From the Director
Dr. Teresa Longo, Associate Provost for International Affairs and Executive Director of the Reves Center for International Studies
World Minded: The Flourishing Edition highlights the stories of William & Mary people living
fulfilling lives. This edition explores what flourishing looks like, how it grows and sometimes changes throughout an individual's career. The stories highlighted here shed light on the connections between students and faculty, faculty and staff, the university and the community. In all cases, global engagement is key.
The people featured here include William & Mary faculty, for example, a history professor who has led thirteen W&M study abroad programs (so far) and the Reves Fellows who conduct faculty-student fieldwork in places like Kamakura Japan and the Republic of Georgia. The students in this edition include the recipients of the 2024 International Student Achievement Awards, a PhD student at the Batten School, and a Freeman intern. The community connections are far reaching, from Williamsburg to China, Japan and Nepal.
What does flourishing look like in these instances? Consider Redeit Hailu '24, for example. Through our Freeman Fellowship program, Redeit worked as an intern at the We women foundation in Chaing Mai, Thailand where she embraced the intersection between economic development and women's empowerment, where she immersed herself in culture by relying on local perspectives. Flourishing in Redeit's case lines up with her burgeoning career in development. Princeton University selected her as a Princeton in Africa 2024-25 Fellow. In Redeit's story, there is also something a bit less tangible but equally important: a sense of clarity, an alignment of values, and an attentive in-person way of engaging the world.
In some cases, flourishing also lines up with world-changing events and lifelong commitments. This fall, with support from W&M Vet, the Whole of Government Center for Excellence and the Society of 1918, the Reves Center hosted members of an Afghan female military platoon. In a panel discussion in front of a rapt audience, Rebekkah Edmondson and Mahnaz Akbari spoke about the challenges they faced, or rather embraced, together in Afghanistan; and with W&M's Kathleen Jabs, they spoke of their common bonds as women in the military. Edmondson and Akbari are now setting up an NGO that will support the resettlement of Afghan War allies and their families. While theirs is not an easy story, a flourishing spirit is nonetheless strong.
At the Reves Center for International Studies, we strive to cultivate globally minded students, convene hearts and minds from across the world, and captivate global audiences. As you read this edition of World Minded, I hope you find evidence that our efforts are working, that they uphold a flourishing community, one that also includes you.
Thanks for reading!
fulfilling lives. This edition explores what flourishing looks like, how it grows and sometimes changes throughout an individual's career. The stories highlighted here shed light on the connections between students and faculty, faculty and staff, the university and the community. In all cases, global engagement is key.The people featured here include William & Mary faculty, for example, a history professor who has led thirteen W&M study abroad programs (so far) and the Reves Fellows who conduct faculty-student fieldwork in places like Kamakura Japan and the Republic of Georgia. The students in this edition include the recipients of the 2024 International Student Achievement Awards, a PhD student at the Batten School, and a Freeman intern. The community connections are far reaching, from Williamsburg to China, Japan and Nepal.
What does flourishing look like in these instances? Consider Redeit Hailu '24, for example. Through our Freeman Fellowship program, Redeit worked as an intern at the We women foundation in Chaing Mai, Thailand where she embraced the intersection between economic development and women's empowerment, where she immersed herself in culture by relying on local perspectives. Flourishing in Redeit's case lines up with her burgeoning career in development. Princeton University selected her as a Princeton in Africa 2024-25 Fellow. In Redeit's story, there is also something a bit less tangible but equally important: a sense of clarity, an alignment of values, and an attentive in-person way of engaging the world.
In some cases, flourishing also lines up with world-changing events and lifelong commitments. This fall, with support from W&M Vet, the Whole of Government Center for Excellence and the Society of 1918, the Reves Center hosted members of an Afghan female military platoon. In a panel discussion in front of a rapt audience, Rebekkah Edmondson and Mahnaz Akbari spoke about the challenges they faced, or rather embraced, together in Afghanistan; and with W&M's Kathleen Jabs, they spoke of their common bonds as women in the military. Edmondson and Akbari are now setting up an NGO that will support the resettlement of Afghan War allies and their families. While theirs is not an easy story, a flourishing spirit is nonetheless strong.
At the Reves Center for International Studies, we strive to cultivate globally minded students, convene hearts and minds from across the world, and captivate global audiences. As you read this edition of World Minded, I hope you find evidence that our efforts are working, that they uphold a flourishing community, one that also includes you.
Thanks for reading!
