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The Center for International Education ANNUAL REPORT 2025-26

Greetings from the director 2025-26 was a year of comings and goings. Cindy Irby announced her retirement as of January, 2027. She has overseen a remarkable expansion of the study abroad opportunities we provide for students. Thanks to her accessibility and outstanding advising, our numbers of students abroad nearly doubled over her tenure. We profile Cindy in this issue. She will retire after 10 years of tremendous service to the university and being a fantastic part of a great team in the Center for International Education. We also welcomed the first CIE baby. Our Spring Term Abroad coordinator, Jillian Murphy and her husband, Brendan Garrison, welcomed Cleo to the world on March 19. Meanwhile, we bid farewell to four senior international students who had been our work-studies and to yet another group of fantastic World Language Teaching assistants who came to us, via Fulbright and a host of partner institutions, from across the globe to work with our students and faculty. Finally, we welcomed and bade farewell to our intern, Peyton Quimby ’24. She shadowed our staff through the academic year. As well, she was able to fill in for Jillian as we welcomed Cleo. She now heads to Kansas City to begin a new chapter in her life. Godspeed! The center collaborated with partners across campus to host or co-host speakers, events, symposia, visiting scholars and conferences. On Feb. 3, we hosted a poignant, powerful conversation with Peter Beinart on the war in Gaza and how it impacts one’s Jewish identity. On March 4, Michael Mann spoke to the campus on contemporary threats to science. On March 26-27, March 26-27, held her final National Symposium of Theater in Academe after some three decades of using the event to bring artists and scholars to campus from across the globe. As always, the center staff kept busy with and abreast of the many changing developments in global education. Changes in U.S. policies and global affairs have a direct impact on our students’ and faculty’s abilities to come to W&L, work and live in the U.S. and return to the U.S. after breaks in our academic calendar. All of this requires constant vigilance, and Hunter Swanson, our international student and scholar adviser, stays on top of what is always a dynamic and changing policy environment. Kristy Reed, meanwhile, keeps the staff and the center on an even keel while administering the Center for Global Learning. In this edition of the annual report, we focus on people and coming and going — an apropos theme for a Center for International Education.

Cover photo: Balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey. This photo: The Basilica Cistern, Istanbul. by Mark Rush, 2025

Mark Rush

Director of International Education

W&L Law School Welcomes Scholar-inResidence Windell Nortje From South Africa

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I very much appreciate the setting of Lexington. Coming from a major city, I enjoy that it is located in a rural part of the United States, and the people are exceptionally friendly and welcoming. The facilities at Washington and Lee University are excellent, and the staff and professors have been incredibly warm and supportive. I sincerely hope to return one day, as Washington and Lee University has earned a special place in my heart!” — Windell Nortje

Windell Nortje of the Department of Criminal Justice and Procedure at the University of the Western law school joined W&L Law for two months at the beginning of 2026. While here, he guest lectured in in Class of 1975 Alumni Professor of Law Mark Drumbl’s seminar on mass atrocities and served as a peer reviewer for the International Criminal Law Review, which Drumbl edits. He shared his thoughts about his career, collaboration with Drumbl and his time in Lexington in a brief interview with Mark Rush. Q: How did you Meet Mark Drumbl, and What Brought you to Washington and Lee? “I met Mark Drumbl online after writing a book review of one of his works on child soldiers. We share similar research interests, particularly in combating the use of child soldiers and exploring broader questions within international criminal justice. Our work aligns in its focus on both victims and perpetrators in international criminal law.”

Q: Please tell me about the trajectory of your research and writing. What are you working on now? What’s next? “My research trajectory has consistently focused on giving a voice to the often overlooked victim and perpetrator within international criminal justice. I have been particularly engaged with restorative justice and its potential application in international criminal law. Currently, I am exploring how restorative justice principles can be meaningfully incorporated into the sentencing of those convicted of international crimes. This includes examining whether international criminal justice can move beyond purely retributive models toward approaches that emphasize accountability, healing and reintegration. Looking ahead, I am interested in researching the intersection between wildlife trafficking and organized crime, particularly how transnational criminal networks operate and how international criminal law frameworks might better respond to these challenges.” ■

Law Students Compete at International Tax Competition in Montreal

During the competition, the students were presented with an international tax question and had three hours to prepare their presentation to a panel of distinguished judges simulating a corporate board of directors.

