Yafrainy Familia is a PhD student in Spanish at UVA. She spoke about her project where she analyzes the work of a series of contemporary Caribbean artists through the lenses of colonial resistance, gender, and race.

As Richard Tanson, director of the International Students and Scholars program retires after 30 years of service to UVA, a look at his incredible career dedicated to helping international students from around the world.

Second-year Spanish graduate student Elizabeth Mirabal traveled from Havana to UVA to expand her studies in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Latin American literature, Caribbean literature, and Cuban studies. She spoke about ways nostalgia permeates her intellectual interests, as well as her personal experiences in Charlottesville, and shared her advice for students interested in international research.

It’s a wrap for another successful year of Global Week at UVA! Global Week is organized by the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs every year and is an opportunity for those interested in global topics to learn more about the research opportunities, global collaborations and services available at UVA. This year more than 30 events across Grounds featured art, politics, and culture from around the world and exciting new contributions from students, including five CIO-sponsored events.

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.

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.

Sidharth Singh is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Mechanical and Aerospace Department at UVA and is working on changing how international students are onboarded. He is hoping that sharing experiences of other graduate student experiences and faculty will be helpful. Singh explains the reasons he is interested in this topic and how he is building the panel.

22 International students and scholar athletes presented their projects they worked on in the 2022-2023 Citizen Leaders Fellowship program.

Human Biology major Hamna Shafiq was fueled by her personal experiences to pursue studies in global health. Now a third-year, she is primed for medical school through her research in undernutrition in vulnerable global populations.

Eren Okandan is a third-year student majoring in global public health who loves to read crime fiction, and follows sports such as Formula 1, soccer, basketball, and football. Originally from Kayseri, Turkey, a city located in central Anatolia, Okandan has been helping raise awareness about the recent deadly earthquake in Turkey that has claimed more than 50,000 people.

International student and researcher Adrián Gutierrez speaks to UVA Global about muons, his journey to UVA, and his advice for international students.

The International Student Citizen Leaders Fellowship has chosen a new cohort of fellows for this academic year.

UVA PhD Candidate Josué Godoy talks with UVA Global's Emily Mellen about his project on Indigenous activism in Colombia during the 1970s.

Robyn Hadley, Vice President and Dean of Students Chief Student Affairs Officer along with Ambassador Steve Mull, Vice Provost for Global Affairs reach out to the Indian Community

Robyn Hadley, Vice President and Dean of Students Chief Student Affairs Officer along with Ambassador Steve Mull, Vice Provost for Global Affairs reach out to South Korean community

Elizabeth Wittner has run a volunteer-led program for English speaking and intercultural exchange since 1999 but notices serious interest from students who want to help in the last couple of years after the pandemic.This year, she says, more than 400 volunteers applied to the program, which is a part of the Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC). She and her team were able to place 352 volunteers in various capacities.

PhD candidate and international student Mukti Chowkwale talks with us about her research in Biomedical Engineering, her advocacy for international students and DEI at UVA, and advice for new international students.

Trisha Gulati is one of the co-directors of international student affairs on UVA Student Council. When she is not attending classes, she likes to play Tennis and sing. Along with the Student Council, she is also actively engaged in the Thai Student Organization, International Relations Organization and Frank Batten Investment Fund.

On August 16th, as UVA’s campus slowly wakes up from its summer slumber, a group of volunteers in baby blue shirts run out in the rain to greet a bus arriving from Dulles airport. These are the Global Greeters, UVA’s welcoming committee for international students.

Jie Lu is a second-year student majoring in Commerce. But she is also a stellar table tennis player who just represented UVA in National Championships.

Fourth year international student Sara Feng introduces us to Shea House, a UVA’s on-grounds residential site for immersion in seven languages. She talks about her global experiences and why she became a Shea House language assistant.

International students Abbis Haider Jaffri, Hamed Joodaki, and Huiru Shen talk about their UVA experience, future plans, and advice for new international students.