As July comes to a close, so too does my first year as vice provost and dean of the International Division. It has been a remarkable 365 days, with each one presenting new opportunities to learn about the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the partners we have across the state, nation, and world. There have been so many outstanding moments that it is difficult to choose only a few to highlight. Should it be meeting Her Royal Highness, Princess Sirindhorn, in Thailand last month as part of the university’s 175th anniversary celebration? How about giving the keynote address during International Education Week at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC? Or maybe I should describe meeting colleagues from across campus during the weeklong Wisconsin Idea Seminar bus trip? I cannot do justice to the past 12 months in a few paragraphs, so let me note moments that represent some of my key priorities:
Celebrating international education experiences with students and their families: I began the year attending the International Student Welcome and Information Fair and meeting some of the thousands of new international students who joined us last fall. I concluded the spring semester by attending graduation events to honor our International Studies majors and Wisconsin International Scholars, and international graduate and undergraduate students, including our King-Morgridge scholars. In addition, I’ve helped to send off the next cohort of Badgers who have joined the Peace Corps and to celebrate being the top-ranked university in the U.S. for producing Peace Corps volunteers. I also had the pleasure of meeting with freshman who have departed on our Global Launch programs. Some of these students will spend their entire first year studying in London, and others are now on three-week programs with UW faculty in Ireland, Japan, and Sweden. It was also an honor to meet students and faculty affiliated with various Fulbright programs during our first Fulbright Week and to represent the university at the celebration for Top Producing Institutions of Fulbright U.S. Students in Washington DC.
Building community and cohesion across the International Division: The ice cream social on Bascom Hill for all members of the division on my first official day was a terrific way to meet people while enjoying the best flavors from Babcock Hall. The volleyball and hockey games that some members of the division attended with me through our ticket raffle at fall and spring all-staff meetings provided additional ways to build relationship across different units. We have also launched new forms of communication and deepened the engagement of our committees in the work of the International Division as I value the participation of every member of our team.
Strengthening global partnerships and engagement: Thailand was one of four countries, along with Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Korea, which I visited this past year with UW delegations representing different schools, colleges, and senior university leadership. These trips allowed us to strengthen existing relationships with universities where we have agreements for student and faculty exchanges and research collaborations, and to establish some new ones. In Madison, I have had the honor of hosting delegations and diplomats from many countries, including China, Denmark, India, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Rwanda, and Thailand.
I have no doubts that the academic year ahead will bring many more opportunities for the International Division to bridge worlds, boost innovation, and build leaders to connect Wisconsin to the world.