Our Global Campus: Engage the World Through Illinois

Language and culture are “intertwined, interconnected, and they can never be separated,” asserts Jude (Duah) Mensah, a PhD student in UIUC’s French Second Language Acquisition and Teaching Education program. In this episode, Jude’s passion for language learning and teaching is neatly juxtaposed with his thoughts on language as a vehicle for cross-cultural connection. Listen closely as he situates complex linguistic concepts into real-world examples that any language and culture enthusiast would appreciate.

“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” This famous movie quote perfectly sums up the life experiences of Marissa Lombardi, Executive Director of Training, Programs, and Services at The Forum on Education Abroad. In this episode, she shares how a non-linear path led to a thriving career in education abroad. What began as an English teaching role for bank officials in Italy over time evolved into an insatiable passion for immersive learning. Regardless of your desired career path, there are important life lessons sprinkled throughout this captivating conversation.

"Every white spot on the map is a new adventure," says Martin Källstrand, a Swede who set out to visit all 195 countries 25 years ago. On the heels of his visit to his final country, Eritrea, he shares an exclusive interview with Our Global Campus Podcast about his life-changing journey around the world. Whether discussing the interconnectedness between curiosity and travel or the value of going beyond surface-level engagement with locals, Martin's passion for adventure can be felt in every line and laughter of this conversation.

How do global environmental institutions effect activism on campus? Listen in as LAS Global Leader, Colette Schlie, addresses this question in her exclusive interview with Dr. McKenzie F. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at Illinois. Colette and Dr. Johnson discuss the implications of global governance, how they can aggravate international inequalities, and what that means for community members on and off campus. Learn more about Dr. Johnson's journey to finding her passion in the intersection of environmental and social sciences, the current state of the environmentalist movement, and how we can continue to take action here in Urbana-Champaign!

Ibn Battuta once said, “Travelling leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller.” In this episode, Global Studies major, Stephanie (Steph) Lepak, shares how her passion met a problem which subsequently revealed her purpose. During her study abroad experience in Asturias, Spain, Steph participated in short-term courses followed by an internship at a start-up sustainability consultancy agency organized by the Institute of Field Education (IFE). She learned valuable lessons in and outside the classroom that set her on a mission to advance sustainable tourism.

“Goalbalization” is more than a clever title. It is the one-word summation of an important and timely conversation regarding the interplay of soccer, globalization, and identity. On the heels of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, LAS Global Leaders and soccer aficionados, Ava Marginean and Kayla Constabileo, united to illustrate to our listeners that soccer is much more than a sport. In this episode, Ava and Kayla discuss conflict amongst opposing teams, tracing rivalries back to post World War II. They also expose the roles politics and religion play in soccer and, conversely, the role soccer plays in shaping and perpetuating culture and systemic economic structures.

"Sometimes we filter ourselves to the point where we end up saying nothing at all." Those wise words landed on the virtual roundtable with student leaders of the inaugural LAS International Student Advisory Board (ISAB). In this episode, students boldly address the challenges facing international students on UIUC’s campus and their plans to help mitigate some of these barriers. From frustrations regarding housing, to the need to bridge the widening gap between domestic and international students, ISAB tells it all…here.

Unfortunately, one does not need to revisit the tattered pages of history books to learn of the tragedies of war. As the world witnesses Russia’s war in Ukraine, some people stand gapingly in shock, others protest online and in the streets, and some courageously choose to share their stories of suffering. In this episode, Ekateryna (Kat) Bondareva—a member of the LAS Recruitment & Admissions team—details how she is personally affected by the war in Ukraine and the ways in which it has brought into question her language, culture and identity. From her childhood years in the neighborhoods of Donetsk, to her fight to keep the spirit of Ukraine alive through narratives, Kat tells it all…here.

Jiwon Lee, recently elected president of the Korean Student Association (KSA), collaborated with LAS International Programs to host a New Student Welcome & Networking event in summer 2022 at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. In episode 1 of season 3, she reflects on the insights she gained from the panel of current students and alumni and shares her goals for KSA for the upcoming year. From the values of shared community to the importance of student leadership, Jiwon tells it all…here.

Jiwon Lee, recently elected president of the Korean Student Association (KSA), collaborated with LAS International Programs to host a New Student Welcome & Networking event in summer 2022 at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. In episode 1 of season 3, she reflects on the insights she gained from the panel of current students and alumni and shares her goals for KSA for the upcoming year. From the values of shared community to the importance of student leadership, Jiwon tells it all...here. 

We often hear the phrase, “Pay it forward.” But hearing it and seeing it put into action are two entirely different realities. Recently, I had an intriguing conversation with Catherine Barry, a former U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officer who got her start right here at the U of I’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. In this episode, Catherine details how her first study abroad experience in France planted a seed to engage with the world and financially give back to students, like herself, who desire to see the world in order to understand their role in it. From her experience in crisis communications to the endearing foreign phrase that always paints a smile on her face, Catherine tells it all…here.

