IRIS Global Connect

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Congratulations Zindzi Frederick!

UW-Madison junior Zindzi Frederick has been awarded a 2026 Reporting Fellowship by the Pulitzer Center.

Our Mission

The Institute for Regional and International Studies Global Connect (Global Connect) supports and enhances global awareness and inspires informed thinking about the complexities of our world.

We provide resources and expertise to K-12 and post-secondary educators, students and the community at large. Working in collaboration with campus, national, and international partners, IRIS GC strives to put the Wisconsin Idea into action. We are committed to offering cross-regional and globally themed programming in an effort to understand our increasingly interconnected world.

Call to action

Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow Cat Carroll

Congrats Cat Carroll

Cat will cover an Austrian migration program that brings trained nurses from the Philippines!

Learn more about Cat’s fellowship here!

Andy Kline (Peace Corps volunteer serving in Timor-Leste)

Updates from Timor-Leste

Andy Kline (UW-Madison ’23) joined the Peace Corps as an education volunteer, and blogs about his experiences in Timor-Leste!

Read on about Andy’s adventures in Timor-Leste

Ashley Whitaker, a dedicated educator with over 25 years of experience serving English language learners in Illinois, embarked on a transformative journey this summer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Immersing herself in Arabic language studies at the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI), supported by a FLAS Fellowship. Through this experience Ashley rediscovered her passion for education, cultural appreciation, and the strength to continue making a difference in her students’ lives.

Passionate about Arabic

Ashley Whitaker rediscovered her passion for education through the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute!

This summer, Lucas Wirick, a PhD student in Anthropology at UW-Madison, immersed himself in Arabic language studies through the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI), supported by a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. His journey exemplifies the profound impact that language programs and financial support can have on academic and personal growth.

Anthropology and Arabic

Lucas Wirick (PhD student, Anthropology) developed his Arabic skills through MEDLI, supported by a FLAS fellowship!

Read on about Lucas’s MEDLI studies here

News

IRIS Global Connect: Driving Global Engagement across Wisconsin

As we begin a new academic year, we are delighted to announce the launch of our expanded global studies center at UW-Madison: IRIS Global Connect is the formal home for global and transregional activities…
Children’s International Story Hour (CISH) Returns This Fall

Children’s International Story Hour (CISH) returns this fall at not one, but two Madison Public Library locations! Each free session spotlights a different country, featuring engaging tales, lively music, hands-on crafts, and interactive…
Zindzi Frederick Awarded UW-Madison’s 2026 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship

IRIS NRC is delighted to announce that UW-Madison junior Zindzi Frederick has been awarded a 2026 Reporting Fellowship by the Pulitzer Center. The Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowships support students pursuing independent journalism…
Graphic Designer Opportunity with Journal of Undergraduate International Studies (JUIS)

The Journal of Undergraduate International Studies (JUIS), an official student organization at UW–Madison, is seeking a student graphic designer (or layout designer) to support the production of its journal, published twice a…
2026 World Cinema Day: Connecting K-12 Students to Global Narratives

For over two decades, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Film Festival and UW-Madison’s Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) has connected Wisconsin students with global cultures through the big screen. This…