Recent News and Events

Today’s networking event with our global faculty and staff was a great opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new colleagues. We had 10 in attendance, and all  enjoyed some refreshments as we got to know each other better, exchanged ideas, and explored potential collaborations across departments. It is truly valuable to share this space where we can support one another in different ways.

On Monday September 9, 2025, the Office for Global Engagement along with the School of Education, ceebrated UN International Literacy Day. The event was held in the McKay Education building from 9am to 3pm. Students were presented with 3 activies that they could choose from. One was to color in a bookmark, the others included adding a book review to a a wall. The third activity was to complete a form that that gives the participant a treat if t was completed correctly.  Overall, everyone had a great time.

During our first Global Student Leadership Council meeting of Fall 2025, Alison Griffith, Director of Community Engagement at the ACLU Utah chapter shared personal insight with our students. Prior to moving to Utah, Alison acquired vast international work experience abroad. She was uniquely qualified to address a variety of issues about facilitating civil dialogue, human rights, and economic empowerment initiatives. Her advice to students on becoming effective global leaders was the following: Be curious; Be informed; Be flexible; Be clear with goals and purpose; and Lead with humanity.

Our first event of the 2025 school year was on August 28th. We gathered in the LA Concourse to commemorate the UN International Day for People of African Descent (August 31). David Ssejinja, founder of the Ssejinja Children's Foundation in Uganda, provided handmade crafts and shared personal experiences with students. We took the opportunity to highlight our office's past interactions with guests from many African countries.

We hosted our first Global Faculty and Staff Networking dinner of the semester, providing a chance to reconnect and start the academic year. Attendees engaged in meaningful conversations, icebreaker activities, and shared insights about their departments and country of origin. The event was a wonderful reminder of UVU’s rich diversity, with nearly 40 faculty and staff representing cultures from around the world.

The Global Student Leadership Council Retreat took place on August 12. It was the first gathering of all our new members, a chance to learn more about their varied backgrounds and interests, and to see what leadership opportunities are instore for them in the upcoming school year. New members include: Sergio Ardila, Moyo Dasaolu, Ana Caballero, Nam Ho, Nyasha Paradzai, and Minines Sabala.

On Monday, Aug 4th, the UVU UNESCO Chair held its first annual retreat at the Fulton Library. Members of the Executive Board and representatives of the AI, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Futures Committees participated in an open discussion on its mission and objectives as we set up goals for the upcoming school year. Dr. David Pietz, UNESCO Chair on Environmental History at the University of Arizona was the special guest who guided us through this new process for UVU. During this event, we reviewed protocols for new projects, outlined the Global Fieldwork experiences for our students, and reflected on the relevance and benefits to the State of Utah by having a UNESCO Chair at UVU. If you want to know more about our program, see: uvu.edu/unesco

On June 28, our office had a booth at the African Heritage Festival to highlight UVU and our engagement with Africa. Over the past several years, we have promoted Africa-focused UN Days, held Global Spotlight events and hosted UN Permanent Representatives, Ambassadors, Consuls General and Honorary Consuls to the United States, Government Ministers and Members of Parliament, Humanitarian Leaders and University Representatives and Scholars from many African Countries.

As part of UVU’s UNESCO Chair on AI and Environmental Stewardship for Sustainable Futures, researchers from Utah Valley University and partner universities in Peru have made significant strides in the “Bridging Waters” project—an international effort to assess and address critical water quality challenges. On June 25th, UVU researchers Dr. Sally Rocks, Dr. Lauren Brooks, and Dr. Eddy Cadet presented their most recent findings. The research team collected over 120 water samples from rivers, springs, schools, and kitchens to test for heavy metals, microplastics, and bacterial contamination. Preliminary results revealed widespread arsenic levels exceeding World Health Organization limits—even in tap water—raising red flags for long-term health risks. In addition, some samples showed signs of fecal contamination, and researchers confirmed the presence of microplastics in both urban and rural water sources, signaling a growing and often overlooked pollutant. We are grateful for the dedicated faculty and UVU students who have been testing these results. These findings have sparked critical conversations with local leaders and opened new pathways for technology transfer and community-led solutions, bringing Peru closer to safe and sustainable water access for all.

At our April 18th, Global Engagement event we recognized 21 Global Fellows. Awardees were primarly faculty and adjunct faculty that provided global experienes for thier students. The Global Spotlight Program makes funding available to to faculty to bring renowned speakers to UVU or to host an international educational or cultural event. 

In connection with UVU's recognition as the UNESCO Chair on AI and Environmental Stewardship for Sustainable Futures, the Office for Global Engagement has recognized 15 Global Scholars from across UVU that have contributed to the meaningful research and scholarly advancements in the 2024-25 academic year.