Webinar Wednesday

Presenters  

Dr. Gabi Kirk, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography Environment and Spatial Analysis, Cal Poly Humboldt - Connecting Palestine and California through Place and Memory 

Dr. Des Saad Amira, Urban Studies and Spatial Practices, Al-Quds Bard College, Abu Dis, Palestine - Introduction to the Endangered Palestinian Memories initiative 

Samar Awaad, Independent Researcher, Ramallah, Palestine - Jerusalem Through the Seams of Memory comes to Oakland, California

Abstract

Palestine and California are geographically distant, yet they share, per Edward Said, related "imaginary geographies"—both are Mediterranean climates; both have seen violent histories and ongoing structures of settler-colonial genocide; and both have vibrant stories of resilience and resistance through continued connection to land and placemaking in spite of state violence. This panel explores Palestine-California relationships through the methodology and narrative of a new exhibit to open in Oakland in mid-March, “Jerusalem from the Seams of Memory.” The exhibit explores Jerusalem’s Palestinian history through the story of those displaced from it (including to California, which has a large Palestinian-American community). It offers a portrait of lived experiences of Palestinians in Jerusalem and its villages, the lands of Jerusalem that are at the center of their lives, and stories of their homes. The exhibit blends oral history testimonies, personal belongings collections, artistic interpretations and installations including critical cartographic maps, photography, and multimedia displays. Speakers on the panel will share about the overall oral history project of the Endangered Palestine Memory initiative, what the process has been like to design the exhibit for audiences in California, and how Palestine and California connect through narratives of displacement and resistance through placemaking.

Panel Moderator

Xiaoye She, Faculty Fellow, Committee for International Research, CSU San Marcos

Abstract

This panel explores how California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) cultivates global competencies through curricular innovation, faculty-led research, and student-led projects. By connecting local engagement to global perspectives, the panel highlights three distinct pillars of internationalization. First, it examines the institutional evolution of the Global Commitment Committee and its non-credit certificate program designed to incentivize campus-wide participation. Second, it presents longitudinal research on the long-term impacts of short-term study abroad programs, offering data on how these experiences shape student success. Finally, it showcases the "Climate to Action" student podcast, demonstrating how student voices bridge campus sustainability initiatives with global climate justice conversations. Geared toward a student and teaching audience, this session offers replicable models for fostering global citizenship across the CSU system.

Incorporating Global Education in a University Campus
Presenter: Dino Bozonelos, Department of Political Science & Global Affairs 
This presentation discusses the evolution of the Global Commitment Committee (GCC), focusing on the development and use of a non-credit semester-length certificate to incentivize student participation in campus-wide global initiatives. 

Examining Cross-Cultural Awareness and Global Health Perspectives: Impact of Short-term Study Abroad in Italy and Science Identity
Presenter: Devan R. Romero, Department of Kinesiology, CSU San Marcos
This presentation will capture pedagogical research in examining experiential learning outcomes and processes through study abroad and global education. It highlights the lasting value of these experiences for CSU students and discusses strategies for maximizing global competency outcomes. 

Climate to Action: Amplifying Student Voices in Global Sustainability
Presenters: Anne Dabb & Molly Saruwatari, Environmental Studies, CSU San Marcos
This presentation features the "Climate to Action"; student podcast, an initiative of the Climate Action and Sustainability Center (CASC). It demonstrates how student-led media projects serve as a local-to-global pedagogical tool, connecting campus-based sustainability efforts to broader global dialogues.

