Oklahoma State University welcomed H.E. Sharad Raj Aran, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C., to campus in August to meet with university leaders and members of OSU’s Nepalese student community.

During his visit, Aran spoke with students about the relationship between Nepal and the United States, noting that education has long been at the center of ties between the two countries.

Aran encouraged students to make the most of their time in the U.S. while staying connected to Nepal. He reminded students that each of them serves as an ambassador for their country and encouraged them to build relationships, open doors for others and find ways to use their education and experiences to contribute to Nepal.

“Visits like this are especially meaningful because they give our students the chance to connect with leaders from their home countries and have conversations they might not otherwise have,” said Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean of OSU Global. “We were honored to welcome Chargé d’Affaires Aran to Stillwater and introduce him to some of the Nepalese students who have made OSU their home away from home.”

For members of the Nepalese Student Association at OSU, the visit offered a chance to connect with a representative of their home country. Nepal is a South Asian country with a population of about 31 million, nestled between China and India. It sits in the middle of the Himalayas and is home to Mount Everest.

“Events like this strengthen the relationship between our university and our home country while providing valuable opportunities for students to engage with distinguished representatives from Nepal,” said Roshan Paswan, president of the Nepalese Student Association at OSU.

Aran also spoke about recent developments in Nepal, including efforts to promote transparency and good governance. He encouraged students to stay informed, follow U.S. laws and regulations and continue building relationships that can benefit both countries.

The visit was coordinated by OSU Global's International Students and Scholars office.