CIE ANNUAL REPORT

Tackling the prompt together was both challenging and rewarding. We blended our perspectives, pushed each other to think critically about complex tax issues and came away with a stronger grasp of tax law.” — Symone Gibbs ’26L

Sampson appreciated the opportunity to meet tax professionals from around the world and broaden her knowledge of cutting-edge issues impacting tax law. “One event focused on the use of AI in tax — where speakers discussed methods for making AI more effective — and introduced us to tools like Catala for coding tax law and the AI tax platform NotebookLM. The knowledge and tools we gained will be a great benefit to us in the future.” The students received financial support for the competition from the W&L Center for International Education and the Transnational Law Institute. ■ With thanks to the Law Communications.

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Four members of the Law Class of 2026, Symone Gibbs, Sage Mehindru, Lilian Sampson and Chloe Sin, represented W&L in the third annual International Tax Student Case Competition in Montreal.

Left to right: Julia Lagun ’26L, Chloe Sin, Symone Gibbs, Lilian Sampson and Sage Mehindru.

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The 2025-26 Gunn-Pemberton Scholar Jenny Galeana ’26

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I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I’ve had this year; I have learned so much, both personally and professionally, that would not have been possible without the incredible community at Washington and Lee.” — Jenny Galeana ’26 Washington and Lee University welcomed Jenny Galeana to campus as the 2025-26 Gunn-Pemberton scholar. Jenny came to us from the University of Monterrey in her home country of Mexico. The scholarship invites eligible undergraduate students from around the world to spend one year at W&L to augment the major studies in which they are engaged at their home institutions.

Q: What have been your favorite classes? “It’s really hard to choose, because the classes here have been one of my favorite things about W&L. If I had to highlight two, they would be Data Science Tools for Social Policy with professor Jon Eastwood and Managing AI with professor Jeff Schatten.” Q: Do you have any plans for this summer? “I plan to return to Mexico. If the opportunity arises, I hope to complete an internship at Banco BASE, the institution that supports my education back home. I will also be working on Científicamente Feliz, a youth mental health initiative I founded, and applying everything I’ve learned this year, particularly regarding AI and automation, to make our operations more efficient.” Q: What have been the most standout or memorable aspects of your time in Lexington? “Without a doubt, the people, the culture of kindness that permeates this place, like greeting everyone you cross paths with, remembering names and always offering a smile. I also love the university’s academic rigor, which constantly strives for excellence.” ■

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Alexis Thompson ’27’s Summer Research While Studying Abroad

lexis Thompson ’27 conducted research while studying in Copenhagen in the summer of 2025. She did so with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad program (DIS) last summer.

She worked under the supervision of Julian Macoveanu, a senior researcher at the Psychiatric Center Copenhagen and a staff member at the University of Copenhagen. They submitted a research paper based on the summer’s work entitled “Resilience in the Face of Risk: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies in Individuals at Risk for Mood Disorders” to the Journal of Affective Disorders, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The research focuses on neuroimaging findings in individuals who are at elevated risk for mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Her work specifically looks at resilience in people who carry significant risk factors but do not develop a mood disorder. Thompson is a Bonner Scholar who hopes to use the program to address poverty and inequalities in health care. She is additionally a neuroscience research student with Nikki Lee, assistant professor of cognitive and behavioral science. She has worked with Lee for two years and will continue to do so in the summer of 2026 while studying for the MCAT. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before going to medical school. ■

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It was a life-changing experience that helped shape me into the person I want to be. I became more outgoing, ambitious and socially confident, all while continuing to grow in an academic setting.” — Alexis Thompson ’27

