Alumni Reflection: Sri Lanka

Alumni Reflection: Sri Lanka

Greetings from the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka! I am Hashini de Silva, a Global UGRAD who studied social sciences at the University of Maine (UMaine) in the fall semester of 2023. As the only UGRAD that semester coming from the humble roots of Sri Lanka, an island nation trying to pave its path in an illustrious world, …

Campus Visit: University of North Carolina Wilmington

Campus Visit: University of North Carolina Wilmington

This February, Global UGRAD Program Officer Jordan Ferrick had the pleasure of visiting the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) in Wilmington, North Carolina. Throughout the visit she explored UNCW’s campus and engaged with the welcoming and accommodating staff who support the Global UGRAD students. UNCW is a public research institution known for its coastal location and vibrant campus life. …

Alumni Spotlight: Mozambique

Alumni Spotlight: Mozambique

In this month’s alumni spotlight, World Learning is thrilled to highlight the remarkable efforts of three Global UGRAD alumni from Mozambique who are joining forces to establish an organization dedicated to promoting climate literacy within their homeland. Xana Maunze, a Global UGRAD participant from the 2017-2018 cohort who studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University, embarked on her journey toward sustainability during …

Alumni Spotlight: A Global UGRAD Mini-Reunion

Alumni Spotlight: A Global UGRAD Mini-Reunion

In the spirit of fostering lifelong connections and celebrating the diverse achievements of Global UGRAD alumni, Michelle Cerén (El Salvador), Sophia Pylypyuk (Ukraine), and Abdessadeq Ourkiya (Morocco), recently embarked on a reunion that transcended borders and cultures. All three were Global UGRAD participants at Marymount University in the Fall 2016 semester. In this collaborative article, they share about their experience …

Community Service Spotlight: Fall 2023

Community Service Spotlight: Fall 2023

Each semester, Global UGRAD students across the United States complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service to fulfill their Global UGRAD program requirement. This fall, students embraced the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their host communities by doing everything from volunteering at local charitable organizations to cleaning up local parks and gardens. Below are highlights from some of …

Alumni Spotlight: Zimbabwe

Alumni Spotlight: Zimbabwe

Hello UGRADs! My name is Sibonisiwe Ngubeni and I was privileged to represent my country, Zimbabwe, as a Global UGRAD student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in the spring semester of 2019. UTK, also known as Rocky Top, was packed with opportunities, hospitality, energy, tradition, green spaces, and quiet corners; a true breeding ground for thriving global changemakers. …

Alumni Spotlight: Georgia

Alumni Spotlight: Georgia

This month, World Learning is happy to introduce two fall 2022 alums from the Republic of Georgia: Marta Berdzenadze, who studied at the University of Montevallo in Alabama, and Dea Margvelashvili, who studied at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas. These two exceptional individuals successfully completed the Global UGRAD Program and now aim to leave a lasting impact on …

Alumni Event Feature: Sri Lanka

Alumni Event Feature: Sri Lanka

Upon successfully completing the Global UGRAD Program and returning to their home countries, students become part of robust and diverse alumni networks. These alumni groups often hold gatherings, uniting multiple cohorts of Global UGRAD alumni in one place. On September 7th, Global UGRAD alumni in Sri Lanka were invited by the U.S. Embassy to a gathering hosted in the country’s …

Host Partner Feature: Western Washington University

Host Partner Feature: Western Washington University

This month, World Learning is thrilled to spotlight Western Washington University (WWU), which is located in Bellingham, Washington. To shed light on WWU’s commitment to international students, World Learning reached out to Richard Bruce, Director of International Student & Scholar Services, who has played a pivotal role in supporting Global UGRAD participants. Let’s dive into the conversation with Richard to …

Alumni Spotlight: Jordan

Alumni Spotlight: Jordan

Hello! My name is Lina AlSarayreh, from Amman, Jordan. I am an alum of the Global UGRAD 2022/2023 Exchange Program and attended Portland State University (PSU) during the fall 2022 semester. Having to return home after such an enriching exchange program experience and readjust to my old routine was quite difficult at first. I was still overwhelmed by all the …