Congratulations to the Class of 2026! As the spring semester draws to a close, the International Division is proud to celebrate a cohort of graduates who have truly embraced the spirit of global engagement.
These students represent a wide array of our international community—including the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program, the International Student Services Advisory Board (ISSAB), the King-Morgridge Scholars Program (KMScholars), and several area study centers within the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS). Below, we highlight several graduates whose outstanding achievements and global perspectives have left a lasting impact on the UW–Madison campus and beyond.
Sneha Chandrika Chavali
Degree: PhD in anthropology
Department: Department of Anthropology
Teaching fellowship: “In 2022, I received a Teaching Fellowship offered jointly by the International Studies department and the Center for South Asia. Through this fellowship, I developed an undergraduate course titled Globalization and Transformation: South Asia and its Diaspora, which I taught virtually in 2022.”
Experience with the Center for South Asia (CSA): “The Center for South Asia has played an instrumental role in my academic journey. The Thursday lectures/talks and the Annual Conference on South Asia provided important platforms for networking, scholarly exchange, and sharing developments relevant to my field. I also benefited from having Dr. Preeti Chopra on my committee, whose expertise in South Asian visual arts and architecture, along with her strong affiliation with CSA, added meaningful interdisciplinary depth to my training.”
Future plans: Currently applying for postdoctoral and academic positions in the United States and internationally
Reem Itani
Degree: BA in political science with certificates in Middle East Studies, Arabic, African Studies, and Educational Policy Studies.
Received a 2024-2025 AY Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship from IRIS NRC in to study intermediate Arabic language and culture: “Through this fellowship, I studied third and fourth semester Arabic and other cultural courses related to the Middle East, such as the politics of gender and women’s rights in the Middle East. My favorite instance of studying at UW–Madison through FLAS was learning Arabic. I always came out of them with a robust understanding of Arabic writing mechanics and grammar.”
Studied abroad through the CIEE Middle East Studies Amman program in fall 2024: “This program entailed intensive study of intermediate Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), colloquial Jordanian Arabic, an independent research course, an internship course, and a Middle Eastern politics course. I also stayed with a host family, allowing me to further practice my Arabic outside the classroom. My FLAS award was integral to my attendance of the CIEE program. Without the generous funding granted to me to study Arabic in my region of heritage, I would likely not have as much local exposure to the language and would not have been able to conduct field research for my senior thesis.”
Campus positions: “I worked as a student assistant at the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI) between May 2023 and August 2024, worked at the Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI) during the summer of 2025, and have been working as an IAP Engagement Intern in the Study Abroad Office since September 2025. My favorite part of working at WISLI was continuously contributing to students’ language learning. Regarding my position at the Study Abroad Office, I most enjoy guiding other students through their application process, playing a part in ensuring their goal of studying abroad comes true.”
Experience with IRIS NRC: “My experience with IRIS NRC has been one of overwhelming support, first from FLAS, and especially from my exceptional and endlessly patient advisor Dr. Csanád Siklós. He helped me with everything throughout my four years, advising me on the FLAS application process, giving me detailed feedback on my graduate application materials, and navigating challenging coursework.”
Future plans: Pursuing an MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford
Ndinda Kasyoka
Degree: Economics and Data Science
Highlight of her time at UW–Madison: “The highlights of my time here are centered on being able to learn through research. Right after my first Python class, and coding class, I got to do natural language processing research (NLP) at the Molecular Imaging Magnetic Resonance Lab. Being able to learn on the job was a cool experience, and I was able to learn the application of RAG (retrieval augmented generation) on medical data. I am currently working with IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Getting to work on astrophysics data as a web development and data visualization intern is an experience that I really value. Both of these experiences have helped prepare me for graduate school.”
Experience as a King-Morgridge Scholar: “The KMScholars Program fosters community and connection, as well as individual support. I’ve appreciated being able to work closely with program staff. I also partnered with KMScholar alumna Sifa Mildred Chome on my Wisconsin Idea Fellowship. The alumni network is strong. The KMScholars Program exposed me to speakers and leaders I wouldn’t otherwise have met. The program is very well-connected and the speakers’ experiences are valuable and helped me navigate through personal/professional development and career navigation.”