Peyton Quimby ’24 Reflects on Study Abroad and the Center for International Education The CIE had the great fortune of working with Peyton Quimby in 2025-26. She had arranged to work with Museums at W&L and was able to split her time interning with the CIE. In this article, she reflects on her undergraduate experience abroad and her work with the center. Tell us about your study abroad experiences. Studying abroad was by far the best part of my time at W&L. My first time abroad was for Spring Term 2022 with professors Caleb Dance and Matthew Loar for in Italy. This was my very first time leaving the U.S., and I couldn’t have asked for a better group. This class was the beginning of my love for education abroad.

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“I knew from my first year that I wanted to do a full term abroad, so in Winter 2023 I did a semester at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. I fell in love with Scotland during my time there and spent many weekends traveling around Fife to Edinburgh and up to Inverness in the Highlands at the end of the semester, meeting so many wonderful people (I still keep in touch with a few). In one of my classes, Early Modern Scotland in the Age of British Unions, I met my best friend to this day (a study abroad student from Notre Dame). I loved the U.K. so much that I’ve been back every year since! “My final study abroad experience was during my senior year Spring Term when I took ROML 297: Walking the Portuguese Caminho de Santiago with professors Barnett and Matthew Bailey. The course was truly a transformative trip for me, and it felt symbolic as a senior to both metaphorically and physically ‘walk’ into the next stage of life via the Caminho.” Advice to students thinking about going abroad? “Pick a location you’re passionate and excited about (not just where your friends want to go) and don’t bog yourself down with ‘what if’ scenarios. The opportunity to study abroad is something many people don’t get, and it’s an amazing chance to dive completely into a different culture and meet people from all over the world outside of the Lexington bubble. “Do at least one solo trip. Whether for a weekend or a week, in or outside of your program country.

You learn so much about yourself this way, and it really pushes you to be confident and build problem-solving skills.” How was your CIE experience? “I came back to W&L after a year of grad school and reached out to CIE about gaining some experience in the field of international education. I started out shadowing Hunter Swanson, Cindy Irby and Jillian Murphy to learn more about each of their roles and about the field of international education as a whole. With Hunter, I’ve learned so much about the ISSS side of things with visa and immigration processes, student services and important resources. While shadowing Cindy, I’ve been able to sit in on and contribute to student advising meetings for semester study abroad and learn about various providers. Since January, I’ve focused my time working with Jillian to prepare to take on her responsibilities as the coordinator for faculty-led programs while she was on leave April-June.” What’s next? “In June, I’ll be leaving Lexington for Kansas City, where I hope to continue working in international education, either for one of the universities in the area or remotely for a study abroad provider. I’m also working on building my own travel planning website and blog (a real passion project).” Closing thoughts? “The phrase ‘studying abroad totally changed my life’ will always sound a bit cliche, but it is genuinely true.” ■

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CIE Collaborations WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY PRESENTS

MARCH 26-27, 2026

THE 18TH NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF THEATER IN ACADEME

ON EMOTION, PATHOS, AND THE HUMAN CONDITION IN THEATER AND FILM

FO U N D I N G D I R ECTO R : DO M N I C A R A D U L ES C U F R E E A N D O P E N TO T H E P U B L I C

QR CODE HERE

On Feb. 3, W&L hosted Peter Beinart, professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. In a conversation with Seth Cantey, the Lewis G. John Term Professor of Politics, Beinart discussed the state of affairs in Gaza in front of a packed Northen Auditorium. The talk drew from his book, “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning”, which was published in 2025 by Alfred A. Knopf.

