The new academic year in the Global Affairs family promises to set historic records in the University’s rapidly growing international engagement, with substantial increases in study abroad opportunities with expanded scholarship support; plans to establish new permanent UVA offices in key regions around the world; and expanded staffing to support more global opportunities right here on Grounds.
Adrienne Kim Bird is assistant director of International Students and Scholars Program at UVA. At the start of a new academic year, she spoke about the new programs and transitions at the International Students and Scholars Program.
The University of Virginia faculty and students spent summer months researching, interning, studying and teaching in different parts of the world, an essential part of UVA experience that was on hold during the pandemic. Here are a few recollections:
A University of Virginia engineering professor says relatively poor construction techniques and unpreparedness appear to be playing a role in the loss of life from a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Morocco on Friday.
Even though University of Virginia’s China Office Director Justin O’Jack had never before played table tennis, he knew that this invitation to a ping-pong match could not be missed.
Owen Selden is a third-year student majoring in the Human Biology Distinguished Majors Program and a 2023 Center for Global Health Equity University Scholar. He talked about the global health experiences at UVA and in Rwanda that have inspired him to pursue a future in public health.
A delegation from the University of Virginia led by Vice Provost for Global Affairs, Ambassador Stephen D. Mull, visited The Bahamas in August 2023, to assess prospects of the University's academic engagement.
Academic and creative writer Levi Vonk joined the University of Virginia as a Global Studies Assistant Professor in Fall 2023 and is currently teaching courses on inequality in the media and global migration. He discussed his research, writing, and teaching.
When an injury paused Mir McLean's basketball workouts, she took the opportunity to pursue her studies in Morocco. In early June, McLean flew to Morocco, where she joined other students from UVA. The program, for which she received four credits, is based in Meknes, a city in northern Morocco.
Susan Curl graduated with a degree in Spanish Language and Culture in 2007. Today Curl is an experienced translation professional with operations and business development experience in the U.S., Spain, and the Middle East. Curl Translations has grown exponentially and handles more than 60 language combinations, specializes in 12 different sectors, and works with clients in 15 countries. She looks back to her experience in UVA in Valencia program that started it all.
