to be colorful.”
Bakivora works directly within the History Department under the guidance of associate professor Ali F. Igmen. Igmen teaches Middle Eastern and Central Asian history and is also the director of the oral history program here at CSULB.
“I really like the history department here at CSULB, they are very nice and it makes me feel like I am at home,” Bakivora said.
She also works with professors Patricia Cleary, Jane Dabel and Laurie Chin, who all specialize in different aspects of U.S. history. Bakivora finds them all to be equally beneficial.
“They all have different methods and approaches in the way they treat the students,” Bakivora said.
Igmen’s relationship with Bakivora directly stems from Kyrgyzstan, where his own academic research was specialized.
“He has introduced me to many places and to many people,” Bakivora said. “He is very helpful and a good man.”
Igmen, as Bakivora’s mentor, said he feels comfortable as the adviser for visiting scholars. Last semester at CSULB, Igmen was the mentor for the previous JFDP fellow who was also from Kyrgyzstan.
“The program is beneficial because it exposes CSULB students to a scholar from as far as Kyrgyzstan,” Igmen said.
Due to this academic experience provided by CSULB, Bakivora said he feels more comfortable and competent in teaching her Kygyz students back home.
In regards to future plans, her immediate goal is to teach at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek. The university has a complete American system of education and all the courses are taught in English. Bakivora said her academic experience at CSULB will ultimately help her attain this goal.
If you would like to enjoy a slice of Kyrgyzstan’s culture and ask Bakivora any questions, she will be conducting one of her presentations on campus this Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in FO2-101A.
Her topic for her presentation will be on “The Social and Cultural Images of Conteporary Kyrgyz Women.” She will be dressed in traditional Kyrgyz women’s clothing and will also be cooking ethnic Kyrgyz food for those who are in attendance.