For , successful international academic partnerships are built the same way as any meaningful relationship: through trust, shared goals, and ongoing collaboration.

Over the years, Castaneda has helped cultivate a growing partnership between the Ģ����ý and the , creating opportunities for collaborative research, shared learning, and long-term academic engagement that extends well beyond traditional exchange programs.

At the center of the collaboration is a shared commitment to addressing healthcare challenges through innovation. Castaneda’s research focuses on point-of-care quantitative ultrasound — combining artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and advanced imaging technologies to make ultrasound more accessible to healthcare providers with limited training. The work has had significant impact in rural and underserved regions throughout Peru, including communities in the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains, and remote desert regions where access to specialized healthcare is limited.

But according to Castaneda, the partnership’s success comes not only from the technology itself, but from the collaborative framework supporting it.

“A meaningful collaboration benefits all partners and works both ways,” he explains. “International collaborations are key to truly understanding healthcare problems from a global perspective and proposing solutions together.”

Through the Ģ����ý–PUCP partnership, both institutions have gained a deeper understanding of healthcare systems, educational approaches, and community needs within their respective countries. Faculty and students regularly engage across institutions through collaborative teaching, joint projects, and research initiatives that encourage participants to learn directly from one another’s experiences.

“Students at both institutions interact to better understand the realities they each face,” Castaneda says. “Each partner brings different skills, perspectives, and resources that strengthen the overall work of the group.”

That exchange of knowledge has become one of the defining strengths of the partnership. Rather than operating as a one-sided collaboration, the relationship has evolved into a mutually beneficial academic ecosystem where expertise flows in both directions.

Castaneda believes that sustained partnerships require intentional investment over time.

“An academic partnership is a relationship that needs to be nurtured,” he says. “It should begin with a clear objective that benefits both sides and continue through ongoing interaction that builds trust and demonstrates progress.”

As trust develops, partnerships often naturally expand. What may begin as a research collaboration can grow into co-teaching opportunities, student internships, summer schools, faculty exchanges, and broader institutional initiatives. Castaneda notes that his relationship with PUCP now extends beyond research into teaching and other academic endeavors, creating multiple points of connection between the institutions.

This model, he believes, reflects how global engagement initiatives can create deeper and more sustainable impact. While student exchanges remain valuable, long-term partnerships rooted in collaboration and shared purpose can strengthen research capacity, enrich student learning, and support communities locally and globally.

The future of these collaborations is only becoming more promising. Advances in telecommunications and emerging technologies such as virtual reality are making international collaboration more accessible and dynamic than ever before.

For Castaneda, that means even greater potential for partnerships like the one between Rochester and PUCP to continue growing — expanding opportunities for students and researchers while advancing solutions to real-world healthcare challenges.

At its core, he says, the success of any global partnership comes down to relationships: institutions and individuals working together consistently, learning from one another, and building something larger than either could accomplish alone.

For more information regarding international partnerships and agreements, please reach out to Megan Bennett-Spears, associate director of international partnerships at megan.bennett-spears@rochester.edu.

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It is a privilege to share my first message as the Ģ����ý’s Vice Provost for Global Engagement. Since joining Ģ����ý in October 2025, I have been deeply inspired by the energy, intellect, and global vision that define this community. In conversations with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and international partners, I have witnessed a shared commitment not only to engaging with the world, but to shaping it for the better. The warm welcome I have received affirms the Ģ����ý’s long-standing dedication to global connection and strengthens my resolve to help lead our next chapter of international impact—one defined by truly boundless possibilities for global engagement.

From its founding, the Ģ����ý has embraced a global orientation—one that values openness to the world, meaningful collaboration across cultures, and the pursuit of knowledge that benefits society everywhere. This legacy of global engagement is one of Ģ����ý’s greatest strengths. As I step into this role, I do so with a profound appreciation for those who have built and sustained this tradition and with a clear sense of responsibility to steward it into the future.

Importantly, this work is firmly grounded in Meliora—our aspiration to always be “ever better.” These values guide not only what we strive for, but how we strive: with curiosity, compassion, integrity, and a belief that excellence is inseparable from inclusion. They remind us that global engagement is not something separate from our identity; it is embedded in the very fabric of who we are as an institution.

