Be A Global Citizen!

Episod

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  231. Jesus Flores: Believing in the Great Potential of Oneself and Others 08.10.2026 56min

  Jesus Flores is an educator, author, and researcher dedicated to empowering underserved communities. He currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Diamond Ranch High School and is pursuing his Ed.D. at UCLA. Blending academic rigor with cultural relevance, Jesus is the co-founder of Foosgoneeducated and co-author of the book This Foo: 7 Lessons for Burros & Bag Chasers, where he works to bridge the gap between traditional education and community culture. Enjoy this conversation about his educator journey and what it means for him to be a global citizen!
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  230. Lucas Welter: Embracing Ambiguity and Wonder 01.10.2026 59min

  Lucas Welter is a global strategy and organization development executive with more than 20 years of experience leading transformation, talent development, and network alignment across complex international organizations. He served as Chief Organization Development & Strategy Officer at AFS Intercultural Programs, where he led global strategy, organizational development, leadership development, and change initiatives across a network of 60 organizations worldwide. Lucas teaches doctoral students at New York University and at the University of Pennsylvania in organizational change, innovation, and nonprofit leadership. Enjoy our conversation about his early experience of studying abroad and what it means to be a global citizen. 
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  229. Sharon Counts: Being Artist Citizens who Lead with Collaboration and Curiosity 25.09.2026 57min

  Sharon Counts is an Assistant Professor of Business and Design Strategies at Parsons School of Design, The New School. Her research-led creative practice explores the efficacy of social impact and community engagement programs in the arts and business. She investigates how design innovations influence emerging trends in business, leadership and community engagement. Sharon has worked broadly as an artistic producer and designer of artistic experiences and programs that prioritize equitable access to culture. She works at the intersection of the arts and innovation, applying strategic design principles to the development of organizational culture and ethical leadership. Check out her thoughts on global citizenship! 
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  228. Tonikiaa Orange: Cultivating Communal Spaces for Empowerment and Belonging 17.09.2026 1j 1min

  Dr. Tonikiaa Orange serves as the Director for the Educational Leadership Program at UCLA Ed&IS and Director for the Culture and Equity Project (CEP) at UCLA Center X. Her commitment to education spans over 20 years, and she is an expert in culturally responsive pedagogy and is the co-developer of the Reciprocal Learning Partnerships for Equity Coaching Framework. Her work focuses on preparing the next generation of social justice leaders to transform and create equitable and culturally responsive educational spaces for all students. In our dialogue, we talk about cultivating spaces where everyone can feel supported and empowered to build community. Check out what Tonikiaa has to say about being a global citizen! 
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  227. Vivi Wei: Listening to Your Heart and Evolving What It Means to Change the World 10.09.2026 55min

  Vivi Wei is Brand Manager and Business Development Director at Brain Co. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is a recent graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Education Policy and Analysis. Her learning journey has taken her from Hubei, China, to Edinburgh, Scotland, to Boston, USA. She shares about her struggles to fit into and work with the Chinese educational system. Her perspective greatly expanded through literature and travel. Vivi has been led by her many interests in international affairs, educational policy, and technology. Her work at Brain Co pulls together her interests in making a change in the world through curriculum related to robotics and coding. Check out what Vivi has to say about being a global citizen! 
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  226. Cathleen Kong: Innovation Starts with Empathy 03.09.2026 55min

  Cathleen Kong is a computer science educator and former software engineer at Microsoft with experience teaching, designing technology-enhanced learning experiences, and building software. She is passionate about helping students develop technical skills through engaging, real-world projects in computer science and AI. In our conversation, she shares her interdisciplinary journey of becoming a software engineer and the connecting thread of wanting to build things that help other people. Her work as a teacher comes from a place of hope that new generations of leaders will be equipped with not only the right skills, but also a solid sense of moral values to inform their decisions. Enjoy what Cathleen has to say about being a global citizen. 
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  225. Sarah Wider: Honoring and Learning from Glimmers of Memory through Storytelling 30.08.2026 1j

