Hana Bakhit is a first-year graduate student UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. As war rages in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese citizens are seeking refuge in neighboring Egypt, South Sudan and Chad. Bakhit spoke about how her experiences in Sudan spurred her interest in democracy and governance, how UVA can help with the current humanitarian crisis, and her goals to use her time at Batten to fight for a better Sudan.

Muhammad Tayyab Safdar joined as a Global Studies faculty in Fall 2023. He is currently teaching about global development and perspectives from the Global South based on his research on South-South global development relations, in particular the relationship between China and Pakistan.

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: