Professor Stephen Young Advances International Research Partnerships at Salem State

Professor Stephen Young of Salem State University’s Geography & Sustainability Department recently played a leading role in coordinating and supporting an international research internship for five graduate students from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan.

Among the visiting scholars was PhD candidate Kuanysh Kelgenbayev, whose research examines contemporary issues in geoeconomics, geopolitics, and the geography of international conflict. Kelgenbayev is developing an innovative methodology that combines geopolitical indicators with spatial mapping techniques to analyze the geographic dynamics of international conflicts. His work has potential applications in Central Asia, Africa, and other strategically important regions around the world.

Professor Young was instrumental in welcoming Kelgenbayev and four additional graduate researchers to Salem State and ensuring that they had the academic resources, institutional support, and professional connections necessary for a productive and meaningful research experience. Through the Geography & Sustainability Department, the five visiting students were provided with dedicated workspace and access to the university library, electronic research databases, and specialized academic resources.

The internship also created valuable opportunities for scholarly exchange across the university. Kelgenbayev met with Professor Young and other Geography & Sustainability faculty members, as well as faculty from additional departments, including Professors Jennifer Robinson and Binneh Minteh of Criminal Justice. Their conversations explored contemporary approaches to geopolitical analysis, the use of geospatial technologies in conflict research, and opportunities for future collaboration between Salem State University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Professor Young’s leadership reflects the Geography & Sustainability Department’s growing commitment to international scholarship, academic mobility, and interdisciplinary research. By bringing visiting scholars directly into the department, he is helping to expand Salem State’s global academic connections while creating new opportunities for faculty and students to engage with international perspectives and emerging areas of geographic research.

The successful visit represents an important step in strengthening the partnership between the two universities. It also establishes a foundation for future faculty and student exchanges, collaborative research projects, and long-term international academic cooperation—further positioning Salem State’s Geography & Sustainability Department as an active contributor to globally engaged scholarship.