Degrees of Connection
From my Junction 91 talk in New Delhi, this piece maps India–US collaborative degrees: what twinning, dual, and joint programs mean, what NEP 2020 enables, where UGC and accreditors get involved, and a practical path to build equitable, durable partnerships.
Digital Refugees: How TikTok's Ban Created an Unexpected Bridge Between Nations
With TikTok briefly dark in the US, many sampled Xiaohongshu and stumbled into something rare: respectful conversations between Americans and Chinese. I read this moment for what it reveals about digital rights, platform governance, empathy, and the ordinary bridges people build when politics stall.
A Letter To The Adventurers
A snow day sends me back to my study abroad in Yunnan and Beijing and forward to what I tell students now. This letter names the stages of culture shock, the value of language, journaling, community, and care. Take the risk. Be present. Let yourself change.
Sat Sri Akal, Y’all
At a high school in Chandigarh I greeted students with “Sat sri akal, y’all,” then kept thinking about how language, food, and family stories make bridges. From dal makhani to cornbread and chow chow, holidays remind me that y’all means all and that real cultural appreciation starts with humility.
The Things We Keep
My parents keep handing me boxes of the past. In one, a 20th-birthday note from my dad becomes a compass. I watched the U.S. election from Dubai and felt both distance and resolve. This essay ties memory to a simple claim: global education grows empathy and hope.
Fishing
A pastor’s fishing proverb and my family’s “bootstraps” lesson frame a tougher truth: grit is not enough without access. From international and first-gen students to campus policy, I argue that equity in higher education means building poles, opening ponds, and removing the barriers we keep praising people for scaling.
Invest In Staff: a key to university internationalization
Twelve Ole Miss advisors traveled to Florence for Global Compass with SAI. Immersion at FUA, reflective practice, and shared experiences strengthened advising, empathy, and energy back on campus. Investing in staff multiplies impact through students, Lunch and Learns, and new faculty-led programs across disciplines.
Keynote Address: g2 - GlobalEd Gathering
From the g2 GlobalEd Gathering in Delhi, I spoke to counselors, IECs, and university partners about why internationalization starts with us. A student named Eddie showed me how courage changes a life. We can meet students with empathy, build trust, and use AI wisely so the work serves people.
International Communication Day Remarks
From International Education Week 2023, these remarks explain why study abroad builds intercultural competence and what I call critical skills. Data on employment and graduation, a nod to Fulbright, and a simple challenge to choose empathy, ask why, and keep learning.