A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH FORMER AMBASSADOR BRIAN A. NICHOLS

RULE OF LAW: INTERNATIONAL

Peter Beinart Speaks on Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza

FULL PROGRAM

Symposium Schedule:

Thursday, March 12, 6:30 – 7:30 PM Stackhouse Theatre (In person & Livestreamed)

October 9 7:00pm-8:30pm Keynote: Kim Lane Scheppele

October 10 9:00am-10:15am Panel 1: Democracy on Trial: Populism, Parties, and Courts Alexander Thiele and Bojan Bugarič

October 10 10:30am-11:45am Panel 2: Measuring Justice: Data & the Rule of Law Janka Deli and Alicia Evangelides

Join the W&L Art Museum and the W&L Center for International Education for an engaging ﬁreside chat that brings former U.S. Ambassador to Peru and Zimbabwe Brian A. Nichols into conversation with Brian Alexander, Associate Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. Together, they will explore the soft power of art, humanitarian and environmental crises, global power rivalries, and the evolving landscape of democracy.

RSVP: tiny.cc/nichols MOOT COURT ROOM, SYDNEY LEWIS HALL

Beinart has been one of the most prominent voices in debates about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The conversation with Cantey focused on points Beinart makes throughout the book, from how different communities understand Zionism to what day-to-day life is like under military occupation in Palestine. One of the most difficult things he encouraged the audience to grapple with was the reality of Jewish legal supremacy in the Holy Land, and how that reality differentiates Palestinian violence — some of which has been monstrous — from the pogroms and genocide suffered by Jews in Europe over the centuries. Beinart did not defend Palestinian violence. Instead, he sought to explain it. “Explanation and justification,” he observed, “aren’t the same.” Cantey says that Beinart’s book “is both accessible and powerful. It’s one of the most important books on the topic I can recommend.” ■

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Domnica Radulescu’s Legacy for the W&L Theater Program

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I wanted to create a community of multilingual and multicultural educators, theater artists and scholars for whom theater was not only a form of entertainment but a methodology of immersing students in the languages, cultures and mindsets of diverse populations.” — Domnica Radulescu

2026 marks the final year of the National Symposium of Theater in Academe, which Domnica , Edwin A. Morris Professor of Comparative Literature, first organized in 1994. She started the symposium with a desire to gather in one location educators and scholars of theater from universities across the U.S. who developed theatrical pedagogies and performative projects in foreign languages with their students. This article draws upon an interview in which Radulescu reflected upon the symposium and her 34-year career at Washington and Lee as she prepared to retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. Radulescu estimates that over its 32 years of existence, the symposium has brought to campus some 350 participants from France, Romania, Serbia, China, Mexico, Tunisia, Belgium, Canada and from universities and theaters across the United States. While its first decade and a half functioned more like a regular conference with calls for papers and keynote addresses within the frame of theater in foreign languages, the second decade and a half unfolded progressively toward hosting a series of plenary keynote presentations and performances in the direction of theater as a force of societal change and transformation. The symposium themes over the years have been as diverse as “Theater, Race and Gender,” “Immigrant Theater,” “Theater as Revolution,” “Myth, Magic, Madness in Theater,”

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“Women’s Voices in Theater” and “Theater of the Margins and the Margins of Theater.” While each symposium had its own magic and impact, there were some that stood out due to extraordinary performances and collaborations. Such a symposium was the one in 2009, which ended up being a theater festival that lasted four days and featured theater troupes, scholars, playwrights and actors from Chicago, New York, France and Romania. The Chicago-based Trap Door Theater brought to Lexington a full production of a play by the celebrated Romanian-French playwright Matei Visniec, who also came from France to participate in the symposium. And the more recent one in 2024, on the theme of “Myth, Magic, Madness,” was memorable as it featured experimental performances of a successful show by the New York-based Transforma Theater, as well as a production of Radulescu’s award-winning play The Town with Very Nice People,” directed and acted by a New York director and New York-based professional actors. The 2025-26 symposium on March 26-27 was the 18th and last one. After its 32-yearslong run, Radulescu decided to conclude this theatrical journey by returning to the very origins and essence of theater and focus on “Emotion, Pathos and the Human Condition in Theater and Film.” Radulescu received her Ph.D. in French and Italian literature from the University of Chicago. She has taught all levels of French language and was instrumental in founding the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Program. She has published more than 20 books and edited collections in a variety of genres and on diverse themes, both scholarly books and books of creative fiction, non-fiction and plays.

