Issue 173 | October 2023

School of Social Work Office of Global Activities logo
OGA Newsletter
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) is dedicated to connecting MSW students to international social work opportunities through fundingspecial programs, academic resources, internationalized curriculum, and arranging faculty and student exchanges at partner institutions.

Spotlight: Writing Retreat

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

9:00 - 11:00 AM

B760 SSWB


The Office of Global Activities is proud to announce a Writing Retreat for students, staff, and faculty to work and create together.



If you are planning to apply for funding to complete a Global Independent Study, hoping to submit a proposal for the Social Justice Impact Fund, preparing for graduation and want to update your resume and cover letter, preparing to write a letter of recommendation for a student, or you just want to join others to focus on writing of any type, then we hope to see you at our first school-wide writing retreat.


Writing & Study Skills Coordinator, Betsy Williams, as well as staff from the Office of Global Activities (OGA) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices will be available to support you with your questions.


A light breakfast will be served! Click here to RSVP!

Events

Festival of Asian Music

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 9-10, & 30; December 8 & 9

Brief Description: Composed of over twenty cross-campus performances, lectures, and associated events, this immersive festival features musical traditions from across Asia. Join the U-M School of Music, Theatre, and Dance to connect with master artists and scholars on today’s global stage and to explore the integral place of Asian musical arts at U-M and in the community Click here for more information.

Ph.D. Information Session

Date: Thursday, November 2, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Location: SSWB B760

Brief Description: MSW students who are interested in Ph.D. program can learn more about this program from Professor Katie Schultz. Contact Erika Barker to RSVP and with questions.

Community Conversation: The Role of Cultural Competence in Mental Health Care

Date: Tuesday, November 7, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Location: Virtual

Brief Description: This community conversation dives into the importance of cultural competence in mental health care, and delve into how understanding cultural diversity can improve the quality of mental health services and create a more inclusive and effective support system for all. Click here to register.

Teaching English Abroad After Graduation

Date: Thursday, November 9, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Location: Mason Hall, Room 1401

Brief Description: Teaching English abroad can be a cost-effective way to spend a year (or two!) immersing yourself in another culture after graduation. There are many ways to go about teaching English abroad, so as part of the International Career Pathways series, International Center and the English Language Institute (ELI) invite you to join them for a session that will cover topics including things to know about teaching English abroad, opportunities to do so, and how to prepare for the experience while still a student at U-M.

Pizza will be provided! Click here to register.

Global Health Career Panel

Date: Friday, November 10, 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Location: Virtual

Brief Description: Global health offers a range of career possibilities, from academia, to the non-profit, governmental, and for-profit sectors. In this event, you can hear about some career opportunities and learn how to better prepare for the global health careers of the future. This event is co-hosted by the School of Nursing, School of Public Health and Center for Global Health Equity as part of the International Careers Pathways series of events.

Featured Speaker(s): TBA.

Click here to learn more and register.

60 Minutes Around the Globe: Malaysia

Date: Friday, November 10, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Location: 921 Church St. International House Ann Arbor

Brief Description: 60 Minutes Around the Globe is a program series hosted by the International House Ann Arbor (IHAA) and the International Center where members of the international community share a brief presentation about the culture and history of their home country. The presentation is followed by a time for discussion and enjoying light refreshments. This presentation is about the culture and history of Malaysia. Snacks and refreshments will be served! Click here to register.

Healing Through Movement

Date: Monday, November 13, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Location: SSWB 1840 (ECC)

Brief Description: Join the Global Social Work Practice Pathway and Self-Healing and Social Justice Art Collective for an interactive workshop using dance movement therapy for healing and nurturing overall well-being. Experience the power of movement in promoting holistic well-being, empowerment and social change with Dr. Sohini Chakraborty, Founder and Director of Kolkata Sanved, a Dance Movement Therapy organization based in Kolkata, India.

There will be opportunities for discussion with special guests and collective collaborators. Dinner will be served! Click here to learn more and RSVP.

2023 CEW+ Mullin Welch Endowed Lecture: Sohini Chakraborty, Ph.D.

Date: Tuesday, November 14, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Location: Michigan League Ballroom, 911 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Brief Description: Dr. Sohini Chakraborty, an Ashoka fellow, sociologist, dance activist, and dance movement therapist, is the founder/director of Kolkata Sanved. Dr. Chakraborty is going to share her story and her work. Click here to register.

Farm Women Centrality and Climate Actions in South Asia: Dr. Rajashree Joshi

Date: Thursday, November 16, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: Virtual

Brief Description: This is the third webinar in a series of virtual lectures by experts who are leading innovative programs that address poverty, women's rights, environmental injustice, and socioeconomic development in South Asia.

The series is free of charge, but you need to register to receive the link to the webinar. Click here for more information about the speaker and to register.