Presenters

Mitzi Salgado, M.I.P.P.M Founder & CEO Transfronterizo Institute 

Vannessa Falcón Orta, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Division of Education San Diego State University- Imperial Valley

Alexa Ochoa Student Leader Transfronterizo Institute 

Abstract

AB 91 is a first-of-its-kind policy, amended in 2024, that exempts eligible community college students from nonresident tuition fees if they reside near the California–Baja California (CaliBaja) border. This bill is especially important for Transfronterizx (transborder) students who live and learn along the U.S.–Mexico borderlands, crossing the border each day to exercise their human right to an education. 3 This session introduces participants to the Transfronterizx student population, highlights the activism that led to the passage of AB 91, and examines ongoing advocacy to implement the policy across community colleges in the CaliBaja region. Implementation efforts are led by the TransFronterizo Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the experiences, knowledge, and bilingualism of Transfronterizx students and transforming educational settings to recognize the strengths of those navigating multiple borders. The session concludes with practical recommendations for community colleges enrolling Transfronterizx students and for four-year institutions admitting Transfronterizx transfer students. Our goal is for California colleges and universities to adopt these recommendations in a supportive, equity-driven manner and to encourage the creation of similar policies throughout the U.S.–Mexico border. Ultimately, we aim to advance educational justice for the diverse student populations that shape our interconnected Global world.

Development dependency in Zambia 

Presenter: Samuel King, CSU Long Beach MA Student 

Abstract: In 2025, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reduced its assistance to Zambia by nearly 90%, cutting funding from USD 408 million to USD 47 million. This paper examines the geographies of aid withdrawal and how abrupt donor retrenchment reshapes spatial, political, and social relations within Zambia’s development landscape. Drawing on qualitative field research in Kabwe, Chipata, and Lusaka, the study explores how the end of U.S. aid was experienced and reinterpreted across scales—from clinics and farms to national institutions. Anchored in soft power theory, dependency theory, and post-aid resilience frameworks, this research analyses uneven geographies of impact. Relational interviews and testimonies from former aid employees contribute to a narrative of USAID exit in the context of Zambia. The findings suggest that USAID’s exit marks not only a fiscal event but a spatial and geopolitical realignment. A retreat of American soft power alongside the emergence of multinational investors creates a critical juncture for Zambia’s development future. By situating these processes in everyday spaces of governance and production, the paper contributes to international debates on development dependency, soft power projection methods, and the shifting moral geographies of global aid. 

Marine Plastic Pollution: Philippines’ ever growing problem 

Presenter: Rowella Aldana, CSU East Bay Undergraduate student 

Abstract: Marine plastic pollution (MPP) is a growing problem in the Philippines and has been gaining more attention in the last few months due to not only climate change and its effects on people and their daily lives, but also due to the continuing protest by its youth, demanding to know what the government is doing with tax money. We will explore and attempt to understand why the impact of climate change has been so much harder in the Philippines than any other countries, who are also affected by the same typhoons, monsoons and heavy storms. In this paper, we ask why it is that the Philippine government has not effectively managed such a serious issue for more than twenty years? What is the Philippine government doing or not doing that is making no difference in storm management or the plastic pollution? 

Localizing Aid Beyond Regionalism: A Country-Specific Strategy for Reproductive Health and Gender Equality in Bolivia 

Presenter: Tania Vasquez, CSU Long Beach MA student 

Abstract: This paper addresses the paramount need for country-specific differentiation within reproductive health and gender equity funding structures, using IPAS Bolivia as a case study. Usually, international aid sees Latin America as a monolithic region, diluting resources intended for unique national contexts. This study presents a strategic framework for international positioning that separates IPAS Bolivia’s localized, intercultural mission and challenges from broad regional agendas. By analyzing Bolivia’s specific legal landscape—specifically Sentencia Constitucional 0206/2014 and Law 1639—and the particular needs of women from rural areas, the paper suggests a 'micro-implementation' model instead of a regional 'macro-strategy'; It details the creation of a partnership toolkit designed to avoid regional intermediaries and secure direct international funding for localized gender-based violence prevention and comprehensive sexual education programs. Moreover, it highlights a pioneering academic alliance with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), proving how cross-border research partnerships can support national strategies and unlock specialized funding. This approach offers a replicable model for Global South entities pursuing autonomy and financial sustainability in an era of centralized and changing aid.