“My first novel, ‘Train to Trieste’ (Knopf 2008 and 2009), was published in 12 languages and is the winner of the Library of Virginia Best Fiction Award (2009) and was a bestseller in the U.K., as was my second novel, ‘Black Sea Twilight’ (Doubleday 2010 and 2011),” Radulescu said. “My third novel, ‘Country of Red Azaleas’ (Hachette publishing 2016), was called “a moving portrait of humanity’s best overcoming humanity’s worst” by the Kirkus Review, and my most recently published book, a historical novel titled ‘My Father’s Orchards’ (Histria Books and Simon & Schuster 2025) was shortlisted for the Goethe Historical Novel Award. Last year I also published my first novel written directly in French, ‘Tu viens du pays des vampires’ (Editions Amalthee). “Several of my books published over the past decade and a half have been substantially supported by two Fulbright fellowships to Romania (Babes-Bolyai University 2007-08 and University of Bucharest 2017-18). Thanks to the two Fulbright fellowships, I was able to perform multidisciplinary and archival research in Romania and France and establish professional collaborations with theater artists, writers and academics, which in turn offered invaluable materials and inspiration for my plays, academic books and novels. Returning full circle to the first questions about the theater symposium, some of this year’s participants, from the University of Bucharest, are precisely among such academics and artists with whom I collaborated during my 2017-18 Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Bucharest. All the components of my work as a teacher, scholar and creative artist are interconnected and form a multicolored intellectual and artistic tapestry.” ■

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Photo credit: Greg Smolonski, Mansfield College

Mansfield College Welcomes Washington and Lee Students for Their Junior Year In 2025-26, Lucy Klinkhammer ’27 and Melina LaPlante ’27 spent their junior years as visiting students at Mansfield College at Oxford University. W&L maintains a special partnership with Mansfield that enables us to send up to five students annually to spend their junior year there. Mansfield’s housing the Bonavero Institute for Human Rights made it an ideal place to focus Klinkhammer’s interests. While at Mans-field, Klinkhammer joined the Oxford Union, the Philosophy Society the Diplomatic Society, and the Newman Society, while volunteering through the Oxford Companions.

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Any student who wants to experience a new type of academic rigor and fully immerse themselves in an abroad experience should come to Mansfield College at Oxford.” — Melina LaPlante ’27

The opportunity to work directly with human rights lawyers and distinguished professors in politics and philosophy in a supportive and challenging academic environment was one I couldn’t pass up!” — Lucy Klinkhammer ’27

LaPlante, a history and politics double major with a minor in poverty and human capability studies found extensive overlap between her Oxford tutorials, her areas of study and career plans. “The tutorial system has not only allowed me to better understand a subject but also to immerse myself in it! Some of my favorite tutorials so far are Marx and Marxism, where I studied the ideas of Marx, Engels and later Marxists and critics of Marxism. The purpose of this course was not only to study Marxism as an explanatory theory but to examine its political consequences. In addition, my Humanitarian Law class with the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights has been incredible. In this tutorial, I research, write and discuss the foundations and contemporary debates in human rights law from an international and European perspective. Some topics include debates over the lack of a U.K. constitution, the impact of counterterrorism on human rights and the regulation of extreme speech.” LaPlante joined the Boxing Club, rowed on the Mansfield varsity crew boat and also participated in the Oxford Union. LaPlante and Klinkhammer reflected warmly on the Mansfield sense of community — from the experience of tutorials to the regular organized dinners and social experiences that are such a component of the Oxford experience. Both look forward to looking back fondly on their junior year abroad. ■

Laplante ’27 and Lucy Klinkhammer ’27

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“ WLTA Left to right: Kazuya Shirahama, Yameng Tian, Leo Jury, Maria Eduarda Sousa Santos, Johanna Lehnert, Dina Elsaqa, Ayelen Tabora Condori and Vittoria Di Stefano

World Language Teaching Assistants ONCE AGAIN, W&L welcomed world language teaching assistants from around the globe. Their experience at Washington and Lee propels them along their career trajectories while giving them the opportunity to experience and work in a small, liberal arts college setting. We invited them to offer reflections on their time with us in 2025-26.

