What's Happening in the CGE

Fall 2025

*Special Announcement*

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) continues to adapt to an ever-changing regulatory environment affecting international students, scholars, and employees. Our teams have tracked and responded to more than 90 executive and federal agency actions and proclamations in recent years. Through timely communication and clear regulatory guidance, we ensure that all affected students, scholars, and employees receive the information and support they need to navigate these changes with confidence.

If you'd like to explore a way to support, collaborate, or find out more information, please reach out to isabelli@gonzaga.edu

November 9 - International Student Union Signature Event: Night of Nations 

5:30–9:00 p.m. program includes a buffet line, optional photo booth and much more - 3rd floor Hemmingson Ballroom.
Night of Nations celebrates culture, unity, and diversity. All are welcome. Contact club-ISU@zagmail.gonzaga.edu for questions. Purchase your tickets before November 9 here.

November 13 - ¡Hablamos!

6:00–8:00 p.m. Center for Global Engagement, Second floor, Hemmingson. Come practice your Spanish speaking skills in a fun and friendly environment. Contact: Guillermo Polo with questions.

International Education Week - November 17 - 21, 2025

Join the Center for Global Engagement for a week of events celebrating culture, learning, and community from around the world. Fill out this form to help us plan for a successful series of events.

Monday, November 17 | IEW Kickoff!

12:00–12:10 p.m. | Rotunda
IEW Kickoff & World View Photo Contest Display
Celebrate the start of International Education Week and explore the winning photos capturing our community’s global experiences.

12:15–1:15 p.m. | CGE, 2nd Floor (Hemmingson 102) Includes Filipino food for lunch.
Cultural Spotlight: Light of the Filipino Spirit - Bayanihan, Resiliency, Faith, and Hope with Fulbright Scholar Robert Gipal (Modern Languages and Literature)
The presentation explores the core values that define the Filipino identity. It highlights bayanihan (communal unity), the Filipino’s remarkable resiliency in facing hardships, and the guiding forces of faith and hope that sustain the nation’s spirit. Through storytelling and the symbolism of the parol (Filipino lantern), the presentation celebrates how Filipinos find light, strength, and joy even in adversity. Participants will make a parol.

3:30–4:30 p.m. | Zoom  (https://gonzaga.zoom.us/j/97407274419)
Work Visas Made Easy: Practical Answers to Work Visas in the U.S. Presenter: David Gluckman, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Practice Group, an experienced immigration attorney who represents companies all over the U.S., processing work visas and green cards for international employees will discuss topics like Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM Extensions, H-1B visas, and other common work-visa options used by U.S. employers to hire international grads. He will also discuss issues regarding permanent-resident green cards for those who may qualify. There will be time for one-on-one questions and answers following the session.

Filipino food served in the COG for dinner.

Tuesday, November 18 | Culture in Motion

12:15–1:15 p.m. | Jundt Lounge (Hemmingson 201) Includes Uzbek plov for lunch.
Global Connections: Local Impact — Education, Culture, and Leadership in Uzbekistan
Join visiting Uzbekistan scholars (Zebo Kuldasheva - School of Business Administration, Kudrat Ibragimov - College of Arts and Sciences, and Sardor Surmanov - School of Education) as they share insights into education and leadership in their home country. education and cultural exchange. The session will emphasize the presenters’ ongoing academic collaboration with Gonzaga established under their current faculty program visit, highlighting how such partnerships strengthen research, innovation, and educational exchange between the two countries. 

Uzbek plov served for lunch in the COG.

1:30–3:00 p.m. | Foley Field
Join the Game of Sipa. Try your hand at sipa, the national sport of the Philippines, and test your skill in a fun ball-drawing game!

Wednesday, November 19 | Pathways Beyond Gonzaga

8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Hemmingson Rotunda
Internationalization Storytelling. Co-sponsored by Instructional Design & Delivery.
This short video series will feature Gonzaga faculty (Drs. Yu-Kyung Kang, Sherri Lunch, Kem Gambrell, Charles Pepiton, and Brooks Holland) who are actively contributing to our internationalization efforts through teaching, research, mentorship, and/or partnerships. The goal is to showcase how Gonzaga faculty are shaping a globally engaged campus and transforming students’ learning experiences through international and intercultural engagement.

