Dr. Anne Rotich, Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of African American and African Studies, informs us about her J-term course, Swahili Cultures Then and Now, which takes the students across the globe to Kenya. Dr. Rotich discusses the new knowledge and informational experiences students gain from traveling around Kenya, and how she provides opportunities for cultural immersion. She also analyzes the benefits of studying abroad and how students can most insightfully learn about other cultures.
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Students respond in crisis — inside U.Va.’s student-run emergency medical service
By Hareem Mubashar | 2 hours agoListen as Dr. William Brady, professor of emergency medicine and co-founder of U.Va. EMS, discusses the creation of the University's new student-run Emergency Medical Service, its role in improving emergency response and what students can expect as the program grows.
The Meriwether Lewis Institute — a closer look at the fellowship inspiring citizen leaders
By McKenna Hayden | July 14, 2026Listen as Julie Caruccio, a MLI director and assistant vice president for research on the student experience, talks about the goals of the program and shares updates on this year’s project focus.
Inside U.Va. in Shanghai — learning language through cultural immersion
By Anniston Li | June 28, 2026Listen as Professor Ran Zhao, director of U.Va. in Shanghai, explains how the program balances intensive Mandarin instruction with opportunities to explore Shanghai and the surrounding region. Through lectures, one-on-one conversations with native teaching assistants and cultural immersion, students will discover that language learning involves engaging with the culture of its origin.