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Washington and Lee and Lexington were a wonderful surprise for me. This experience gave me the opportunity to learn more about the United States and also about myself. Over the past year I have learned and explored a lot, made meaningful friendships, and created memories that I will always cherish. This experience has even influenced my future plans in ways I did not expect. Wherever I go next, I believe a part of me will always remain here.” — Dina Elsaqa

This year’s World Language Teaching Assistants came to W&L from across the globe. We welcomed back Yameng Tian (China) and Kazuya Shirahama (Japan) and welcomed Vittoria Di Stefano (Italy), Leo Jury (France), Johanna Lehnert (Germany), Dina Elsaqa (Egypt), Maria Eduarda Sousa Santos (Brazil) and Ayelen Tabora Condori (Argentina).

I’ve built here have been genuine, calm and grounded in friendship and mutual respect. There is a real sense of collaboration that makes the workplace both stimulating and supportive.” As for Lexington, she says, “I’ve loved its peaceful pace of life, and the fact that it is surrounded by nature, it creates a truly special and balanced atmosphere.”

W&L will welcome Lehnert back for 2026-27 and the 2026 Virginia Governor’s World Language Academies at W&L. “Living in Lexington has been a very special experience for me,” she says. “I had never lived in such a small town before, and it surprised me in many ways. One of my favorite things is simply walking through downtown, surrounded by the beautiful brick buildings and the scenic landscape of the Shenandoah Valley. I especially appreciate how friendly people are here; it is completely normal to greet strangers you pass on the street. Because everyone is so welcoming and curious, I have been able to make many friends both within the university and in the wider Lexington community.”

For Elsaqa, W&L provided many opportunities to try new things when not working closely with faculty and students. “Washington and Lee and Lexington were a wonderful surprise for me. This experience gave me the opportunity to learn more about the United States and also about myself. Over the past year I have learned and explored a lot, made meaningful friendships and created memories that I will always cherish. This experience has even influenced my future plans in ways I did not expect. Wherever I go next, I believe a part of me will always remain here.” In 2026-27, she will look to pursue graduate studies or pursue further teaching opportunities in Egypt.

Di Stefano and Tabora Condori will return to the U.S. as graduate students in the fall of 2026. Di Stefano will pursue a doctorate in Italian medieval studies at Johns Hopkins. Tabora Condori will pursue a master’s degree in Spanish and teaching English to speakers of other languages at North Carolina State. Both loved their time at W&L and the opportunity to work closely with students and faculty. For Tabora Condori, Lexington “is a utopian, idyllic place to study and work, with a lot of fun activities to do in a village that is very cute, safe and picturesque. [W&L] took good care of us, and I am extremely grateful to have been accepted to work here and meet such wonderful professors and students.” For Di Stefano, “The relationships

At the time of this writing, Jury and Shirahama remained uncertain about their plans after W&L. Tian, however, will be teaching Chinese in either the U.S. or in Southeast Asia. Sousa Santos will return to Brazil to pursue a Ph.D in applied linguistics. Reflecting on his time at W&L, Jury said, “I really loved working at W&L for this year. It’s a place that suited me well and that I was quickly able to call ‘home.’ I really liked my position that allowed me to experience studying in an American college while gaining precious experience for my future life and career. My mission was especially fascinating because I was able to offer a different framework for the students to learn French and offer them the cultural perspective as well.” ■

