lobal Affairs has been busy this fall expanding our overseas platforms to promote new opportunities for global engagement for students, faculty, and alumni alike. In addition to opening the Mario di Valmarana Center in Vicenza, Italy in September, this week we finalized an agreement to open a UVA office in Cape Town, South Africa and are on track to open its doors early in 2026. We are also on the brink of expanding UVA’s footprint in Asia beyond our Shanghai Office in early 2026 to focus on building out our academic and alumni networks in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and other southeast Asian locations.

An important partner in our efforts has been Global Affairs’ Corps of Ambassadors, a group of committed parents, alumni, and friends from around the world who provide us invaluable strategic advice and support. We recently convened the group for our semi-annual gathering to review the state of play on our overseas offices, discuss current study abroad and global research trends, and brief on current challenges that our international students are facing. The group reaffirmed their commitment to supporting our global initiatives, including study-abroad scholarships, and expressed interest in advising on immigration issues, mentoring students, and organizing UVA-themed events with our global alumni. Their devotion to UVA’s global mission is remarkable and greatly appreciated.

Closer to home, mark your calendars for UVA’s annual Global Week celebration November 8-16, which will highlight how our community connects with the world. This year's programming includes a lecture from the Ambassador of Panama to the U.S., a special film screening of Professor of Art Federico Cualtlacuatl's Transborder Nahualismos on migration and the deeper cultural and spiritual transformations that occur in border spaces, the Multilingual Outreach Volunteer Effort's second annual Translate-a-thon, global health lectures on nursing amidst Ebola and navigating health risks in global travel, a multitude of study abroad info sessions, and student-organized events from French speed networking to a celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism, to an intro to Brazilian food, music, and soccer. See here for the full list of events.

Finally, on a sad note, on October 29th, the UVA community gathered in the University Chapel to commemorate third-year Engineering student Gunnar Kennedy, who tragically passed away in early October in a hiking accident while studying abroad in Europe. A first-generation student from Missouri, Gunnar lived with boundless curiosity and a passion for discovery. Since arriving at UVA in 2023, he made the world his classroom – already participating in three study abroad programs and planning a fourth for January. Remembered by family, friends, and classmates for his academic excellence, generosity, and adventurous heart, Gunnar embodied the spirit of exploration. His legacy lives on in those he inspired, beautifully echoed in the words painted on Beta Bridge: “Don’t Stop Exploring, Gunnar.” While his absence will be deeply felt, Gunnar’s life, marked by integrity, wonder, and joy, will continue to guide us to look outward - and live fully.

Stay Global!