INNOVATION ACROSS BORDERS: GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2025

The Global Engagement Conference on May 21, 2025, opened at 9:30 a.m. in William Phillip Hall at the University of Washington Tacoma with a land acknowledgement by Dr. Danica Sterud Miller, welcoming attendees to the ancestral lands of the Puyallup Tribe. The regional conference showcased student global research on the theme, “INNOVATION ACROSS BORDERS.”
In her opening remarks, Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange praised the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement, describing it as "a bedrock of our university’s commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and learning." She reflected on the urgent challenges facing our world, stating, “We live in an age of heightened mistrust and conflict across the globe... Climate change, public health, human rights, and income inequality hold no regard for arbitrary lines between countries, communities, or academic disciplines. I am deeply inspired by today’s program, which features themes selected by UW Tacoma students and faculty who embody the collaborative spirit of this event.”
Associate Vice Chancellor Dr. Divya McMillin shared the vision of the Institute for Innovation and Global Engagement, the conference host, for a "globally engaged campus." Conference panels on Health and Human Rights, Climate Change and Globalization, Innovation and Design, and Care and Community reflected urgent issues of the time and McMillin commended students on the courage of their inquiry.
Dr. Ciara O'Connell [Global Honors '09] delivers powerful keynote
Keynote speaker, Dr. Ciara O'Connell, Principal Officer of Criminal Policy in the Ireland Department of Justice and graduate of the Global Honors Program in 2009, delivered a riveting speech that captivated the audience, especially resonating with students. Her talk was titled, “Global Rights, Local Lives: Prioritizing People for Meaningful Change.”
Drawing from her own lived experiences, Dr. O’Connell discussed three themes: centering lived experiences to enable positive innovation, understanding that big ways to do things are possible even when one is feeling small, and that beginning with a personal point of entry is key to successful innovation. Dr. O'Connell was present throughout the day, providing feedback to students and inspiring them with her experiences as a student in the UW Tacoma Global Honors Program.
Morning Panels Address Health and Human Rights

Conference sessions opened with the Bamford Fellowship in Global Engagement, with student and faculty fellows Whitney Lopez and Dr. Margaret Griesse (School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences) presenting a year-long comparative study of taxation policy, gender inequality, and human rights in Brazil and the United States. Under the panel themes of “Health and Human Rights” and “Climate Change and Globalization”, students took to the stage to share research and stories, many of them calling for action and a change in political and social activist strategies around the world. Presentations explored the experiences of transgender communities across the United States, Brazil, and South Africa, gendered barriers to healthcare in Ghana, and HIV prevention efforts in the Asia-Pacific region. Students also examined the long-term mental health impact of food insecurity and offered migrant-centered solutions, connecting personal narratives with broader global patterns. Global Honors student Hailey Sato delved into the complex ethical considerations surrounding novel synthetic biology, questioning what it means to be "sapient, not sentient." Analyses of key environmental justice interventions through nature-based solutions rounded out the morning session with presenter Jennifer Huynh bringing global lessons home through her examination of wildfire preparedness in the Pierce Conservation District. Community members and faculty served as panel respondents and moderators.
Lunch Poster Session Expands Scope of Conference

The energy in William Phillip Hall reached a peak during the midday poster session, where undergraduate and graduate students presented their research and experiences on global issues such as equitable healthcare access, environmental restoration, and gentrification. Faculty, peers, community members and even other poster presenters got to engage deeply with all the amazing work on display.
Innovation and Design, Care and Community, and Climate Change Afternoon Panels Connect Local to Global

The afternoon session began with a brief talk on "The Importance of Student Global Engagement in Our Times" delivered by UW Center for Global Studies Managing Director Philip Shekleton. Student panels followed on “Innovation and Design” and “Care and Community”. Presentations tackled repurposing storage containers into sustainable and low energy housing solutions and the growing impact of gentrification on underdeveloped communities. Speaking on the latter topic, Global Honors student Elena Mendoza focused on community land trusts (CLT) to facilitate long-term ownership, permanent affordability, and a stable economy.
Key conference sponsors were The Bamford Foundation, the Global Innovation and Design Lab, and the UW Center for Global Studies.
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