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Work-Study Profiles A Conversation On Studying Abroad with Cindy Irby In January 2027, CIE will bid farewell to our study abroad adviser and associate director Cindy Irby as she retires after a decade of working with us. Irby oversaw a tremendous expansion in the number of students going abroad each year. We now regularly send 250 or more students abroad during the academic year and summer. Each year, Irby meets with and advises some 500 students to counsel them on where and when to go abroad. As she prepares to retire, we offer warm thanks and bid her au revoir and godspeed. Q: What got you interested in international education? “I was asked by a friend at VMI to work part time in their study abroad office. I had lived abroad for the previous four years and spent a year abroad in college so he thought it would be a good fit. I loved working with the students, and the position grew from there. I went back to school to get my Master of Education after about five years in the field.” Q: Most interesting aspects of study abroad advising? “I love finding the right fit for each student. It is a little like a puzzle each time as we work together to find the right fit of personal, academic and professional interests, while trying to push them a little beyond their comfort zone.”

Q: What are some changes you’ve seen in study abroad during your time at W&L? ”Interest in study abroad has really grown! It has been really rewarding to see more students consider studying abroad and to realize they can make it work even if they are a STEM major, double major or an athlete.” Q: Best parts of the job (at W&L and generally)? ”Definitely talking to students and hearing their stories when they return from their time abroad. Seeing their growth in confidence and adaptability, and their desire to see more, is the best!” Q: Parting thoughts/advice? ”To students, push yourselves. That might look different for each person, but you will learn through a little discomfort. For W&L faculty and staff, thank you for always supporting students through this journey. I am proud to have worked at an institution that truly supports students in learning beyond campus and provides the individualized advising that makes it possible.” Q: Anything else you’d like to add? ”I will miss working in study abroad but am not going far! I look forward to staying in touch with faculty, staff and students during my newfound free time.” ■

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Ammar Alhajmee ’26 (Iraq; Accounting and Finance) Studying at W&L allowed me to grow academically and personally, meet people from many different backgrounds and build friendships and memories that I will carry with me long after graduation. My advice to other international students is to ask questions, stay involved and not be afraid to seek help. There are always people and resources willing to support you, and the more you engage with the community, the more meaningful your experience becomes.

Karolina Mazur ’26 (Poland; Biochemistry) Advice to international students: Make the most of your time here because it really does go by faster than you expect. Of course, academics are important, but don’t forget to enjoy your experience, too. Go on Outing Club trips, study abroad if you can, get involved and say yes to new opportunities. And always remember to stop by the CIE office. You will always have a supportive and welcoming community here!

Linh Ngo ’26 (Vietnam; Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Studio Art) I appreciate how the liberal arts allows different fields to connect and inform each other. This has shaped the way I think and learn. I will remember how beautiful Lexington is across the different seasons, especially in the fall when the scenery is at its peak. More than anything, I will miss the professors and staff I’ve worked with here. Their guidance and willingness to engage with students created an environment where I felt supported both academically and personally, and that’s something I’ll really miss.

Rima Kumari ’26 (India; Economics Earth and Environmental Geoscience) My journey has been shaped by resilience and the belief that education can transform lives. Being at W&L has strengthened that belief and given me the confidence to continue pursuing my goals. My advice to other international students is to be open to new experiences while staying connected to your roots. It’s OK to feel uncomfortable at times — that’s often where growth happens. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, build relationships and take advantage of every opportunity to learn, both inside and outside the classroom.

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W&L Recognizes 15 Students’ International Experiences with the Certificate of International Immersion Left to right: Kat Repka, Darby Burgett, Molly Biggs, Kendall Schlueter, Evan Clark, Adja Ndiaye, Linh Ngo, Brandon Bishop, Kate Martin, Elly Dyer, Rebecca Bundrant, Celeste Álvarez, Joanna Guevara-Hernandez, Not pictured: Joaquin Villagran-Hernandez and Madison Kessack

