FLORENCE, AL - University of North Alabama alumna Susannah Rosson, a finance major with a minor in economics, has been selected to participate in the English Program in Korea, or EPIK, for the 2019-2020 academic years.

Created in 1995, the EPIK program is part of the Korean Ministry of Education and strives to increase English fluency and American cultural knowledge for Korean students. KPIK participants have access to high-ranking education officials and administrators in Korea.

"English is the official language of business," Rosson said. "It is not only important to speak well to native English speakers but also to those who learn English as a second or third language."

Among the reasons for teaching in Korea was its level of investment in Alabama in recent years, she said.

"Korea's international presence is felt in Alabama through car manufacturers, like Hyundai inventing $388 million over the upcoming years in their Alabama plant," Rosson said, adding that these investments provide the opportunity for Alabamians to function as cultural ambassadors.

Upon her return to the United States, she said she hopes to work with Korean countries in Alabama and other international markets to encourage foreign investment and cultural exchange.

Rosson said she's looking forward to exploring the Korean culture.

"I'll be working in Jeonbuk Province, which includes the town Jeonju which is the birthplace of bibimbap and other Korean cuisine favorites," she said.

Rosson worked with Dr. Matthew Price, Director of Premier National and International Awards, on her application materials. He said that EPIK is a program that helps connect UNA students with the world and that Rosson will make a fantastic UNA representative.

"Savannah has a drive that is pretty impressive," Dr. Price said. "She will be a great presence in the classroom, and she understand that, for Alabama to network with foreign countries and businesses, there needs to be people on the round who understand the language and culture to create bridges between countries."

Those who are interested in the EPIK program and the application process are asked to contact Dr. Price at mprice2@una.edu.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN Big South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/