From campus conversations to experiences abroad, the spring 2025 semester showcased the many ways UW–Madison students, scholars, and partners engaged with the world. As the semester wraps up, we’re highlighting some of the International Division’s favorite moments that brought global learning to campus—and took Badgers far beyond it.
January
International Student Services hosted the International Student Welcome and Information Fair to greet new students arriving from around the world. The event offered a chance to explore campus resources, connect with student organizations, and kick off the semester with energy and enthusiasm.
February
“RISE: Exploring Possibilities for Global Research on Climate Change and Health,” co-sponsored by the IRIS NRC, gathered students from multiple academic disciplines. Speakers addressed the key intersections between climate change and health, with presentations focusing on topics such as heat wave impact on vulnerable populations and the effects of floods on women’s reproductive health in Malawi.
Two international students (Trinidad Fernandez Wallace and Shimeng Huang) participated, and were finalists, in the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Fernandez Wallace received the People’s Choice Award in the competition.
The Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program partnered with the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI) to host “Leveraging Your Languages”—an interactive workshop designed to help WIScholars connect their language skills to personal, academic, and professional goals. Facilitators Ryan Goble and Felecia Lucht led the session, which sparked thoughtful conversations about the real-world impact of multilingualism.
During “Study Abroad as a STEM Major,” a panel event hosted by International Academic Programs (IAP), students shared experiences studying abroad as STEM students—everywhere from Argentina to Uganda. This event was a collaborative effort between IAP, CALS Study Abroad, and the College of Engineering.
MARCH
Dean Vavrus spent a week engaging with colleagues from Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town, and UW–Madison to explore shared interests in digital humanities, sustainability, and student and faculty exchanges.
The 53rd Session of the Wisconsin High School Model United Nations Conference (WHSMUN) convened at UW–Madison for the annual two-day event. Co-sponsored by the IRIS NRC, the conference featured newly introduced committees and different simulated committee sessions across campus.
APRIL
On April 8, Alumnus Dong-One Kim, president of Korea University, visited the University of Wisconsin–Madison to discuss future collaborations between our two institutions.
The university hosted a send-off brunch for the university’s 2025 Peace Corps invitees, who will be taking the Wisconsin Idea to 10 countries, including Benin, Peru, and Sri Lanka, through their work in agriculture, education, environment, and youth development! UW–Madison has a storied history with Peace Corps, consistently being recognized as a top institution for producing volunteers!
MAY
17 students in 10 different countries completed takeovers of IAP’s Instagram and Facebook stories! These weekly takeovers take place each Thursday and are saved to IAP’s Instagram highlights section. Of note this semester: Presley Pergande (WIP Madrid, Spain), Grace Dunn (Ceiba Tropical Conservation Semester, Ecuador), and Madison Xiong (Mahidol University Exchange, Thailand).
International Student Services hosted their International Student Graduation Celebration. Almost 700 people, including students, family members, and friends, gathered and watched virtually to join in celebrating the class of 2025! The event featured remarks from Vice Provost and Dean of the International Division, Frances Vavrus; Director of International Student Services, Samantha McCabe; and two student speakers.