  Dr. Sarah Ann Wider is emerita professor of English and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Colgate University. A distinguished scholar of American literature, Wider spent nearly four decades teaching at Colgate University, where she developed a wide-ranging curriculum centered on Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Transcendentalist movement, feminist autobiographical writing, and Native American literature. As former president of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Society, she has made enduring contributions to the study of Emerson and the broader American Renaissance. In our dialogue, Sarah shares about the role of storytelling in healing past traumas, building greater community, and envisioning a more hopefilled world. She is a life long learner who exudes a passion for good conversation. 
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  224. Herminio Perez: Change the World, One Smile at a Time 20.08.2026 59min

  Herminio L. Perez, DMD, MBA, EdD is a nationally recognized leader in dental education, student affairs, diversity, and academic innovation. Herminio currently serves as Assistant Dean for Campus Life at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM). He is guided by a deep commitment to education, inclusion, and humanistic authentic leadership. In our dialogue, Herminio shares about his love for dentistry as a combination of the arts and science. His mission to educate, raise, and mentor the new generation of dentists to be ethical leaders and professionals is truly inspiring. Find out what Herminio has to say about being a dentist and a global citizen. 
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  223. Michael Miller: You Don’t Move Through the World as a Solo Act 13.08.2026 56min

  Dr. Michael Miller is a mission-driven executive leader with 20+ years of progressive experience across higher education, including academic affairs, student services, and institutional advancement. He is the Associate Dean at The City College of New York, The Spitzer School of Architecture. Michael shares about his foundational experiences as an actor and the ways in which he brings his full self into the work he does in higher education. He speaks to the need for global citizens to lead with kindness and curiosity. 
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  222. Handrio Nurham Making Human Connections through Philosophy and Opera 06.08.2026 53min

  Handrio Durham is an anthropologist (Boston University) with an MA in philosophy (Texas Tech University). His work lies at the intersection of culture, language, ethics, and technology, with a current interest in how human meaning-making is conducted through systems. Currently, he applies his background in ethnography and critical analysis to AI qualitative evaluation at Meta, ensuring linguistic precision, cultural nuance, and ethical alignment in Indonesian-language AI tasks. Enjoy listening to Handrio’s journey to discover his passion for philosophy and learning. He also shares insights about his other passion for opera about language learning, culture, arts, and human connection. 
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  221. Denise Nelson Nash: Discovering Culture is Finding your Bridge to it 30.07.2026 54min

  Dr. Denise Nelson Nash is a strategic leader and transformational project expert. She is the Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees at Scripps College. She also is co-host of "Life in Higher Ed" Podcast and co-author of the book: Trinity of Leadership: Learners, Thinkers, Tinkerers. With over 25 years of experience driving transformative change, she specializes in turning complex challenges into sustainable growth opportunities. Enjoy our dialogue about learning beyond borders, believing in one’s agency to achieve great things, and engaging in humanistic leadership. 
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  220. Hans Schattle: Patriotism and Global Citizenship in Times of Crisis 23.07.2026 56min

  Dr. Hans Schattle is a Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. He teaches coursework in citizenship, democracy, civil society, cosmopolitanism, nationalism, global governance, political theory, political communications and politics of Europe, East Asia and the United States. He has written two books, Globalization and Citizenship and The Practices of Global Citizenship, both published by Rowman & Littlefield, as well as numerous articles in academic journals and commentaries in newspapers, including The New York Times/ International Herald Tribune, The Guardian and The Christian Science Monitor. We discuss American politics, democracy, and global citizenship. Enjoy what Dr. Schattle has to say about what it means to be a global citizen. 
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  219. Sheila Nabanja: Treasure your Deep Roots while Forging a Global Identity 16.07.2026 56min

  Sheila Nabanja is the co-founder of Musizi University in Uganda: the first liberal arts university in the country, opening its inaugural cohort in January 2027. She serves as Executive Director of the Foundation driving strategy, fundraising, governance, and stakeholder relationships across the US diaspora and Uganda. Africa's next generation of leaders needs better infrastructure, and education is the longest-compounding investment there is. Sheila received her PhD from MIT and has a background in electrical engineering and technology. Enjoy our conversation about stretching beyond one’s boundaries and finding your purpose in life. 
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  218. GC Talks with Fumihiko Tominaga: Climate Change is Linked to Your Daily Life 06.05.2026 54min