Wildfires and Community Well-Being

Date: Friday, November 17, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Location: Virtual

Brief Description: Climate change is already having dramatic effects on human health and well-being. How are we adapting to these new realities and mitigating health risks for the world’s most vulnerable communities? Join the International Institute, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the Office of Global Public Health for the second seminar of the series: Climate Vulnerability & Health — How are we Responding?

Featured Speaker: Paige Fischer, Environment and Sustainability, U-M.

Click here to register.

Trans and Nonbinary Passport Clinic

Date: Friday, November 17, 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Location: Weiser Hall, Room 255, Center for Global and Intercultural Study, 500 Church St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 49109

Brief Description: The School of Social Work Office of Global Activities, U-M Spectrum Center, and U-M Center for Global and Intercultural Study are collaborating to host a Trans and Nonbinary Passport Clinic. During this event, the Washtenaw County Clerk's office will assist students and community members to apply for, renew, or make changes to their passport in the form of a name change or updated gender marker. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to have a passport photo taken on-site at no cost. This event is hosted specifically for folks needing a gender marker or name change, but all individuals applying for a new or renewed passport are welcome to attend. Click here for more information about the event and to register.

Announcements

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program

The DDRA Fellowships provide opportunities for PhD candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in less commonly taught modern foreign languages and non-Western-European area studies.

This competition will open later in the Winter Term of 2024. Because of the short turnaround, interested parties should complete a Declaration of Intent to Apply form.

Click here and/or contact iifellowships@umich.edu for more information.

Critical Language Scholarship Program

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world.

Languages offered: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.

The application deadline is November 15, 2023. Click here to learn more about the program, eligibility criteria, and review process.

Israel and Palestinian Territories Evacuation Insurance Update

U-M faculty travelers who were in Israel have been successfully evacuated using our GeoBlue travel abroad health insurance. The evacuation was facilitated by Crisis24, our assistance provider contracted through GeoBlue. Because University of Michigan used its evacuation coverage in Israel, U-M travelers will not have access to GeoBlue / Crisis24 evacuation services in Israel for the next 60 days. If you plan to travel to Israel or the Palestinian Territories in the next 60 days, please notify the travel safety team at umich-itoc@umich.edu so that they can reach out to you and plan next steps.

Passport Day: Updated Application Deadline

The Global Engagement U.S. Passport Grant Program is a new initiative of the Office of the Provost designed to provide financial and administrative support for the purpose of obtaining a U.S. Passport. A valid passport opens the doors for students to pursue valuable international experiences, including study abroad, internships, research, volunteer opportunities, competitions, and conferences. Applicants awarded the Global Engagement U.S. Passport Grant must be available to attend the Passport Day Workshop for one hour on Monday, December 4, 2023 (multiple time slots will be available throughout the day). Passport Day is a one-day event where the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office will be on campus to accept passport applications. The application deadline is Friday, November 3, 2023.

Boren Awards: Language, Culture, Service

The Boren Fellowships for International Study provide funding for research and language study in areas critical to U.S. interests. U-M Boren Fellowship campus application deadline is January 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST, and the national application deadline is January 24, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST. If you seek advising for this program, please contact iifellowships@umich.edu.

Professional Opportunities

Fellowships & Grants Coordinator, U-M LSA International Institute

Application Deadline: October 31, 2023

Brief Description: This position sits within the II Academic Services team and leads promotional efforts and administration of several prominent fellowship programs for international experiences and language learning. This is a dynamic role that includes student advising, opportunities to develop varied student programming, and leadership for a small team of exceptional fellowships advisors.

Click here to learn more and apply.

External Grants Manager, U-M LSA International Institute

Application Deadline: November 2, 2023

Brief Description: This position is primarily responsible for coordinating evaluation, reporting, and collaborative projects for US Department of Education Title VI grants that fund National Resource Centers and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships. These grants strive to develop the nation’s capacity in international studies, area studies, foreign languages, and international business education.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Multiple Positions Available: General Dynamics Information Technology

Application Deadline: N/A

Brief Description: General Dynamics Information Technology has two job opportunities for students or alumni who want to work with refugees and immigrant groups at the federal level. These include:

Multiple Positions Available: Office of Refugee Resettlement

Application Deadline: N/A

Brief Description: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is hiring for two positions.

Contact Dr. Ashley Cureton to learn more.

Resources

GeoBlue Health Insurance: At a Glance

A quick guide to enrolling in and utilizing GeoBlue Travel Health Insurance, from Global Michigan.

U-M Considerations for International Travel

Required steps for students, staff, and faculty travelling on U-M business.

CDC Yellow Book 2024

The CDC Yellow Book is a source of the U.S. Government’s recommendations on travel medicine and has been a trusted resource among the travel medicine community for over 50 years.

To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive.

Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.