by Zaynah Almasri On March 5th and 6th, Wesleyan University proudly welcomed members of a binational U.S.-Japan study group focused on advancing non-military cooperation between the two nations. In light of shifting global dynamics—particularly China’s growing geopolitical and geo-economic influence—the symposium emphasized the increasing relevance of “soft” security. This includes collaborative efforts in areas like…
by Tasmiah Akter Wesleyan faculty’s collective expertise spans the globe, and the Office for Intercultural Learning at the Fries Center for Global Studies is pleased to celebrate their international and often multilingual work here in the Wes and the World newsletter. This is the first of a two part series to be highlighted in the…
by Julia Gardner The Fries Center for Global Studies is proud to announce that five Wesleyan students will be participating in Critical Language Scholarship programs this summer! The Critical Language Scholarship is a competitive, fully-funded program that offers immersive instruction in thirteen different languages considered critical to the U.S.’s global engagement. CLS programs cover the…
by Kate Marriott Every year, Wesleyan seniors have the opportunity to apply for the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. The Watson is a one-year fellowship that allows graduating seniors to pursue an independent research project in any field of interest, as long as they do so outside the United States. The grant supports personal exploration through…
By Henry Ewing-Crystal ’26 During the last couple of weeks of my semester abroad in Thailand, we were brought to Koh Tao (or turtle island), where I got scuba certified and started going on conservation dives. Throughout the process of becoming certified, three cardinal rules were drilled into my head, all of which I found…
by Oleksandra Volakova Porcelain War, a multiple award-winning documentary and a 97th Academy Awards nominee for Best Documentary Feature, brings a unique perspective on the brutal Russian-Ukrainian war, now in its 11th year, featuring artists as part of the resistance. The film focuses on Ukrainian civilians who, upon the full-scale war outbreak on February 24,…
by Isaías Pagán de Jesús This semester I live in Cairo, in the heart of Egypt. I’m writing this from Hurghada, right on the shore of the Red Sea. As a sort of gradient between the two stands Alexandria, right on the coast of the Mediterranean sea. My parents decided to visit me in Egypt…
by Julia Gardner Are you a graduating senior or recent alum passionate about language learning and community engagement? If so, working at the Fries Center as a Global Language and Outreach Fellow for the upcoming academic year may be the perfect postgrad plan for you! The Global Language and Outreach Fellow develops, facilitates, and publicizes…
Monday April 7, 2025 at 12:15-1:15pm, Fisk 201 or Zoom – Register for 4/7 (Get 4/7 Zoom link) Join us for the final Fulbright alumni panel of the spring semester! This session will focus on Fulbright US Student Program grants for independent research abroad, but those interested in graduate degree enrollment abroad should also attend.
by Zaynah Almasri The energy, passion, and rhythm of Latin and Ballroom dance return to Wesleyan this Saturday, April 5th, with two electrifying performances at 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM @ Eclectic. The Latin & Ballroom Performance Team has been working tirelessly to bring you a night full of movement, culture, and celebration—this is a…
The Fulbright US Student Program is the United States’ premier international cultural exchange program for US citizens and nationals. Through Fulbright, Wesleyan graduates can teach, research, or study in one of 140+ countries for an academic year. Wesleyan has been a Top Producing Institution with the Fulbright program for 6 years running. On March 29,…
The Fulbright US Student Program is the United States’ premier international cultural exchange program for US citizens and nationals. Through Fulbright, Wesleyan graduates can teach, research, or study in one of 140+ countries for an academic year. Come to our alumni panel to learn more about the program and to hear how the application process…
by Zaynah Almasri This year’s Power of Language (POL) Week was a resounding success, celebrating linguistic diversity and cultural exchange. Hosted by the Fries Center for Global Studies, the seventh annual POL celebration, honored the Bengali Language Movement and International Mother Language Day while promoting multilingualism on campus. From February 13th to 22nd, students engaged…
by Tasmiah Akter I met Lois Amponsah at the beginning of her freshman year on a field trip to the United Nations. The trip was focused around social entrepreneurship and we got to hear from people who were on the ground running their own organizations. A year and a half later, I get to interview…
by Baron Fisher After 18 hours of flight time, along with a 12-hour time difference, the first stop of my fall semester abroad landed me in Shanghai, China. I was too excited to be affected by jet lag just yet, but it was disorienting to have almost 2 days disappear from travel. Going forward, I…
by Julia Gardner Stepping outside of the bubble of fellow study-abroad students and engaging with your host community is one of the most rewarding– but sometimes one of the most challenging– parts of studying abroad. For Isabel Gill ‘26, the search for deeper immersion in her host community led not only to an internship with…
