Be A Global Citizen!

Dr. Sarah Ann Wider is emerita professor of English and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Colgate University. A distinguished scholar of American literature, Wider spent nearly four decades teaching at Colgate University, where she developed a wide-ranging curriculum centered on Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Transcendentalist movement, feminist autobiographical writing, and Native American literature. As former president of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Society, she has made enduring contributions to the study of Emerson and the broader American Renaissance. In our dialogue, Sarah shares about the role of storytelling in healing past traumas, building greater community, and envisioning a more hopefilled world. She is a life long learner who exudes a passion for good conversation. 

Herminio L. Perez, DMD, MBA, EdD is a nationally recognized leader in dental education, student affairs, diversity, and academic innovation. Herminio currently serves as Assistant Dean for Campus Life at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). He is guided by a deep commitment to education, inclusion, and humanistic authentic leadership. In our dialogue, Herminio shares about his love for dentistry as a combination of the arts and science. His mission to educate, raise, and mentor the new generation of dentists to be ethical leaders and professionals is truly inspiring. Find out what Herminio has to say about being a dentist and a global citizen. 

Dr. Michael Miller is a mission-driven executive leader with 20+ years of progressive experience across higher education, including academic affairs, student services, and institutional advancement. He is the Associate Dean at The City College of New York, The Spitzer School of Architecture. Michael shares about his foundational experiences as an actor and the ways in which he brings his full self into the work he does in higher education. He speaks to the need for global citizens to lead with kindness and curiosity. 

Handrio Durham is an anthropologist (Boston University) with an MA in philosophy (Texas Tech University). His work lies at the intersection of culture, language, ethics, and technology, with a current interest in how human meaning-making is conducted through systems. Currently, he applies his background in ethnography and critical analysis to AI qualitative evaluation at Meta, ensuring linguistic precision, cultural nuance, and ethical alignment in Indonesian-language AI tasks. Enjoy listening to Handrio’s journey to discover his passion for philosophy and learning. He also shares insights about his other passion for opera about language learning, culture, arts, and human connection. 

Dr. Denise Nelson Nash is a strategic leader and transformational project expert. She is the Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees at Scripps College. She also is co-host of "Life in Higher Ed" Podcast and co-author of the book: Trinity of Leadership: Learners, Thinkers, Tinkerers. With over 25 years of experience driving transformative change, she specializes in turning complex challenges into sustainable growth opportunities. Enjoy our dialogue about learning beyond borders, believing in one’s agency to achieve great things, and engaging in humanistic leadership. 

Dr. Hans Schattle is a Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. He teaches coursework in citizenship, democracy, civil society, cosmopolitanism, nationalism, global governance, political theory, political communications and politics of Europe, East Asia and the United States. He has written two books, Globalization and Citizenship and The Practices of Global Citizenship, both published by Rowman & Littlefield, as well as numerous articles in academic journals and commentaries in newspapers, including The New York Times/ International Herald Tribune, The Guardian and The Christian Science Monitor. We discuss American politics, democracy, and global citizenship. Enjoy what Dr. Schattle has to say about what it means to be a global citizen. 

Sheila Nabanja is the co-founder of Musizi University in Uganda: the first liberal arts university in the country, opening its inaugural cohort in January 2027. She serves as Executive Director of the Foundation driving strategy, fundraising, governance, and stakeholder relationships across the US diaspora and Uganda. Africa's next generation of leaders needs better infrastructure, and education is the longest-compounding investment there is. Sheila received her PhD from MIT and has a background in electrical engineering and technology. Enjoy our conversation about stretching beyond one’s boundaries and finding your purpose in life. 

Fumihiko Tominaga is an environmental and social safeguards specialist working at the intersection of climate finance and policy, sustainable development, and ESG. His professional experience spans multilateral climate funds, the United Nations system, and Japanese foreign missions, with a focus on ensuring that climate and infrastructure investments deliver meaningful environmental and social outcomes while supporting inclusive economic growth. Fumihiko shares concrete actions that people can take that link climate action with their daily lives. Check out what Fumihiko has to say about being a global citizen! 

Casey Lartigue is the co-founder and co-president of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) in Seoul, Korea. He is co-author of Songmi Han’s memoir "Greenlight to Freedom,” and he is a columnist with the Korea Times newspaper. Casey shares about his formative experiences living abroad in Taiwan and South Korea. From his work teaching English abroad to his work at the Cato Institute, he drew from his passions for storytelling, advocacy, and education to support North Korean refugees. It was a chance encounter with one North Korean refugee that showed him a pathway to contributing to freedom through empowering others to use their voice for positive change. Check out what Casey has to say about global citizenship! 

Felipe Iwahashi is a multilingual professional with a strong background in linguistics, cultural exchange, and educational research. He has extensive experience teaching English and Japanese. Currently, he works at the International School of Sciences and Arts in Costa Mesa as a language instructor and Project Based Learning teacher. Felipe is passionate in fostering cross-cultural communication, supporting future leaders, and enhancing language learning through innovative and interactive methods. Our conversation centered on his cross-cultural journey from Brazil to Japan to the United States. The themes of evolving identity and uncovering one’s voice are present throughout this episode. Check out what Felipe has to say about being a global citizen!