The Ģ����ý’s strategic plan, Boundless Possibilities, further strengthens this foundation by articulating a bold vision for the next decade. The plan challenges us to deepen our academic distinction, expand opportunities for all students, and forge new pathways for meaningful global impact. In the context of Global Affairs, this calls us to reconsider how we cultivate global fluency among our students, how we support faculty in building transnational research collaborations, and how we position Ģ����ý as a trusted and influential partner in addressing complex global challenges.

One of our priorities in the year ahead is collaborating with colleagues across campus to build on our long-standing success in international enrollment and to extend our reach into new parts of the world. Our global community thrives when students from a broad spectrum of regions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds join our campus. Expanding the global breadth of our student population not only enriches the academic experience for everyone, but also reflects our commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student can flourish. Working closely with campus partners, we will pursue new recruitment pathways, strengthen and broaden regional partnerships, and enhance access so that talented students worldwide see the Ģ����ý as a place where they can learn, contribute, and belong.

The world students are entering today requires not only disciplinary expertise, but also the agility to navigate cultural diversity, geopolitical uncertainty, and unprecedented technological change—especially the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Our office will collaborate with schools and departments to expand internationally focused curricular and co-curricular opportunities; to broaden access to education abroad; and to leverage digital tools that make global learning more inclusive, flexible, and resilient. We aim to ensure that every student, regardless of background or field of study, has the chance to cultivate the global competencies that will shape their careers and enrich their lives.

Equally important is the Ģ����ý’s role as a global research partner. Across our campuses, scholars are pushing the boundaries of knowledge in ways that transcend borders—from public health and sustainability to quantum science, data analytics, and the humanities. In the coming year, we will strengthen our support for international research partnerships, explore new avenues for multidisciplinary collaboration, and build structures that allow faculty to connect more seamlessly with colleagues around the world. Our goal is to amplify the impact of the groundbreaking work already occurring here and to help spark innovative, globally relevant research initiatives.

Partnerships remain at the heart of our strategy. Whether we are engaging with peer universities, government entities, NGOs, or industry, we will approach these relationships with humility, reciprocity, and a commitment to mutual benefit. We will also deepen our ties with our extensive international alumni community—whose perspectives, expertise, and global networks are invaluable to our mission.

Above all, I want the Office for Global Engagement to serve as a catalyst—one that brings people together, supports their ambitions, and helps turn ideas into opportunities. In the coming months, we will begin a consultative process to shape a refreshed vision for global engagement across the URochester. This will include conversations with campus stakeholders, external partners, and students, whose voices are essential as we chart our path forward.

I am immensely optimistic about what lies ahead. At a moment when global connections are both more essential and more complex than ever, Ģ����ý stands poised to lead with clarity, purpose, and conviction. Guided by our values and energized by the Meliora spirit, we have a tremendous opportunity to imagine—and realize—what a more connected, collaborative, and internationally engaged university can be. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we build on our strong foundation and chart bold new pathways that expand our global footprint and deepen our impact.

Thank you for your partnership and for the many ways you contribute to our global mission. Together, we will continue to shape a URochester that not only engages with the world, but helps make it ever better.

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Ph.D
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Professor, Warner School of Education

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Ruth currently serves in the Office for Global Engagement, where she plays a central role in advancing the University’s global engagement priorities. In her work, she supports strategic initiatives, coordinates complex projects, and facilitates collaboration across teams to ensure alignment with institutional goals related to global partnerships, global learning, and student and faculty mobility.

Prior to joining the URochester, Ruth worked in international development in Washington, D.C., supporting U.S. government–funded projects focused on economic development and political stability in Asia. Her professional experience also includes refugee assistance work in New York City and service with a non-governmental organization in South Africa. She brings a strong global perspective shaped by extensive international study and professional experience.

Ruth holds a B.A. in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College and an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University.

Please join me in congratulating Ruth on this well-deserved appointment.

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, PhD
Vice Provost, Global Engagement
Professor, Warner School of Education

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Ravi currently serves in a senior leadership role in the Office for Global Engagement and previously served as Interim Vice Provost for Global Engagement from November 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. In that role, he led the University’s global strategy, strengthening international research partnerships, faculty exchange, global learning, student mobility, and support for international students. Prior to this appointment, he served as Assistant Vice Provost for International Services and Support at the URochester.