On the heels of the holidays, we sat down with four Illini students to discuss their conceptualization of home. We invited student representatives from Illinois, out of state, and outside of the country. In this show, you will learn that as domestic and international students cross national and cultural borders, they develop transnational identities and are able to find a sense of home among diverse places and people. Listen in as our students tell it all...here. 

A few months ago, I became quickly acquainted with Assel Aryn, the Vice-Rector at Almaty Management University, also referred to as AlmaU, in Kazakhstan. According to the QS World University Rankings, AlmaU is among the top universities in Central Asia. In this episode, you will hear Assel describe what it’s like to push pause on her career and embark on a study abroad experience later in life. At the time of our conversation, Assel had been studying at UIUC since February 2021 as part of the Bolashak International Scholarship program. From learning how to manage a team remotely to developing strategies and best practices that will enhance online instruction at AlmaU, Assel tells it all...here.

Dr. Isabel Molina-Guzmán joined Our Global Campus for a candid conversation about her personal and professional journey to becoming the Associate Dean of Diversity & Inclusion for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. While an early love for writing and stories initially led her to journalism, an unexpected conversation inspired her to pursue a career in academia. From the hard truths about being a woman of color in the academy, to the need for inclusion initiatives that represent the diversity of our campus, Dean Molina-Guzmán tells it all…here.

How did 6 months turn into 10 years? Angelique Evans, doctoral student in U of I’s College of Education, takes us on her incredible journey as an international student and Black professional in China. When it was presented to her that Mandarin was one of the hardest languages to learn, she pondered for a second and responded, “Challenge accepted.” She pushed her Latin books to the side and embarked on a profound exploration of Chinese culture and language as well as many other world adventures. Angelique is currently enrolled in the Education Policy, Organization & Leadership program and is the proud founder of Hei Butterfly The Initiative—an organization that supports students of color with research and resources for their experiences abroad. You will laugh, you will smile, and you will have some long thoughtful pauses as Angelique tells it all…here.

On March 20, 2021, the LAS Global Leaders Pilot Program culminated in a  Social Innovation Forum that reminded us of the important values of  diversity, inclusion, resilience, and empathy. Over the course of 8  weeks, students immersed themselves in the global challenges of Covid-19  mitigation and refugee integration using a Human-Centered Design  framework. Keynote speaker, Christopher Earney, Head of the UN Secretary  General’s Crisis Insights Team, championed the efforts of the students  and challenged them to center the core value of togetherness in social  change and innovation. He spoke of the critical interplay of mental  health and innovation and the need to interrogate the assumptions of  those who have gone before us. From the diversity of technology to the  divergent thoughts needed to remedy world problems, Chris Earney  illuminates it all…here.

“I love the place I am in. I love the person I am becoming. But I know  eventually the fairytale must come to an end.” These are the bittersweet  words LAS global studies alumna, Emily Freiburger, offered when  describing her study abroad experience in Vienna, Austria. While it  wasn’t necessarily love for the German language that led her to Austria  the first time, enchantment of the country and culture ensured her  second return as a working professional. In this episode, Emily takes us  on a journey from the 49 tram in Vienna to her latest adventure as a  graduate student in the Gies College of Business. Recounting all the  ways German shifted from a language to a relationship, Emily tells it  all here.

“Ich liebe den Ort, an dem ich bin. Ich liebe die Person, die ich werde.  Aber ich weiß, dass dieses Märchen irgendwann ein Ende haben muss.“  Dies warendie Worte von LAS Global Studies Absolventin Emily Freiburger,  als sie ihr Auslandssemester in Wien beschrieb. Obwohles nicht  unbedingt die Liebe zur deutschenSprache war, die Emily zum ersten  Malnach Österreich geführt hat, hat ihre Bewunderung der  österreichischen Kultur dazu geführt, dass Emily nach ihrem  Auslandssemester erneut nach Österreich gezogen ist. In dieser Folge  begleitet uns Emily auf eine Reise, welche in der 49-er Straßenbahn in  Wien beginntund in ihrem aktuellen Abenteuer als Masterstudentin im Gies  College of Business endet. Wie Deutsch von einer einfachen Sprache zu  einer regelrechten Beziehung wurde, erzählt uns Emily heute.

在2020秋季學期開始之前，張雨農(Yunong Zhang)及戴毅然(Yiren Dai)分別在兩塊不同的土地上學習，彼此並不相識。雨農完成了他在美國的高中學業，而毅然也滿心期待的，準備前往美國伊利諾伊大學就讀。雖然因為全球疫情的關係，無法順利前往美國就讀，但這兩位來自中國的留學生，不僅分享著共同的興趣，更因此成為了彼此的最佳夥伴。這兩位社會學專業的大一新生，都參加了伊利諾伊大學，與浙江大學海寧國際校區合作的學術橋梁項目，這 “有趣”且別有一番風味的難忘大一新生體驗，也讓兩位同學始料未及。在此集的播客當中，雨農及毅然分享了他們從一開始的極度失望，到後來他們得知，有機會同時吸取東西方兩個世界中，那最豐沛的養分，進而鬆了一口氣的這段心路歷程。例如從一開始他們共同創辦了股票研究社團，到後來參加了精彩刺激的籃球比賽，並同時體驗了在中國校園的線下面授課程，以及和美國伊利諾伊大學同學們的在線討論，這些難能可貴的混和學習經驗，雨農及毅然都將在以下的節目當中，娓娓道來。

