GEO Newsletter - Winter 2025

Winter quarter marks our first full quarter as the newly minted Office of Global Engagement. We refer to ourselves more casually, though, as the Global Engagement Office, or GEO. This is our third name change since our founding. As the Institute of Global Engagement, we enjoyed being a part of a wonderful group of innovative and interdisciplinary institutes and centers at Western. We were similar to the other institutes and centers in a one specific way, and that is our Global Studies Minor—a popular minor at Western that requires a study abroad experience, world language studies, and interdisciplinary coursework in subjects that focus on cross-border content. But everything else IGE managed (e.g., study/internships/research abroad; supporting degree-seeking international students and exchange students; supporting faculty in internationalizing their curriculum and to teach or research abroad; Peace Corps recruitment; international university partnership management; international risk management; and more) was distinct from the institute and center structure. In this way, becoming an office of wasn’t a subtle name change; it recognizes the work we do as a core university function. 

Our mission will largely stay the same, but with one significant addition—the recruitment of degree-seeking international students. Historically, our unit has long supported degree-seeking international and exchange students with the complex student visa process and by offering programs and activities to help them feel welcome into the Western community, but GEO didn’t have a role in recruitment. Now we’ll partner with the Admissions Office to amplify the message that our university welcomes international students to pursue their degree at Western, side by side in the classroom with their peers from Washington state and elsewhere. We’re excited about the future of global engagement at Western and believe wholeheartedly that this work is dedicated to promoting greater peace and intercultural understanding through people to people exchange.

-Ryan Larsen, Ph.D.

Join us at WWU’s 2025 Go Abroad Fair to learn about affordable opportunities to study or intern abroad! Speak with representatives from WWU’s approved provider programs and learn how to fund your study abroad experience.

     When: Thursday, February 27th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
     Where: Miller Hall Collaborative Space

Want to learn more about scholarships, financial aid, and fully funded/affordable pathways to study abroad? Join our session co-sponsored by the Education Abroad and Financial Aid offices from 2:00-3:00 pm in Miller Hall 103.

The Office of Global Engagement recently hosted two delegations from National University of Mongolia.  Members of the NUM Department of Sociology and Social Work and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry participated in meetings with Western faculty, met with students, toured classroom and lab facilities, and presented their research.  Discussions centered on expanding research partnerships, faculty and student exchange, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), faculty-led Global Learning Programs, and fieldwork opportunities for Western students.  

Western’s formal academic, educational, and cultural exchange agreement with National University of Mongolia spans more than a decade and has resulted in numerous collaborative research projects, co-authored publications, and conference presentations. Western students have participated in NUM’s immersive summer language program, and East Asian Studies and GEO have hosted four visiting lecturers in Mongolian Studies since 2016. 

In addition to current course offerings on Mongolia, in spring 2025, Western faculty member Chimgay Tserendorj will offer a new course entitled “Introduction to Mongolian Studies” (EAST/LIBR 297D). We encourage you to share news of this global learning opportunity with students.

Support for the Western-NUM partnership comes from the John C. Street Endowment in Mongolian and Inner Asian Studies.  Visit the Mongolian Studies Research Support page on the GEO website for more information about accomplishments, opportunities, and funding support.

ISSS is collaborating with the Blue Resource Center and Counseling and Wellness Center staff on a special Third Thursday Social event. We encourage students from all backgrounds and identities to join together in community and enjoy delicious food and drink while learning a few tricks about understanding and relieving stress. Don’t hesitate to stop by even if you can’t stay the whole time!

     When: Thursday, February 20 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm (workshop at 11)
     Where: Multicultural Center Social Space/Kitchen VU 7th Floor

On March 6 at noon in Miller Hall 223C and via Zoom, the Office of Global Engagement will hold an information session about the Fulbright Scholars Program. Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards offer opportunities for faculty or staff who hold U.S. citizenship to conduct research, teach, engage in professional projects, and participate in intensive international education seminars in more than 135 countries. Academic departments are encouraged to host Visiting Scholars from around the world and apply for Fulbright funding to bring a Visiting Scholar already in the U.S. to campus for guest lectures. 

Please join U.S. Fulbright Scholar recipient Jennifer Green (Director of Western’s Multilingual Education Program), as she speaks about her recent experience in Jordan.  Mark Greenberg and Ryan Larsen, Western’s Fulbright Liaisons, will offer more information about the various Fulbright awards as well as the university’s support for faculty and staff who wish to participate in Fulbright programs. To learn more, visit the Fulbright Opportunities page on the GEO website.

To reserve a box lunch for the information session in Miller Hall, please email geo@wwu.edu.