By Alex Greenwood, July 9, 2025
Dr. Chea San Chanthan, chancellor in charge of Pannasastra University of Siem Reap
and overseeing international affairs, left,
and UCM President Roger Best complete a memorandum of understanding between UCM and
Pannasastra University.
At first glance, a public university from west-central Missouri might seem an unlikely host for a well-attended educational networking reception in Phnom Penh. But in March, the University of Central Missouri (UCM) brought together Cambodian government officials, U.S. Embassy representatives and leaders from some of the country’s most respected universities for a conversation about global partnerships and student opportunity.
The event was a highlight of UCM President Roger Best’s recent trip to Southeast Asia — a mission that combined new initiatives in Cambodia with renewed partnerships in South Korea. For Best, the trip wasn’t just about expanding UCM’s global footprint. It was a chance to explore how higher education, at its best, still builds bridges across borders.
“We know Cambodian students work hard, are motivated to learn and are curious, making them ideal candidates for study at UCM,” Best said in remarks to The Phnom Penh Post. “We also desire to partner with these wonderful institutions through dual degree and exchange programs so that we can provide opportunities for Cambodian students to study in the U.S., while sharing our resources and ensuring our partnership is beneficial to Cambodia.”
That mix of openness, humility and purpose would define the trip — and offer a timely reflection on where UCM fits in a rapidly changing global higher education landscape.
“We visited two countries on the same trip,” Best said in a follow-up interview. “But
we had very different reasons for going to each.”
Joined by a university delegation that included Jeff W. Robertson, dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology; Phil Hull, director of International Student Services; Laura Searcy, coordinator of Exchange and Sponsored Programs; Kenneth Bias, chair of the Department of Early, Elementary, Middle and Physical Education; Sandy Cruz, director of Dual Credit for Online and Learning Engagement; Ryan Kim, program coordinator and assistant professor of Sport Management; and Greg Holz, international recruitment officer and former NGO leader who lived in Cambodia for 16 years, Best saw both need and opportunity in a country where the university already has longstanding ties.
Cambodia’s higher education system, Best explained, is relatively young, shaped in part by educators who returned from the United States to build American-style institutions in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge era.
“It’s an emerging market when it comes to American-style education,” Best said. “There’s a strong affinity for the United States. Many university leaders there were educated here.”
He added that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet was the first person in his country to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
That Cambodian affinity for U.S.-style higher education translated into action. During this trip, UCM signed new memorandums of understanding with the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and Pannasastra University, and renewed a dual credit agreement with Pannasastra International School, which operates 27 K-12 campuses nationwide. Those agreements open the door to future student exchange, teacher development and dual degree pathways.
UCM’s model includes helping local high school teachers earn credentials to deliver UCM courses to students in secondary school.
“It’s professional development for their teachers, it’s an opportunity for education for their students,” Best said. “If they’re not yet qualified to teach college-level classes, we can help them get there.”
The Cambodian leg of the trip included a visit to the Cambodian Children’s Fund, a school system built on the edge of Phnom Penh’s former city dump. The facility, founded by a former Hollywood producer, now offers housing and education to families emerging from extreme poverty.
“They’ve created a model that’s about dignity and structure,” Best said. “When the producer first talked to the kids in that area, they weren’t asking for food or money — they were asking for education. There’s a hunger there for learning.”
In South Korea, the agenda was more familiar. UCM has had partnerships with several
institutions in Seoul for more than 15 years. These relationships have focused largely
on exchange programs — students from South Korea coming to UCM for a semester or academic year — but Best
saw room for growth.
“We reaffirmed those partnerships and also discussed faculty collaboration and dual degree programs,” he said. “One of our partners even suggested creating a tri-national research conference that rotates between UCM, a South Korean university and one in Japan.”
But what left the strongest impression was the scope of government investment in university research. South Korean institutions, Best noted, aren’t focused on revisiting old studies. They’re moving into the heart of what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution — artificial intelligence, health care innovation, advanced manufacturing — with significant national backing.
“This is stuff that is at our capability or beyond,” he said. “I came away from South Korea very impressed, and also a little concerned. Are we doing enough in the United States to sustain leadership in innovation? Other countries aren’t waiting around for us to figure it out. They’re moving forward.”
Best wasn’t just speaking as a university president — he was reflecting as a citizen and educator. “If I came away with any concerns from my international travel,” he said, “it was that.”
While international visits often come with press releases and enrollment goals, Best
was quick to position UCM’s global work as an extension of its mission, not a publicity
stunt. He’s also aware that UCM doesn’t have the size or marketing machine of a flagship
university.
That hasn’t stopped international partners from taking notice.
“There’s a lot of respect for the research and applied learning we do,” he said. “Many of these institutions know that our faculty are well-trained and active in their fields. They’re interested in collaborating because we bring something to the table — and we listen.”
“We’re historically a regional comprehensive university,” Best said. “But we’re really good at what we do. The quality of education, the research, the faculty commitment, it’s there. We just don’t always tell the story.” Best recalled learning about a major faculty achievement at UCM from a third party, not from the professor involved.
“That’s part of our culture,” he said. “We don’t always talk about the great things we do because we assume, well, that’s just the job.”
It’s a culture that has earned UCM quiet respect abroad, and inspired internal reflection, too.
For Best, the value of these partnerships isn’t just outbound. Bringing the world
to Warrensburg matters just as much.
“When I first came to UCM in the 1990s, I was very impressed that we had so many students from other countries,” he said. “They brought a richness into the classroom that helped all of us think differently.”
That impact is especially meaningful in Missouri, where many students haven’t had the chance to travel internationally.
“By having international students on campus, they experience new cultures without leaving home,” he said. “They make friendships across borders and expand their sense of the world.”
Currently, UCM is Missouri’s top destination for international enrollment, with students from 58 countries. Rather than a headline statistic, it’s seen as part of the university’s broader commitment to global learning.
“When students come to us, we want their time here to redefine what they believed was possible,” Best said. “We’ve seen it happen over and over. Students find careers they never imagined. They discover new strengths. And they become leaders not just here, but in their communities around the world.”
After more than a week of visits, meetings and cultural exchanges, Best returned home
reflective.
“We’re not a perfect country,” he said. “But we have a standard of living with a level of access to resources and support that’s often taken for granted. In countries where people have less, they’re often working harder just for a chance and they’re grateful for the opportunity when it comes.”
That observation stuck with him and it shapes how UCM thinks about its role abroad. Not as a savior. Not as a brand. But as a partner.
“It’s easy to be complacent if you’ve been in a leadership role for a long time,” Best said. “But other nations aren’t waiting. They’re moving forward. And we need to be part of that, not just for our own students, but to help shape a better, more connected future.”