  Fumihiko Tominaga is an environmental and social safeguards specialist working at the intersection of climate finance and policy, sustainable development, and ESG. His professional experience spans multilateral climate funds, the United Nations system, and Japanese foreign missions, with a focus on ensuring that climate and infrastructure investments deliver meaningful environmental and social outcomes while supporting inclusive economic growth. Fumihiko shares concrete actions that people can take that link climate action with their daily lives. Check out what Fumihiko has to say about being a global citizen! 
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  217. HGSE Global Citizen: Casey Lartigue: Empowering North Korean Refugees to Speak Their Stories 30.04.2026 52min

  Casey Lartigue is the co-founder and co-president of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) in Seoul, Korea. He is co-author of Songmi Han’s memoir "Greenlight to Freedom,” and he is a columnist with the Korea Times newspaper. Casey shares about his formative experiences living abroad in Taiwan and South Korea. From his work teaching English abroad to his work at the Cato Institute, he drew from his passions for storytelling, advocacy, and education to support North Korean refugees. It was a chance encounter with one North Korean refugee that showed him a pathway to contributing to freedom through empowering others to use their voice for positive change. Check out what Casey has to say about global citizenship! 
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  216. GC Talks with Felipe Iwahashi: Harnessing the Complexity of Multilingual and Multicultural Identities 23.04.2026 56min

  Felipe Iwahashi is a multilingual professional with a strong background in linguistics, cultural exchange, and educational research. He has extensive experience teaching English and Japanese. Currently, he works at the International School of Sciences and Arts in Costa Mesa as a language instructor and Project Based Learning teacher. Felipe is passionate in fostering cross-cultural communication, supporting future leaders, and enhancing language learning through innovative and interactive methods. Our conversation centered on his cross-cultural journey from Brazil to Japan to the United States. The themes of evolving identity and uncovering one’s voice are present throughout this episode. Check out what Felipe has to say about being a global citizen! 
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  215. GC Talks with Michelle Hobby-Mears: Being Anchored in Faith to Create Value 16.04.2026 57min

  Michelle Hobby-Mears is the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities at Soka University of America (SUA). She speaks about her journey to support the early years of building out SUA’s residential programs. Her strongly aligned values and calling to support students from all around the world informed her decision to work at SUA for over 26 years. She speaks about the importance of faith, leading a contributive life, and engaging in dialogue. Check out what Michelle has to say about being a global citizen! 
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  214. HGSE Global Citizen: Frank Arce: Education as a Bridge to Joy in Difficult Times 09.04.2026 43min

  Frank Arce is the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He is a mission-driven leader who believes education is both a public good and a powerful vehicle for social mobility. His work centers on expanding access, affordability, and student success—especially for traditionally underserved populations. Check out Frank’s journey as a first generation student who found his passion to serve students within higher education. With a deep commitment to HGSE’s motto of learning to change the world, Frank shares valuable insight into the ways that Harvard attracts and fosters global citizens. Enjoy the conversation! 
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  213. HGSE Global Citizen: Christine Hwang: Building Digital Tools and Environments to Facilitate Greater Human Connections 02.04.2026 1j

  Christine Hwang is an online learning designer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is interested in civics and literacy learning design for multilingual learners as well as the role of EdTech/AI in 21st-century education. She grew up traveling between the US and China. Her experiences navigating change in different social and cultural contexts challenged her to understand her identity from multiple perspectives. Her interest in education stems from both her passion to advocate for mental health and her family background. We discuss at length the importance of digital tools and learning environments within school contexts. Check out what Christine has to say about being a global citizen in the digitalized world! 
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  212. HGSE Global Citizen: Simon Chow: Navigating Belonging as a First Gen Student in Local and International Spaces 26.03.2026 59min

  Simon Chow is PhD candidate at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies. He is a first gen student who immigrated to the US from China with his family. His journey from Bowdoin college for undergraduates studies to Harvard for graduate studies is marked by seeking a deeper sense of belonging with his own Chinese heritage and LA upbringing. Simon shares some of the practical ways in which he joined in efforts to create spaces of belonging for minority groups in predominantly white spaces. He also offers insights about what being a global citizen means as a first gen student. Check out Simon’s journey to build more communities of belonging. Enjoy!