12:15–1:15 p.m. | CGE, 2nd Floor (Hemmingson 102). Includes Indian food for lunch.
Global Pathways: Fellowships, Service, and Study After Graduation. Co-sponsored by the Career & Professional Development Center, Ray Angle
Curious about what comes after graduation? This engaging panel explores a variety of post-baccalaureate international fellowships and programs, including Fulbright, Boren, Peace Corps, and Rhodes. You will hear directly from advisors and alumni who have launched global careers through research, teaching, service, and graduate study abroad. Whether you are dreaming of Oxford or open to adventure, this session will help you match your passions with the right opportunity and take the first steps toward your international future.

Indian food served for lunch in the COG.

1:30–3:00 p.m. | Hemmingson Rotunda
Zag the World Map Challenge! 
Who can put the map of Africa together the fastest and name the three countries which have been removed from the puzzle. That's a challenge! Prize to the fastest player. Tie breakers: Which countries are missing? Which country names have changed?

3:15–4:15pm | CGE, 2nd Floor (Hemmingson 102)
Making Sense of Immigration Terms: From H-1B Visas to Policy Updates
Join Jan Keiser, CGE's Sr. International Employment Partner, for a clear and timely conversation about immigration terms, policies, and what they mean for our community.

Thursday, November 20 | Art, Language & Film

12:15–1:15 p.m. | CGE, 2nd Floor (Hemmingson 102) Includes Asian food for lunch.
Mukogawa Women's University Japanese Visiting Scholars Cultural Presentation: Hanzi & Kanji - Characters that Connect China and Japan
This interactive session explores how hanzi (Chinese characters) and kanji + kana (Japanese writing) connect two cultures. Dr. Tingting Huang (School of Business Administration) and Dr. Hiroshi Matsumoto (School of Education) will compare how characters carry meaning and sound, trace a few fun evolutions from pictographs to modern forms, and look at shinjitai vs. traditional characters. They will also highlight wasei-kango - Sino-Japanese words coined in Japan that later enriched modern Chinese vocabulary. To balance both perspectives, they will show how kana works with kanji in Japanese sentences and demonstrate shodō styles (kaisho/gyōsho/sōsho). Attendees can create a take-home bookmark featuring their English name in katakana alongside a hanzi character.

Asian food and Norwegian dessert served for lunch in the COG.

4:00–6:00 p.m. | Hemmingson Auditorium
Film Screening: “Without Them I Am Lost”
This feature-length documentary about a Norwegian community clinging to a fragile coastline in a rapidly changing world, explores the relationship between landscape, home, and the human imagination through the story of American writer Damon Falke in northern Norway. This Square Top Theater film, directed by Charles M. Pepiton (Professor, Theatre and Dance), offers a look at an Arctic community and their lives shaped by nature. It had its world premiere in December 2023 and has screened at various festivals and institutions. Introduction before, and discussion following the film, led by Professor Pepiton. Norwegian Pepperkaker and tea served at the auditorium.for an academic response and discussion following the film.

Friday, November 21 | Global Connections & Campus Safety

12:15–1:15 p.m. | Jundt Lounge (Hemmingson 201). Includes pizza (Italian food) for lunch.
Safety Consciousness Across Cultures
This highly interactive session, led by Gonzaga Campus Security Officer Bennie Jordan, invites students to explore how safety is understood and practiced across different cultural contexts. Participants will engage in open discussion and activities to reflect on how cultural values, norms, and individual experiences shape perceptions of safety, risk, and trust. Officer Jordan will share practical strategies for staying safe on and off campus, including situational awareness, community resources, and proactive safety planning. The session aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, empower students to take ownership of their safety, and strengthen a shared sense of community care and responsibility at Gonzaga.

3:00–4:00 pm | CGE, 2nd Floor (Hemmingson 102)
Global Conversations
Have you wondered how you can better understand and support international students here at GU? 

