Interview with Esias Bedingar, May 14, 2018

Partial Transcript: So if you could, if you could state your name and also spell your name.

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses the importance of family, especially mothers, to his educational career and the careers of his fellow students. Bedingar talks about his journey from Chad to attending Harvard University, including the challenges he faced and his success as an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky. He also talks about being the commencement speaker at his graduation.

Keywords: Awards; Commencement speeches; Friends; Graduation; Harvard University; Parents; Public speaking; Relationships; Siblings; Speeches; Support; Support systems

Subjects: College attendance; College graduates; College student parents; College students--Social conditions; Families.; Harvard University--Admission.; Immigrants; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So you've lived in Lexington now, for four years, is that correct?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses the changes he has seen culturally and physically at the University of Kentucky. Bedingar also talks about his father's educational career at the University of Kentucky and beyond.

Keywords: Changes; Communities; Infrastructures; International students; Investments; Office of Institutional Diversity; Policies; Relationships; Students; Successes; UK

Subjects: College buildings.; College campuses.; College facilities.; College student parents; College students--Social conditions; Language and languages.; Language.; Lexington (Ky.).; Student housing; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture

Partial Transcript: So, how many languages do you speak?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses learning English after coming to the University of Kentucky. He also talks about taking up a leadership role in the international community on campus.

Keywords: Changes; Communities; International students; Leadership; Policies; Relationships; Social change; Students; Successes; UK

Subjects: College students--Social conditions; Harvard University--Admission.; Immigrants; Language and languages.; Language.; Student housing; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let's take it back to your very early beginnings as an actor of social change on this Earth that you have become to this day.

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses his childhood, including his relationships and moving frequently. He also talks about how his interests changed growing up and how others view him.

Keywords: Chad; Doctors; Friends; Healthcare; Healthcare policies; Malaria; Netflix; Parents; Policies; Relationships; Siblings; Social change

Subjects: Childhood; Children; Education; Emigration and immigration.; Ethics.; Families.; Immigrants; Sports.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, did you have an early memory about what you thought you wanted to be when you grew up?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar talks about his hopes to become an actor for social change specifically through working for the eradication of Malaria.

Keywords: Chad; Doctors; Healthcare; Healthcare infrastructure; Healthcare policies; Malaria; Motocross for Malaria; Nonprofits; Policies; Prevention; Preventive measures; Social change

Subjects: Cerebral malaria; Chad.; Education; Medical care; Non-governmental organizations--Africa.; Occupations.; Physicians--Anecdotes.

Partial Transcript: And you've had some experience with student government since you've been here at UK as well.

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses his opportunities to engage while at University of Kentucky, like undergraduate research and student government. He talks about what being an "actor of social change" means to him and who his role models are.

Keywords: Dr. Jiang; Dr. Yang Jiang; Leader Development Program (LDP); Malaria; Mentors; Problem solving; Role models; Student Government Association (SGA)

Subjects: College freshmen; College student government; College students--Social networks; Communication.; Communities.; Culture.; Education

Partial Transcript: So, you also talked about diversity in your speech, which my ears just automatically, you know, perked up.

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses the importance of diversity in life and education, as well as his experiences as an African student. He also talks about the challenges faced by unrepresented groups in higher education.

Keywords: Administrators; Advocating; Assumptions; Diversity; Educators; Inclusion; Perceptions; Representation; Student and academic life; Students; UK

Subjects: College administrators; College students, Black; Communication.; Communities.; Culture.; Education; Educational change.; Intercultural communication.; Minorities in higher education; Stereotypes (Social psychology); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: In what ways do you think diversity is important to someone in the role of looking at ways to eradicate Malaria in their home country?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar talks about the connection between diversity and eradicating Malaria.

Keywords: Chad; Diversity; Doctors; Friends; Global; Healthcare; Healthcare policies; Malaria; Policies; Relationships; Research; Social change

Subjects: Cerebral malaria; Chad.; Communities.; Education; Ethics.; Medical care; Occupations.; Physicians--Anecdotes.

Partial Transcript: So, you've kinda touched on this a little bit, but what kind of role do you think diversity plays in leadership?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar discusses why leaders and committed businesses should value diversity. He also discusses how his understanding of diversity has evolved from experiencing racism in Tunisia to becoming both an advocate and a minority at the University of Kentucky. Bedingar talks about his family moving repeatedly to avoid wars in Africa.

Keywords: Advocates; Africa; Businesses; Diversity; Inclusion; Ivory Coast; Leaders; Leadership; Perceptions; Relationships; Relocation; Representation; UK; Wars

Subjects: Childhood; Communication.; Communities.; Culture.; Education; Educational change.; Families.; Intercultural communication.; Racism; Tunisia; University of Kentucky; War, armed forces, and society

Partial Transcript: So, do you have any goals of learning more about some areas of diversity that you don't know a whole lot about?

Segment Synopsis: Bedingar talks about his future goals, including learning more about the African American experience, traveling, and getting his driver's license. He also discusses his future in Boston, Massachusetts as a diverse city compared to Lexington, Kentucky.

Keywords: Bucket lists; Childish Gambino; Drivers licenses; Goals; Harvard; Nightlife; Student life; Studies; Traveling; Travels; UK

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Race identity.; American culture; Boston (Mass.); Communities.; Culture; Education; Lexington (Ky.).; University of Kentucky