As this year’s newest Meriwether Lewis fellows wrap up their summer session, Julie Caruccio, a MLI director and assistant vice president for research on the student experience, discusses the goals of the fellowship. Caruccio shares the history of the program and how it has evolved to continue to fit students' needs and expectations. Additionally, she describes the cohort’s summer project, where they were tasked with finding ways to build connectivity and foster relationships between people in various areas across Grounds.
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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.
The Summer Language Institute — inside U.Va.’s language immersion program
By Carolina Turner | May 25, 2026Listen to hear Vera Abbate, director of the Summer Language Institute, describe the program’s history, structure and how it crafts an immersive language learning experience.
Greener Grounds – How U.Va. is shaping a sustainable future
By Summer Hoffman | April 26, 2026Tune in to hear Lela Garner, sustainability manager of student outreach and engagement at U.Va. Sustainability, dive into all things sustainability on Grounds.