Previous Events

Sept. 17 - Annual Gonzaga Study Abroad Fair

Opportunity to learn about the different types of study abroad programs available to students, including our faculty led programs. Faculty leading programs in 2026 will be on hand to answer questions.
11-2pm - Hemmingson Rotunda "Main Street"

Sept. 18 & 19 - Study Abroad Scholarship Information Meetings

Looking for ways to finance your study abroad? Come listen to these presentations to learn more! Recording will be sent to those who register, even if you can't make it.

Gilman - Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10am (presentation was recorded - reach out to stapletonc@gonzaga.edu for a copy)
Boren - Friday, September 19, 2025, 10am (presentation will be recorded - reach out to stapletonc@gonzaga.edu for a copy)

Sept. 24 - Global Engagement Faculty Development Award Showcase  

The Global Engagement Showcase is a collaborative event with the Center for Global Engagement and brings together faculty from across the disciplines. Together, they share insights on how their research and activities impact Gonzaga's strategic commitment to offering student experiences to deepen their understanding of cultures and global issues. At the same time, these faculty also bring back to students new ideas at the forefront of their disciplines - ideas that can positively impact the world and our community. 6:30-7:30pm, with light refreshments, Jundt Lounge - Hemmingson.  

Welcome - Christina "Tina"  Isabelli, Associate Provost for Global Engagement and Call to Action
Opening Remarks - Katia Passerini, President; Mia Bertagnolli, Interim Provost & Irv Zakheim, Gonzaga Trustee
Spotlight on Visiting Global Scholars - TingTing Huang (Mukogawa Women’s University – Japan) & Robert Gipal (Fulbright - Philippines)
Global Impact Reflection - Upendra Acharya, School of Law
Lightning round presentations

Melody Alsaker - An International Minisymposium to Celebrate Diversity in STEM
Carissa Basile - Beyond the Basics of Behavior: Culturally Responsive Behavior-Analytic Practice
Scott Bozman - A Research Proposal for Gonzaga in Florence Alumni
I-Ling “Gloria” Chien - Buddhist Film Presentation and Course Design at IABS Leipzig
Shann Ferch - Japan Nuclear Disarmament Pilgrimage
Kem Gambrell - Exploring Decolonization Efforts in Aotearoa
Torunn Haaland - Rome in Contemporary Italian Cinema
Brooks Holland - The Legal Italy Program: Wellness, Professionals, and Vulnerability
Sarah Porter - Excavating at Lechaion Harbor
Brian Siebeking - Terra Laudato Sì: A Pilgrimage for Ecological Conversion
Danielle Xu - Teaching and Research Collaboration with Mukogawa University, Japan
Zijian "Jacob" Zeng - Algorithmic Nudging for Energy Savings and Environment

Sept. 29 - Open House - Supporting Our International Community

The Center for Global Engagement invites you to our Open House to connect with teams supporting Gonzaga’s global initiatives. This event will feature Q&A on Gonzaga’s efforts to support international students, faculty, and staff impacted by recent White House Executive Orders and Proclamations and a Call to Action. 5:15pm, Center for Global Engagement, Hemmingson 102

Nov. 5 - Global Perspectives in Education: New Core AI Student Learning Outcomes & International Students

Join Gonzaga community members to participate in a workshop series to provide faculty with practical strategies for supporting international students while also providing a platform for students to share their perspectives and learning experiences. Event co-sponsored by the Center for Global Engagement and the University Core. Lunch provided.
Hemm 312 - Firenze, 12:15-1:15

Study Abroad 101 Info Sessions

Gonzaga in Florence
Come to an Info Session to learn about our flagship program Gonzaga in Florence! 
Tuesdays at 4:00pm - October 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18, 25.
Wednesdays at 12:15pm - October 22.
Sign up here!

All other Study Abroad programs
Mondays at 4:00pm - October 13, 27; November 3, 10, 17
Wednesdays at 12:15pm -October 15, 27; November 19
Sign up here!

Enter and sign in at Hemmingson's Center for Global Engagement first floor office (HEMM 102)
More information here: https://studyabroad.gonzaga.edu/_portal/announcements

Do you have an event that promotes internationalism on campus and would like us to publicize it? Please reach out to isabelli@gonzaga.edu: please include the title, a one-two sentence description, date/time/place, presenter, and sponsoring department/office (if applicable). Also indicate if you would like to present in the Center for Global Engagement space (Hemmingson, 102).