Please review the Workshop's agenda below. This agenda will continue to be updated until March 15. In addition, there will be a speakers' page added to this website once all the speakers are confirmed. Please click on the arrows on the right side to review the agenda for each day.
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Registration The Westin, National Ballroom Section C
Registration with World Learning staff
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Workshop Ground Rules NAHB Auditorium
World Learning staff will share the ground rules for the workshop, review the program agenda, and discuss safety and security issues in Washington D.C.
Michelle Bolourchi, Program Manager, World Learning
Natalie Jordan, Program Associate, World Learning
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm Icebreaker Activity Auditorium
The Global UGRAD Team
7:00 pm Welcome Dinner Auditorium
7:00 am – 8:00 am Breakfast The Westin, Mezzanine Level
Buffet Breakfast
Transition to Program
8:45 am – 9:15 am Opening Remarks NAHB Auditorium
Sophia Skaff, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Melissa Oppenheimer, Vice President of Global Programs, World Learning
9:15 am – 10:00 am Student Networking Activities Auditorium
Facilitator: Si Norton
Transition to Break
10:00 am – 10:20 am Networking Break Atrium
Coffee, tea, and snacks
Transition to Program
10:20 am – 11:15 am Leadership in Action Auditorium
Students will learn about different leadership styles and engage in an interactive activity to identify their own leadership styles.
Facilitator: Si Norton
11:15 am - 11:30 am Alumna Presentation Auditorium
Sibonisiwe Ngubeni, 2018-19 Global UGRAD Program at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Zimbabwe
11:30 am – 12:30 pm Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) Auditorium
During this session, students will learn about DEIA principles, cultivate greater awareness by applying a DEIA lens to both self and society, identify bias, and understand how these principles are applied in government, society, and culture in the United States compared to the students’ home countries.
Facilitator: Tim Rivera, Senior Advisor, Innovation and Strategy, World Learning
Transition to Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Buffet Lunch Atrium
Transition to Program
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Interactive Breakout Sessions Auditorium and Conference Rooms A, B, and C
(Students will sign up in advance)
Designing a Fundraising Plan Auditorium
Cristina Blough, Director of Foundation & Corporate Partnerships, World Learning
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership and Teamwork Conference Room A
Presenter: Si Norton, Simon Norton Global
Inclusive Project Design for Community Development Conference Room B
Nina Oduro, Nina Company Inc.
Strategies for Successful Project Management Conference Room C
Rebecca Beauregard, Kearns & West
Transition to Break
3:00 pm – 3:20 pm Networking Break Atrium
Coffee, tea, and snacks
Transition to Program
3:20 pm – 3:50 pm Interactive Breakout Session Share-Out Auditorium
Facilitator: Si Norton
Transition to DC Scavenger Hunt
3:50 pm – 7:00 pm DC Scavenger Hunt (Optional Activity) Off-site
In teams, students will embark on a photo scavenger hunt to learn about the culture and history of Washington, D.C.
After the Scavenger Hunt, student teams will meet with World Learning advisors at the Westin, National Ballroom Section C to show their photos for the competition.
7:00 pm Dinner Off-site
Students have a per diem allowance to spend on dinner at local restaurants.
7:00 am – 8:00 am Breakfast The Westin, Mezzanine Level
Buffet Breakfast
Transition to Program
8:30 am – 9:00 am Morning Energizer Activity NAHB Auditorium
Facilitator: Si Norton
9:00 am – 10:00 am Community Mapping and Action Planning Auditorium
During this session, students will learn how to identify resources for community-based projects through community mapping and action planning to address social problems in their communities.
Facilitator: Si Norton
Transition to Break
10:00 am – 10:20 am Networking Break Atrium
Coffee, tea, and snacks
Transition to Program
10:20 am – 12:00 pm Interactive Breakout Sessions Auditorium, Conference Rooms A, B, and C
(Students will sign up in advance via Sign-up Genius)
Creating your Personal Brand Auditorium
Presenter: Leah Busler, Digital Media Associate, World Learning
Mentorship and Networking: How to Build Relationships that Matter Conference Room A
Presenter: Si Norton
Public Speaking: Developing Your Elevator Pitch Conference Room B
Amy Fisher Bruey, Equilibrium Coaching and Consulting
Grant Writing Conference Room C
Tanisha Smith, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Volunteers of America
Kathi Higgins, Senior Director, Grants Management, Volunteers of America
12:00 am – 12:30 pm Interactive Breakout Session Share-Out Auditorium
Facilitator: Si Norton
Transition to Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Buffet Lunch Atrium
Transition to Program
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm UGRAD Advising Team Presentation Auditorium
During this presentation, students will meet with their Global UGRAD staff advisors and complete their U.S. government tax exemption documents.
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Exchange Alumni Presentation Auditorium
Office of Alumni Affairs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Transition to Break
2:45 pm – 3:05 pm Networking Break Atrium
Coffee, tea, and snacks
Transition to Program
3:05 pm – 4:00 pm Reverse Culture Shock Auditorium
Reverse culture shock, or re-entry, is a common reaction to returning home from studying abroad. It is an emotional and psychological stage of re-adjustment, similar to the initial adjustment to living abroad. During this session, participants will learn useful strategies for how to tackle reverse culture shock when they return home.
Facilitator: Si Norton
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Workshop Reflection Auditorium
Facilitator: Si Norton
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Student Free Time
Students can take this time to have meetings with Global UGRAD staff, prepare for “Take the Stage,” or unwind from the day.
Transition to Closing Dinner
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Closing Celebration Auditorium
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Take the Stage! Auditorium
7:00 am – 8:30 am Breakfast The Westin, Mezzanine Level
Buffet Breakfast
7:00 am – 6:00 pm Departures
11:00 am Hotel Check-out time