Certificate of International Immersion Recipients, 2026

Álvarez, Celeste

Mexico, Spain

Biggs, Molly Doran

Germany, Denmark, Austria, Japan

Bishop, Brandon W

Denmark, Jordan, South Korea, Germany, India

Bundrant, Rebecca Grace

Spain, France, United Kingdom

Burgett, Darby

Australia, South Korea, Denmark, Zimbabwe, Indonesia

Clark, Evan Foster

Spain, Chile, Italy, Ghana

Dyer, Elly Gowan

France

Guevara-Hernandez, Joanna Arlette

Mexico, Spain, Italy, Portugal

Kessack, Madison Sydney

France

Martin, Kate Irene

Greece, the Netherlands, Italy

Ndiaye, Adja J

Iceland, Jordan

Ngo, Linh

Denmark

Repka, Kat Grace

Spain, Argentina, Ghana

Schlueter, Kendall Rose

Ghana, Mexico, the Netherlands, India, South Africa, Argentina

Villagran-Hernandez, Joaquin

Mexico, Italy

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tudents who have participated in a study abroad program that was at least 13 weeks in duration, lived with native speakers, taken coursework in the target language and volunteered, participated in community service or worked in an internship are eligible to submit an application for the Certificate in International Immersion. The award recognizes students who show significant commitment to and understanding of global interaction and who use their experiences abroad to enrich campus life.

Certificate recognition is noted on the transcript and in the listing of honors at Commencement. The International Education Committee awards the certificate after considering a student’s overall academic record (minimum 3.00 cumulative grade-point average) and an essay. The purpose of this process is to allow students to reflect deeply on the value of their international experiences at W&L and abroad. In 2026, the university awarded certificates to 15 students.

Ammar Alhajmee ’26 Receives Global Learning Leadership Award Alhajmee has been an active part of the W&L international community throughout his four years. He served as president of the Student Association for International Learning (SAIL). As a global peer adviser in the Center for International Education, he mentored incoming international students through their academic and cultural transition and helped fellow students navigate U.S. tax filing through Sprintax. He studied abroad in Italy and Germany and completed an internship in Austria working on market research, financial modeling and software development. Alhajmee is an accounting and German double major with a minor in data science and was recently inducted into Delta Phi Alpha, the German national honor society. He participated as a Summer Research Scholar studying SEC filings and free cash flow analysis and worked as a student consultant with the W&L Student Consulting group. He has also worked as an IT Helpdesk technician on campus. After graduation, he plans to pursue graduate study in finance and accounting in Germany.

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CIE

by the numbers

2025-26 2026 CIE work-study students and staff

Study Abroad 2025-26 30 countries Academic year: 226 students Summer 2026: 65 students

Summer Grants 2026 26 grants to students $144,990 dollars

Certificate of International Immersion Recipients 22

Spring Term 2026 392 students abroad 25 courses International Students 181 students 65 countries

CIE ANNUAL REPORT

Center for International Education Staff Mark Rush Director, Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Professor of Politics and Law rushm@wlu.edu

Hunter Swanson Associate Director and International Student and Scholar Adviser hswanson@wlu.edu

Jillian Murphy Senior Assistant Director and Study Abroad Coordinator jmurphy@wlu.edu

Cindy Irby Associate Director and Study Abroad Adviser cirby@wlu.edu

Kristy Reed Office Manager, Center for International Education kreed@wlu.edu

The Center for International Education 204 W. Washington St. Lexington, Virginia 24450 go.wlu.edu/global

Credits Writers: Mark Rush and W&L Communications Office Front Cover: Mark Rush

CIE ANNUAL REPORT

Clockwise from top left: ARTS 238 Sculpting Sustainability in Zimbabwe; BUS 366/ENGL 267 Social Enterprise Storytelling (Scotland); ECON 288C/FREN 285A Exploring European Policy, Business, and Culture (Brussels); HIST 269 Between Paradise and Terror: Caribbean Slavery and Colonialism (Barbados); AFCA 287 and CHEM 158 Bitter Grapes (South Africa).

go.wlu.edu/global