Before joining the University, Ravi was Director of International Student and Scholar Services at Northwestern University, where he contributed to senior-level global initiatives. He brings more than 30 years of experience in international education across a range of institutional contexts.

Ravi is a past President and Chair of the Board of NAFSA (2019–2020) and currently serves on the Public Policy Committee of the Association of International Education Administration (AIEA).

Please join me in congratulating Ravi on this well-deserved appointment.

Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, PhD
Vice Provost, Global Engagement
Professor, Warner School of Education

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As a longstanding participant, the Ģ����ý has remained committed to fostering a globally inclusive community. Over the past 75 years, the university has witnessed remarkable growth in the distinctiveness and number of its international students, underscoring its dedication to expanding its global footprint and supporting cross-cultural initiatives and programs.

This recognition comes as we celebrate #InternationalEducationWeek, a time to reflect on the impact of international partnerships and our commitment to fostering global connections.

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The participating teachers come from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Finland, Greece, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, Singapore, Taiwan, and Uganda. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs and aims to promote cultural, linguistic, and educational exchange.

Program details

From September 2024 to December 2024, the Fulbright teachers will collaborate with local K-12 schools and engage with Rochester families, contributing to cross-cultural learning within the community.

Community involvement

Members of the Rochester community are invited to participate in the program by:

• Sharing a meal with the teachers
• Celebrating a holiday together
• Attending a Fulbright event

These activities are intended to facilitate cultural exchange and offer Fulbright teachers the opportunity to experience American culture firsthand.

Living arrangements

The Fulbright teachers will be housed in apartments provided by the Ģ����ý during their stay.

For those interested in participating, please complete the .

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As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Office for Global Engagement (Global), it is a reflective moment on the evolution of the office and the growth of services and support for international students, scholars, employees, and families. The International Services Office (ISO), as a unit within the Global, has played a crucial role in this journey. Through our partnership with Global and collaboration with constituents and stakeholders, we have fostered an enduring relationship that makes the University a welcoming place, a space to belong and flourish for our international population.

Growth in international students

Over the last decade, the international student population at the URochester has seen an upward trajectory in total numbers, with the exception of the COVID years, and our concentration of international students is higher than most of our peers. One-third of international students studying in the U.S originate in China. At the University, nearly 50% of the international population are students from China followed by India, South Korea, and Canada. International students represent near 30% of the total student body, and the level of support and engagement provided by ISO has evolved and now is aligned with ISO Enduring Priorities, Global’s priorities and the University’s strategic plan.

Organizational response to growth

In response to the growth and evolving needs of our constituents and stakeholders, ISO undertook an organizational restructuring to meet the new challenges by integrating advising services, merging service operations, and strengthening the support and engagement services to reflect our mission, vision, and organizing principles.

Growth in programming and advising structure

ISO has expanded its programming efforts in how we support and engage our international students by launching a new Support and Engagement team in 2022. As a result, our programming and community outreach efforts is data-driven to provide the necessary foundations for students to flourish and belong at the URochester.

ISO introduced a new advising model which ensured students remain with the adviser for the duration of their academic journey at the University. This ensured consistency in advising on immigration policy, process, and procedures, allowing advisers to know their students and gain in-depth contextual knowledge of their experience, thus enabling holistic advising.

As a critical strategic initiative, ISO is committed to partnerships and collaboration, especially with the Center for Education Abroad and schools and other service units.

Utilizing technology to enhance services

ISO utilizes technology and training tools to optimize and support staff work to ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements and achieve operational and managerial efficiencies.

To engage students and scholars and empower them, the advising teams introduced an online appointment system in conjunction with rolling out several electronic forms that provided students, scholars and hosting departments a streamlined process and significantly reducing response and processing times.

The creation of the Document Management and Training team introduced further efficiencies in document processing times to two to three days instead of the traditional two weeks, thereby giving new students flexibility and advantage in visa appointments at US Consular Posts. Aligned with the educational mission of ISO, the team will launch a training series for faculty and departments on foundational issues of immigration and challenges faced by international students.

The future of ISO

ISO looks forward to the next decade of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. We aim to build on the foundations of the past ten years, creating, nurturing, and equipping our students to flourish in a complex, interdependent, and interconnected world.

Congratulations to the Office for Global Engagement! Happy 10th anniversary.

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