Message from the dean: Reflections on the spring 2022 semester

Guido Podesta
Guido Podesta, vice provost and dean, International Division

The spring 2022 semester is one that many of us will remember for quite some time. In addition to a growing sense of normalcy on campus, there have been many successes that we can celebrate as we say farewell to the academic year.

First, I want to offer my congratulations to the Class of 2022! I hope that your experiences over the past several years have created a foundation for your future success and that you all take great pride in your accomplishments. Commencement marks the beginning of your time as proud UW–Madison alumni. Please stay connected with faculty, staff, and your fellow Badgers. Additionally, consider reaching out to learn how you can create opportunities for the next generation of Badgers as previous generations have done for you.

I also hope you will be inspired to make an impact on the world stage. In fact, two examples of outstanding global alumni will be joining us at commencement. Linda Thomas-Greenfield is U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and will be delivering the commencement address. Krishna Ella is cofounder of Bharat Biotech, which has led the fight against COVID-19 in India and has distributed more than 4 billion vaccines for diseases from hepatitis-b to rotavirus. Both of these alumni have traveled very different paths, but have nonetheless changed lives for the better at an international scale.

The university continues to be recognized as a top global institution. Recently, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) listed UW–Madison as 27th globally and 20th nationally on its list of the world’s top 2,000 universities. Approximately, 20,000 institutions were ranked by CWUR, with the top 2,000 being placed on its Global 2,000 list. The university’s position on this list is a strong indicator of the high-quality of academia, research, engagement, and collaborations offered.

The spring semester also marked a milestone for study abroad. International Academic Programs recorded 1,168 program participants—an all-time high for any single term. Students describe these experiences as transformational, so it is wonderful to see such high levels of interest in this programming.

Congratulations again to all of you who are graduating, and thank you all for your efforts in making UW–Madison a globally respected university.

On Wisconsin!