Future plans: Obtaining an MS in Business Analytics at the Wisconsin Business School at UW–Madison
Sascha Isabel Krause
Degrees: BS in neurobiology and Spanish
Certificates: Global Health; Chicana Latina Studies; Health Policy
Study abroad experiences:
Chiang Mai University, Thailand – UW biological research internship (summer 2023)
San José, Costa Rica – UW Spanish medical language immersion (winter 2024)
Vienna, Austria – UW Obesity & Nutrition internship (summer 2024)
University of Sydney, Australia (fall 2025)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (spring 2026)
Highlight of her study abroad experiences: “My highlight at the University of Sydney was interning at the Daffodil Centre, a cancer research institute, to assist in the implementation of a digital health innovation for those who have undergone their first treatment of breast cancer.
Experience as a WISc Scholar: “Every WISc event was highly intentional, pure knowledge and inspiration. Learning from the experience of my peers from such a diverse range of career trajectories truly opened my eyes to what is possible and what we need to do as future changemakers. The support from the WISc team enabled me to pursue international work interwoven throughout my degree in ways I could not have dreamed of.”
Future plans: Continuing to pursue clinical work while applying to medical school to study women’s health
Andrea Lamarche
Degree: Master of International Public Affairs (MIPA)
Department: La Follette School of Public Affairs
Experience as a Project Assistant in European Studies: “When I first arrived at UW–Madison, having always lived in France, I was nervous about fitting in. But I was immediately welcomed by an amazing community of international and domestic students, and a position in European Studies that allowed me to keep ties with my home region. Saying yes to every conversation and opportunity became my greatest strength.”
Member of the International Student Services Advisory Board (ISSAB): “I had joined ISSAB to advocate for my international peers, and Madison now feels like home. This city and this campus taught me that confidence is built by doing, and I am immensely grateful for the unique opportunities I was given to do so.”
Future plans: Pursuing policy positions in the nonprofit sector at the intersection of evidence-based research, civic engagement, and advocacy
Hailey Shevitz
Degree: BA in international studies
Certificates: Leadership, French, European Studies, and Global Cultures Languages & Education
Awards and honors: Wolff Fellowship finalist, Richard Ralph Winter Phoenix Rising Humanitarian Scholarship, Germaine Mercier Scholarship, Hugh A. Smith Scholarship, Earl D. Johnson Endowed Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa
Experience as a WISc Scholar: “WISc truly changed my life! By providing me with an enriching community in Madison and funding for two study abroad internship programs, WISc has challenged my perspectives, built my confidence, and guided my path forward towards a career working with refugees. Not only have I developed strong leadership and language skills, but I’ve become more aware of the importance of uplifting local knowledge, asking questions, and listening to others. “
Future plans: “I am hoping to continue working with refugees, right now I am at the International Rescue Committee in the D.C. area (Wisconsin in Washington Program)”
Ethan vanderWilden
Degree: PhD in political science
Received an RA fellowship funded through the UW Center for German & European Studies (CGES-DAAD): “The fellowship was extremely helpful to me because it freed up my time during my third year of the PhD. Support from the fellowship ensured that my full focus could go to my dissertation and other research projects. Without this time and focus, getting these projects off the ground would have been significantly harder/slower.”
Experience with European Studies: “European Studies has been an excellent resource throughout graduate school. Beyond the fellowship and grant opportunities that the center provided, I was able to engage in and participate in multiple events sponsored through the European Studies center that offered a chance to meet excellent scholars from around the world, learn new things, and seek feedback on my own work.”
Future plans: Assistant Professor of Political Science starting next fall at University of Utah
Annika Marie Santos Webb
Degrees: BA in Spanish and conservation biology
Departments: Departments of Spanish and Portuguese, and Integrative Biology
Journalism internship through the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS): “I worked with a progressive media outlet, Rappler, which was based in Manila, Philippines. I was assigned events to cover, and wrote articles about cultural, political, and environment events. With this internship, I really enjoyed being able to interact with the local people during coverage events, and write about real-world issues that I wouldn’t have known otherwise without this opportunity.”
Experience with CSEAS: “I have enjoyed my experience with CSEAS. Dr. Michael Cullinane has been wonderful in supporting my internship as well as being my professor. The Rappler internship has changed my life, and is one of the top experiences I’ve had in college. I am incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity to explore my family’s country of origin in a unique way and had a summer of a lifetime!”
Future plans: Work on campus as a post-grad lab tech for a year and apply to grad school in a few years
The graduates featured here are just a few examples of the talent and dedication found within the International Division. Whether they are moving on to global careers, further research, or community-led initiatives, we congratulate all of our spring 2026 graduates and look forward to the impact they will make as Badger alumni.
Story by Kayla Daum