by Amalie Little The summer before my freshman year, I spent hours poring through WesMaps with an excitement so palpable that I can almost feel it tingling in my hands now, four years later. I remember, my grandmother brought me chocolate chip cookies for sustenance because I sat at the computer for so long. How could…
The Fries Center for Global Studies welcomes Amalie Little ’25 as our new Global Language and Outreach (GLO) Fellow. A recent graduate with interest in how languages connect and divide us, Amalie is excited to be working with our language learning programs and international communities on campus. Amalie graduated in the spring with the undergraduate…
On September 19th, the Office for Intercultural Learning is sponsoring an event entitled “Empowering Kenya’s Youth, with Dominic Muasya, Kenya Education Fund.” With nearly 25 years of experience in both government and in non-governmental spaces, Dominic Muasya is well versed in strategic project management both at the grassroots and international level. Kenya Education Fund (KEF),…
On September 16th, Tuesday, The Office for Equity and Inclusion’s Success at Wes Dialogue Series will be hosting the “Embodying Collective and Self-Care: The Transformative Power of Storytelling Workshop with Chelsea Viteri of Mazorca Facilitation for Change” to launch this year’s Intercultural Workshops. About Meaningful social change and intercultural understanding require more than intellectual debate.…
by Hedaya Shamun-Abdullah & Nael Hijjo Fear, Departure, and Hope… He stood alone on the dim stage, his eyes filled with sadness and longing, with neither shadow nor band accompanying him, standing still as if he had descended from the sky. He smiled at us as if he knew our stories one by one. His…
by Jenny Ongele When I first decided to study abroad, I had a clear image in my head of what that “should” encapsulate. I assumed studying abroad meant spending every waking moment travelling across Europe, taking the most aesthetic photos of all the architecture and natural scenery, while somehow, miraculously, transforming my entire identity. However,…
On May 1st, the Office of Fellowships at the Fries Center for Global Studies ended the semester by celebrating Wesleyan University’s 2025 fellowship recipients. A huge congratulations to all of our recipients and finalists – what a beautiful day to gather and recognize all these students’ accomplishments! Thanks also to the faculty mentors and committee…
by Zaynah AlmasriLooking to keep up your language skills over the summer in a fun, low-pressure way?Registration is now open for Summer Language Buddies, a program coordinated by the FriesCenter for Global Studies that connects Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff for informallanguage practice during academic breaks. Originally launched as Winter Language Buddies in 2020, the…
by Julia Gardner While Wesleyan doesn’t (yet!) have an full department dedicated to American Sign Language (ASL), many students have done amazing work in ASL and Deaf Studies during their time at Wes, taking advantage of the coursework offerings as well as other opportunities such as independent research that delves deeper into their interests within…
by Oleksandra Volakova Every year, Wesleyan welcomes new FLTAs (Foreign Language Teaching Assistants) from all over the world – foreign students interested in teaching others their native language and immersing themselves into foreign culture. 11 people, coming from different backgrounds, help Wesleyan students to understand the culture and language better, becoming an irreplaceable support to…
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 with great pride here in the Wes and the World newsletter. Last week’s theme was the Arts and this week it’s Social…
by Tasmiah Akter As the year comes to an end, it is important to reflect on and share thanks with people on campus who make Wesleyan the place that it is, especially graduating seniors. This article spotlights three Global Engagement Minors – Julia, Henry, and Kenzie – who have made the most of their time…
By Kate Marriott This year, two Wesleyan students, Antonio Rivera (‘26) and Kaylin Maher (‘26), were awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most prestigious national awards for undergraduates pursuing research careers in the natural sciences. The scholarship, which is awarded to sophomores or juniors pursuing research careers in science, mathematics, or engineering, provides…
by Diana Q Tran Every year when March 8 comes around, I am usually alone, curled up somewhere with a nice book. Last year, I was finishing up a last minute essay in the COL library. This year, I was people-watching in my host family’s salon (an extremely large room for welcoming guests that almost…
By Kate Marriott The Samuel P. Huntington Public Service Award offers $30,000 to graduating college seniors from accredited U.S. institutions for use in undertaking a self-designed, year-long public service project anywhere in the world. Established in 1989 to honor Samuel Huntington—a former CEO of the New England Electric System and advocate for energy conservation—the award…
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…
