IEW Profile: Joseph Karanja

International Education Week (IEW) celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education are part of a joint initiative to promote programs that prepare Americans for the global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. This IEW profile is part of a series during International Education Week from November 14 to 18, 2022.

Q: What is your name?

Joseph Karanja

Q: Where are you from?

Kenya

Q: What is your program?

Geographic Information Science

Q: What is your school or department?

School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning

Q: Who is your faculty chair or mentor?

Dr. Matei Georgescu

Q: As an international student can you indicate what type of funding you received from ASU’s Graduate College?

Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship

Q: How has this Graduate College funding impacted your studies, research and experience here at ASU?

As a result of the Interdisciplinary Enrichment Fellowship, I have made significant strides in my academic journey. I have created more time to focus on my research; for instance, I participated in the American Association of Geographers annual conference, where I presented my article. Subsequently, I was featured on ASU news, which allowed my work to reach a broader audience.

Q: When are you expected to graduate?

May 2025

More stories from the Graduate Insider

Witches worldwide, literature and mental health: A conversation with Ana Silvia Cervantes Figueroa

Dr. Ana Silvia Cervantes Figueroa, a Crossing Latinidades Mellon Fellow and ASU alumna, explores feminist reimaginings of the witch archetype in Hispanic literature—connecting Latin American and U.S. narratives through themes of identity, heritage, and mental health awareness in academia.

What it means to be unstoppable

This month’s bold word is “unstoppable” — a reflection on persistence, adaptability and the courage to keep moving forward. Dean Wentz explores how empathy and determination work together to help us adapt today to shape tomorrow, with insights from ASU faculty and a preview of the upcoming Distinguished Lecture featuring Anthony Robles.

Funding your future: How the Boren Awards support language and service abroad

Funded by the National Security Education Program, the Boren Awards provide up to $25,000 for undergraduate and graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in regions critical to U.S. engagement abroad, such as Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.