Our Global Campus: Engage the World Through Illinois

"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

“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. 

Universities and international education programs around the country and globe are encouraging students with physical or sensory disabilities to study abroad. Ahmed Shehata and Ahmed Abdelaziz, two key participants in the U.S.–Egypt Higher Education Initiative (HIE), speak on how this effort supports students with disabilities to have greater equal access in higher education and the workforce in Egypt. Ahmed Abdelaziz also provides a behind-the-scenes look at his study abroad experience at UIUC this past February and what he learned in the world of assistive technology. Listen in as Ahmed and Ahmed, tell 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.