Biological science instructor Molly Sirigiri was in the classroom Monday after the Nashville community worked to get the instructor back to the United States from India after she was not allowed to re-enter the country after a mission trip.
Sirigiri, who teaches at the Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, returned to Nashville over the weekend. She has lived in Arkansas for four years while teaching on the Howard County campus of community college.
She joined a group of First Baptist Church members from Nashville and other area churches for a mission trip July 1 to Guatemala. The group completed their project within a week working at an orphanage.
After landing in Houston, Sirigiri learned that the type of visa she was issued allowed her to travel outside of the U.S. but not to re-enter.
Sirigiri was flown to her native India where college officials, University of Arkansas System officials and U.S. officials began working "diligently to speed the necessary paperwork for her return to Nashville and her job," Cossatot Community College Chancellor Steve Cole said.
"Molly is a special person to UA Cossatot. Not only is she a teaching rock star for us, but more importantly, she is a vital part of her church and community. The best possible results came from this, and that was her quick re-entry back into the United States," Cole said.
"We owe many thanks to not only our U.S. senators and the UA System, but also to Kelly Plunk, UA Cossatot Human Resources director, and Crystal Sims, biological science instructor, who were instrumental in processing her return and covering her academic duties," Cole said.
"I am thankful to be back in Nashville and teaching. I am very thankful for people I consider my family in the United States," Sirigiri said.
She teaches a full course load of general biology, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology.
State Desk on 08/28/2014