With a record-breaking 3,336 Badgers studying abroad through International Academic Programs (IAP) this past year, global learning at UW–Madison is reaching new heights—a trajectory Dan Gold has helped shape as he approaches his 15th year as director of IAP.
Gold is quick to emphasize that the office’s growth isn’t a solo effort. Having managed summer initiatives at the Yale-China Association and spent many years building Asian study abroad portfolios at UNC-Chapel Hill, Gold brings a clear perspective from his long-standing work in international education: achieving growth requires a dedicated team. Across the UW–Madison campus, advisors, faculty partners, and staff work together to turn international experiences into accessible realities for students.
Looking at the numbers, the collaborative approach is paying off. Pre-pandemic participation saw around 1,800 students in 2019; during the most recent academic year, over 3,000 Badgers study abroad through IAP. Over the past decade and a half, more than 30,000 students have studied abroad in various IAP programs under Gold’s leadership.
In the Q&A below, Gold shares insights on the growth of study abroad at UW–Madison, the team effort driving program development and access, and what lies ahead for IAP.
Q&A
Q: With participation reaching record highs, what has shifted most in how UW–Madison approaches study abroad?
Gold: The wonderful thing about Madison is that I’ve never had to convince people why studying abroad matters—the campus community already values it. The shift has been moving from “why” to “how”: thinking creatively about program structure, content, and location to create global experiences that can be beneficial for all majors at different points in their academic progression.
It’s a massive campus, and growing from 1,200 to over 3,000 study abroad students means finding new pathways. A huge part of our growth comes down to staff innovation—like developing Major Advising Pages (MAPs) so students and academic advisors see exactly how studying abroad fits into their degree progression.
Q: What has been your go-to interview question for applicants throughout your career?
Dan Gold: I like to ask: “If you were in our shoes selecting students for a competitive program, what characteristics would you look for and why?”It’s a great starting point for reflection. Almost everyone answers that students need to be flexible and open-minded. But saying it can easily become an empty platitude. The real goal is digging into how students translate flexibility into actual behavior and navigate differences when placed in unfamiliar circumstances.
Lately, I’ve also noticed students placing a stronger emphasis on leadership and connecting their experience directly to professional goals. Having a clear idea of why a specific course, location, or faculty member aligns with their academic trajectory makes for a much more successful study abroad experience.
Q: What stands out as your favorite memory or proudest aspect of your time here?
Gold: I just really enjoy working with my colleagues in study abroad. We have many staff members who have been in IAP even longer than I have. That longevity and shared belief in the mission is what makes this work so rewarding.
Our team’s work on initiatives like Global Gateway is another great example. We wanted to proactively engage students who might think study abroad is out of reach for them. Through collaboration with the Division of Enrollment Management and others on campus, what started as one fully funded program for 15 students has grown into five global locations serving over 70 students this summer alone. One example is our Global Gateway in Chile program, which connects directly with campus initiatives like RISE-EARTH. It’s a sustainability-focused experience where students learn about local environmental practices hands-on, with an additional goal of bringing those lessons back to campus to stay active in local sustainability efforts.
Q: Looking ahead, what new directions excite you most for the future of IAP?
Gold: We’re excited about the growth of Global Gateway because it directly expands access for students who might not otherwise consider studying abroad—and with over 200 applications for 76 spaces this year, the demand is clearly there.
Alongside expanding financial access, there are current initiatives to expand first-year academic programs and domestic pathways. That includes new opportunities for Engineering students and growing domestic options like our Wisconsin in Washington internship program for students who want critical development opportunities closer to home.
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IAP is a pillar unit of the International Division and administers more than 300 international and domestic programs across 60 locations. To explore available scholarships and see how a program fits your academic plan, visit the study abroad website.
Story by Kayla Daum