Presenters

Jenny Lin, CSU Monterey Bay College of Business & MBA Director 

Dante Di Gregorio, CSU Monterey Bay College of Business 

Amanda Izaguirre-Lumm, Glora Lewis, Julia Ulm - CSU Monterey Bay MBA students 

Abstract 

Experiential learning is particularly valuable in international business education, yet traditional forms of international experience can be inaccessible, especially for working adults in MBA programs. This article examines an alternative model of international experiential learning integrated into the online MBA program at CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB). In partnership with Global Brigades’ Kambia program, MBA students have conducted consulting projects for micro-enterprises in Panama and Honduras between 2022 and 2025, collaborating with 54 clients across 14 Panamanian and 23 Honduran communities. We outline the program’s structure and its alignment with curricular goals, reflect on both faculty and student perspectives regarding its contributions to the MBA experience, and present a sample consulting engagement with a coffee grower to illustrate student learning outcomes. Broader student feedback is then synthesized, with implications for learners, faculty and program administrators seeking to expand access to meaningful global business experience.

Presenter

Jolene McCall, Assistant Professor CSU Long Beach

Abstract

This article emerges from a longstanding relationship with the Long Beach Sister Cities Program, culminating in a recent visit to Qingdao, a Long Beach Sister City in China, as part of this collaborative partnership. My visit to China was marked by profound cross-cultural exchanges and networking with both Chinese counterparts and other CSU faculty and students, offering inspiration and insight into the potential for the California State University (CSU) system to harness the power of community partnerships. These interactions underscored the critical importance of developing scalable models that can be shared across CSU’s diverse campuses, enriching student and faculty engagement through international collaboration. By leveraging such partnerships, CSU is uniquely positioned to deepen global awareness and foster sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships that enhance our students, faculty, and community members through educational growth and experiences

Presenters

James Simon, Cal State L.A., School of Social Work
Jenny Lin, Cal State University Monterey Bay, College of Business
Tasha Willis, Cal State L.A., School of Social Work

Abstract

How can COIL enrich education across diverse contexts? Drawing on three projects at two CSU campuses with partners in Germany, Colombia, and Taiwan, this panel synthesizes student‑reported benefits and concrete implementation practices across disciplines (social work and marketing). Reported gains include stronger comparative reasoning (“Similarities/Differences → So what?”), enhanced intercultural communication, problem solving, and motivation to sustain international collaborations. We will share successful implementation strategies including pre‑assigning binational teams, quick‑start COIL guides, milestone‑based rubrics, brief micro‑lectures during COIL weeks, hybrid troubleshooting (one device per in‑room group, captions, low‑bandwidth options), and time‑zone scheduling. Each panelist will present lessons learned plus a ready‑to‑adopt artifact (rubric, timeline, or tech checklist). Attendees will leave with inspiration and ideas on how to get started with COIL, how to incorporate COIL across various disciplines, and possibly scale up to multiple courses.

Presenters

Nick Bond, Latrobe University, Australia

Steve Blumenshine, Executive Director, CSU-WATER (Water Advocacy Towards Education and Research)

Abstract

The aim of this project is to assist farmer and grower groups to become more drought resilient by improving access to and literacy in best-available weather and climate information. Our team brings together grower groups together with global experts in weather and climate forecasting to focus on establishing grower information needs and using this information to deploy cutting edge weather sensors. Simultaneously we will evaluate currently available weather and climate forecasting products using grower and science based evaluation criteria. The outcome will enable farmer led-decision making in adoption of innovative weather information to reduce critical business risks thereby increasing overall business resilience to weather and climate uncertainty.

Join us at the Goodwin Forum for snacks and refreshments before this year's keynote presentation: Global California: Scholarship in an Age of Forgetting.

This system-wide keynote panel will both in-person and simulcast, and will feature thought leaders Kate Gordon, Ian Klaus, and Shankar Raman, exploring how California can shape a more connected and resilient global future.

More information