Our Mission: The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) develops inclusive and accessible educational opportunities around the globe, primarily for LSA undergraduates. Our academically rich programs foster intellectual curiosity and intercultural understanding by encouraging students and faculty to engage with host communities through conscious and responsible participation. CGIS is committed to furthering diversity within study abroad.
CGIS works closely with U-M faculty members who lead various types of programs abroad and the many international partners who host our students in countries around the globe!
For Faculty
Proposing New Programs
CGIS works closely with UM faculty members to conceptualize, design, and implement study abroad programs. We offer a range of opportunities to teach abroad on short-term programs during the spring & summer. Graduate students are not eligible to submit proposals for a CGIS program.
Preparation
All instructors appointed to CGIS programs participate in faculty orientations that helps them prepare for the experience of teaching abroad. Topics may include health and safety, managing group dynamics, strategies for incorporating experiential learning, dealing with emergencies, and other best practices from the field. These sessions afford faculty members new to study abroad an opportunity to learn from colleagues who have already led programs abroad as well as from CGIS staff.
Support
All faculty members directing or teaching a CGIS program receive 24/7 support while on site, both from the on-site partners that CGIS contracts to provide logistical support and from the CGIS staff in Ann Arbor. Examples include:
- making logistical arrangements (housing, classroom rental, excursions),
- coordinating responses to medical situations, both locally (on site) and remotely (for emergencies),
- managing evacuations when programs have been suspended due to political unrest or natural disaster,
- liaising between students and their families or others as necessary,
- handling disciplinary issues, including coordinating with OSCR and the Dean of Students,
- advising faculty when situations arise that they are unsure how to handle.
Marketing your program
In order to ensure our office is effectively reaching students on campus, CGIS has a number of opportunities to market your future programs!
- CGIS distributes an annual Study Abroad Catalog that holds CGIS's entire program offerings for the upcoming academic year. Inside, students can find out information about affordability, steps to take to studying abroad, student stories, program descriptions, and more! Catalogs can be found on catalog racks in Ross Academic Center, West Quad, East Quad, East Hall, Weiser Hall, North University building, Chemistry building, USB, North Quad, MLB, Mason Hall, Angelle Hall, LSA building, Randall Lab, and Lorch Hall.
- Along with featuring your program in the catalog, CGIS houses all programs on our website. As leaders of your protential programs, the website is a great opportunity to encourage students why your program can be beneficial to their academic learning while also creating a unique global experience for them as well.
- Each prorgram links to M-Compass where students complete the application process, but M-Compass is also used university-wide to promote all international experiences along with funding and more!
- CGIS also utilizes social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube to get the word out on all programs. We're always looking to create content such has video interviews, Instagram stories or LIVE sessions, articles, etc.
*NOTE: CGIS does not create individual flyers for programs, however, should you feel that one is required due to unforseen circumstances, please contact Stephen Gonzalez.
For qeustions on faculty compensation, please e-mail Associate Director Pardip Bolina (bolina@umich.edu).
Explore your options!
Providers and Exchange Coordinators
In case of an emergency involving a CGIS student, follow the directions on the Emergencies Abroad page.
For questions or issues involving CGIS students, contact the CGIS advisor who is the liaison for your program. You may also call the CGIS front desk during business hours (M–F, 8:00-17:00 Eastern US Time Zone).
If you are an exchange partner and have questions relating to a student studying at the University of Michigan through CGIS, contact Nyanatee Bailey. Nyanatee will be able to connect you with the proper offices for questions relating to credits, grades, and finances.
For questions relating to institutional agreements and/or contracts, contact CGIS associate director Pardip Bolina.
Previous CGIS Faculty
Michela Arnaboldi
Lecturer, Earth/PiTE. Arnaboldi will be leading GCC Italy—Environment.
Eric Beuerlein
Lecturer of French. Beuerlein will be co-teaching Intermediate French Language Studies.
Bénédicte Boisseron
Associate Professor of Afroamerican & African Studies. Boisseron will be leading Black Paris.
Tatiana Calixto
Lecturer of Spanish. Calixto will be leading Spanish 232 in Colombia.
Cat Cassel
Sweetland Writing Center Lecturer. Cassel will be leading First Year Writing Requirement in Dublin, Ireland
Kai Cortina
Professor of Psychology. Cortina will be co-leading GCC China—Research in Educational & Cross-Cultural Settings.
Frieda Ekotto Professor of Comparative Literature, DAAS. Ekotto will be co-leading Race, Culture, & Community in London.
Karen Gu
Asian Languages and Cultures Lectuerer. Gu will be leading AsianLan 203 in Nanjing, China.
Lorenzo García-Amaya
Assistant Professor of Spanish. García-Amaya will be leading Advanced Spanish in Santiago de Compostela — 400/400
Ryan Hendrickson
Lecturer of French. Beuerlein will be co-teaching Intermediate French Language Studies.
Soyeon Kim
Director of the Korean Language Program. Kim will be co-leading GCC South Korea— Korean Campus Life.
Howard Lay
Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies. Lay will be leading Arts in Paris.
Christopher Matthews
Creative Writing Lecturer. Matthews will be leading GCC United Kingdom — Literary Monsters
Kevin Miller
Professor of Psychology and Education. Miller will be co-leading GCC China—Research in Educational & Cross-Cultural Settings
Andrew Noverr
Lecturer of Spanish. Noverr will be leading Spanish 232 in Alicante, Spain.
Michelle Orecchio
Spanish Instructor. Orecchio will be leading Spanish 230 in San José, Costa Rica
Hyun-Ju Oh
Education Lectuerer. Oh will be co-leading GCC South Korea— Korean Campus Life.
Nancy Perez
Lecturer of Spanish. Perez will lead Spanish 230 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Benjamin Peters
Director of the Global Scholars Program. Peters will be leading GCC Japan: Peace & Ecology.
Javier Sanjinés
Professor of Spanish. Sanjinés will be leading Advanced Language & Culture in Granada, Spain.
Yeray Ramos Silgado
Lecturer of Spanish. Silgado will be leading Spanish 230 in Granada.
Lauren Wester-Murphy
Lecturer of French. Wester-Murphy will be leading French 230 in Grenoble.
Robin Wilson
Associate Professor of Dance at SMTD. Wilson will be leading Cuba: Roots, Culture, and Rhythm.