Before the start of Fall 2020, Yunong Zhang and Yiren Dai studied on two different continents and had no prior knowledge of each other. Yunong was completing his final year at high school in America while Yiren was preparing for his long-anticipated move from China to Illinois for college. The two were united through the unfortunate circumstance of a global pandemic and their commonalities became quickly apparent. They both are first-year international students from China. They both are sociology majors studying at UIUC’s Academic Bridge Program, Zhejian University, in Haining China. And, they both had no idea that their first year in university would be “interesting” to say the least. In this episode, Yunong and Yiren express how their feelings shifted from deep disappointment to great relief once they learned they could have the best of both worlds. From stock market debriefs to late-night hoops, and live classes in China to online discussions with their Illini peers. Yunong and Yiren tell it all…here.

Six countries and three education systems later, Third Culture Kid, Katrina Rbeiz, shares her diverse experiences growing up as a Lebanese-American in the Middle East. In this episode, she describes how her double major in psychology and global studies enables her to pursue research at the intersection of cultural identity and mental disorders. She also discusses how she uses her lived experiences in the Middle East to counter misrepresentations portrayed by the media. Illustrating what it looks like to navigate worlds while living in a state of in-between, Katrina Rbeiz tells it all…here.

Two LAS seniors, Robert Whitmore and Isabella Marquez, educate our listeners on what it means to be an African American and a Latina in the respective regions of Africa and Latin America. Both students departed for their study abroad experiences with a desire to integrate their hybrid identities, but interactions with the locals quickly revealed that identity is as much a status as it is a conversation. Drawing parallels between the shantytowns of Tanzania and the Southside of Chicago; challenging the Western values that previously constrained her notion of time, Rob and Issy tell it all…here.

Jisoo Youn, Tina HyeJin Yeo, and Nikia Brown, instructors of a  transition course for international students, invited Cindy Wilson,  author of Too Much Soul for an exclusive interview on Our Global Campus  podcast. In this episode, Cindy details her experience growing up in the  Southern part of the United States with an African American family as a  transnational Korean adoptee. Through the window of her own struggles  with social identity and belonging, she encourages international  students to explore various aspects of their own identity, engage in  meaningful relationships with diverse others, and amplify their voice  for minoritized groups of people. Unveiling why she calls her book a  form of ‘social activism,’ Cindy tells it all here.

Thanks to a collaboration with Mike Nelson from the Office of the Vice  Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, we were able to connect with  Fisca Aulia – a 2015 graduate alumna currently serving as a Development  Planner in the Ministry of Planning in Jakarta, Indonesia. Fisca states  that while her childhood dream was to become a doctor, fate led her to  heal people as an economist. In this episode, she details her journey as  a graduate international student at Illinois – the doubt that gripped  her before boarding the plane, and the educational experience that  expanded her understanding of poverty to include lack of voice and  mindset.

In this episode, HyeJin Tina Yeo, a teaching assistant  at Illinois’ College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, talks with Jeongeun  Seo, a junior majoring in chemistry. Jeongeun takes us on her journey of  transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as an  international student from South Korea. She shares insider tips on the  transfer application process and how to utilize university resources to  ensure a smooth transition to the area. Additionally, you will find out  Jeongeun’s favorite place to eat, study, and relax in Urbana-Champaign.  Jeongeun tells it all…here.

In this episode, HyeJin Tina Yeo, a teaching assistant at Illinois’ College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, talks with Jeongeun Seo, a junior majoring in chemistry. Jeongeun takes us on her journey of transferring to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as an international student from South Korea. She shares insider tips on the transfer application process and how to utilize university resources to ensure a smooth transition to the area. Additionally, you will find out Jeongeun’s favorite place to eat, study, and relax in Urbana-Champaign. Jeongeun tells it all…here.

在這一集的節目當中，我們邀請到了大四的高邵靜同學Shaojing  Gao同學，請她來分享，她從中國到伊利諾伊，並進而成為校園領袖，這一段不同凡響的留學旅程。在此即將畢業之際，他也分享了為何選擇就讀伊利諾伊大學，並同時接觸了不同的人群及價值觀，以及如何在大學裡，培養相關的領導才能，這些珍貴的生命歷程，都將成為他畢業之後，繼續前往加州進修，最寶貴的經驗。高邵靜同學Shaojing  Gao都將在以下的節目中，娓娓道來。

In this episode, graduating senior, Shaojing Gao, takes us on her  journey from China to her varied experiences as a student and campus  leader at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As she prepares  to graduate, she shares why she chose to study at Illinois, her exposure  to diverse people and perspectives, and the gained leadership skills  that she will carry into her next phase of life as a graduate student in  California.