University of Wisconsin–Madison
From classroom stories in local libraries to policy discussions at the heart of campus, International Education Week (IEW) at UW–Madison was a celebration of the Wisconsin Idea without borders. With more than 20 events spanning academic departments, student services, and public venues, the week highlighted how international education strengthens our broader Madison community, connects local …
For Michael Cavey, a proud alumnus of UW–Madison, the path from a lecture hall on Bascom Hill to a prestigious diplomatic role in Tokyo wasn’t a straight line—it was a journey that took him to the heart of Central Asia and back again, driven by a desire for international service. His initial interest in international …
The University of Wisconsin–Madison leads the nation among large colleges and universities on the Peace Corps’ 2025 list of Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities, with 46 alumni currently serving in 30 countries around the world. UW–Madison’s recognition as the top university for 2025 affirms its long-standing commitment to public service and global engagement. Since the …
Peace Corps volunteers are taught to expect the unexpected. This is not arbitrary advice, as many volunteers find themselves with experiences they will hold onto for the rest of their lives. At the 2024 Peace Corps Story Slam: “A Life Unimagined,” part of Peace Corps Week, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV) shared five-minute stories recounting …
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been recognized on the Peace Corps list of historically top volunteer-producing colleges and universities. Since 2003, UW–Madison has ranked No. 2 among the top 25 schools. Additionally, in 2020, the state of Wisconsin ranked No. 19 among all states and territories with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers …
Madison, Malawi, Beijing, Washington, DC. Corey Black’s journey to the iSchool has been a bit of an adventure. After graduating with degrees in Afro-American studies and English literature, it was time to leave the familiarity of Madison, and the next stop of Black’s journey took her all the way to Beijing, where she worked as …
One of the most hallowed traditions and values of UW–Madison, the Wisconsin Idea, holds that the benefits of the university should extend beyond the borders of campus to every corner of the state. The International Division frequently see this ethos extend even further—across international borders. While there are many people, programs, and activities that exemplifies …
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s International Division was proud to host former Peace Corps director Aaron Williams (MBA ’73) to deliver a keynote discussion Monday on his new book, “A Life Unimagined,” to kick off International Education Week and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Peace Corps. The discussion was held online, with an in-person viewing …
Growing up in the 1950s in a segregated neighborhood on Chicago’s southside, UW alumnus Aaron Williams, MBA ’73 was influenced early on to consider possibilities beyond his working-class neighborhood and even the borders of the U.S. However, even the imagination of a young boy could not have dreamed up the path he would travel, ultimately …
Russian has taken 2016 UW–Madison graduate Elizabeth Olguin everywhere from her ballet classes in the U.S. to development projects in Moldova. Thanks to a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award for 2021-2022, her next destination will be a classroom in Kazakhstan. Olguin began taking Russian in her freshman year of college at Ohio State University and …