We are a large service unit that facilitates international linkages, cultural exchange, global diversity, and the development of international expertise across all university sectors. GEO is responsible for international recruitment and admissions, creates opportunities to study and work overseas through exchange and education abroad programs, offers immigration, orientation, and co-curricular advising services for international students and scholars who study and work at UNM, provides intensive English language programs at the intermediate to advanced level, and develops short-term certificate programs for adult learners.Welcome to the Global Education Office (GEO)!
Global Highlights
Announcing the 2025-2026 Muhammad Afzaal Hussain Memorial Scholarship awardees
Two University of New Mexico students are being recognized for their commitment to community service and student leadership. Bhumi Milan Thank is a graduate accounting student at the Anderson School of Management. She is an active campus leader with a goal of creating a welcoming and supportive environment at UNM. Her volunteer work has centered on building an inclusive community, as well as practical career pathways, particularly for international students navigating a new country and campus. Haasika Jagirapu is an undergraduate computer science student in her third year at the School of Engineering. She is a dedicated community volunteer who has contributed over 300 hours of services to Albuquerque organizations over the last few years. These include Presbyterian Hospital, Roadrunner Food Bank, the American Red Cross, school tutoring programs, and local community clean-ups.
From curiosity to creative entrepreneurship: UNM alum Efraín Villa’s global journey
When Efraín Villa packed his bags for an international business law course in the United Kingdom, he didn’t know the trip would alter the course of his life. The Albuquerque native, who had grown up camping in New Mexico but hadn’t yet traveled abroad, was 19 when he took his first trip overseas. That experience, he said, “was nothing short of life changing.” Villa earned both his Bachelor of Business Administration (2002) and Master of Business Administration (2004) from The University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management, graduating with double magna cum laude honors. His undergraduate concentration studies in Travel and Tourism, paired with a minor in Portuguese, hinted at his lifelong interest in culture and exploration.
UNM’s Passport Center helps Lobos go Global
Did you know that The University of New Mexico has a passport acceptance center right on campus? The Passport Center is nestled in the heart of the bookstore, on the first floor, right after the Mercado. See the UNM Passport Center’s location video. The center is a division of the Global Education Office that offers the greater Lobo community an easy, friendly and meaningful way to connect with the world. Giving its customers a personable access point for their international experiences.UNM Students, Staff, and Faculty are Global!
Delia Bradley
United States . History
Meet Delia Bradley, the 2025 undergraduate recipient of the Globally Engaged Research Awarde from the Department of History. Delia Bradley’s undergraduate research focused on gender, ideology, and daily life under East Germany’s state socialism. Her Honors thesis, "Divorced from the Fatherland: The lila offensive and the Women’s Question in the German Democratic Republic," examined how the feminist group lila offensive challenged the East German state's narrative of women's liberation following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Guided by Dr. Melissa Bokovoy and enriched by coursework with Dr. Tiffany Florvil, Delia explored women’s everyday resistance to systemic sexism within a regime that publicly endorsed gender equality but perpetuated patriarchal norms. Her research relied heavily on archival materials, including oral histories from the FFBIZ “Berlin in Movement” series, and was grounded in frameworks such as “everyday socialism” and the “quotidian intellectual.” To better engage with German-language sources, she studied German throughout the project, overcoming challenges in translation and interpretation of politically sensitive material.
Chip Shearer
USA. Earth & Planetary Sciences
Dr. Charles “Chip” Shearer is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Meteoritics and a Research Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He is also a leader in the Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge and the lead scientist for NASA’s CASA Moon research group, based at UNM. He is believed to be only the second member of his department to receive this distinction. Dr. Shearer served as co-science lead for NASA’s Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program, which involved over 100 scientists, engineers, ESA astronauts, and students in the study of previously unopened Apollo lunar samples to support Artemis mission planning. He led the recruitment of international collaborators—over 20% of the team—including scientists from the University of Manchester, Open University, ESA, and others. Many were trained in lunar sample handling at NASA Johnson Space Center, and ESA was engaged to develop instruments for opening 50-year-sealed samples. As lead scientist of CASA-Moon, part of NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), Dr. Shearer coordinates collaborative research across institutions in Australia, Europe, and North America. He also organizes an international hybrid seminar series on planetary samples, bringing together speakers from around the world.
Donovan Roberts
Hungary. Psychology
Donovan Roberts graduated from UNM in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. He is currently a researcher at the Mind Research Network. Soon he will work with Professor Istvan Gyteryan at Semmelweis Egyetem, Budapest, Hungary. There, he will participate in pre-clinical trials, aiming to contribute to the improvement of pharmacological interventions for neurobiological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. “Fulbright combines every interest my younger self would have wanted me to explore. It’s an honor to be among many other distinguished award winners. I will cherish every moment and encourage others to take on similar journeys,” said Roberts. Roberts would also like to thank Dr. Kiyoko Simmons, Dr. Julia Stephen, Dr. Lorna Joachim and Dr. Michael Candelaria.
William Burris
Japan. Biology
William Burris just graduated from UNM with a Bachelor of Science in biology with honors, minors in math and Japanese, and a certificate in honors interdisciplinary liberal arts. He has had a long-standing interest in Japanese culture and studied abroad there in the spring of 2023. He felt that one semester in Japan was not enough, and he is excited to attend graduate school at the University of Tokyo with the MEXT scholarship. Burris hopes to make discoveries through his research of neural stem cells that help contribute to our understanding of brain aging and treatment. He also hopes to be an active member of the University of Tokyo and the local community when he moves there. “I am extremely grateful and honored to be a recipient of the Fulbright in Japan. Conducting research in Japan has been my dream since my sophomore year in high school. Not only to have my dream come true, but also to have the many years of hard work it took to get here be acknowledged, is an indescribable feeling. It would not have been possible without all the incredible supporters I have had along the way. I am greatly touched by this opportunity to connect more with Japan, and I hope to contribute to the international relations of Japan and the US, which have done so much for me,” said Burris. At The University of New Mexico, Burris would like to thank Dr. Kiyoko Simmons, Dr. Aaron Neumann, Dr. Diana Northup and Dr. Amy Farnbach Pearson, and at the University of Tokyo, he would like to thank Dr. Taeko Kobayashi, who has supported me in this endeavor.
Chris Dellesin
Poland. Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
Chris Dollesin graduated from UNM in 2025 with a master's degree in Wind Conducting. He was awarded a Fulbright to Poland to explore the intersection of Polish theatre, mime, and conducting. He is a conductor and saxophonist based in Albuquerque, N.M., and began his conducting journey in Boston, Mass., as a student conductor with the Charles River Wind Ensemble. He studied conducting with Professor Emily Moss, Ph.D., and saxophone with Ashley Kelly, Ph.D., and Professor Jamie Warren at UNM. In 2023, Dollesin was selected as one of 24 semifinalists in the Warsaw Wind Band Conducting Competition in Warsaw, Poland. In 2024, he performed with the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Youth Wind Orchestra in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Dollesin participates in conducting symposia nationwide, working with renowned conductors such as Eugene Corporon, Craig Kirchhoff, Allan McMurray, and Ray Cramer. He has also guest-conducted the Santa Fe-based Endless Summer Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his musical pursuits, Dollesin serves in the U.S. Air Force and actively explores the intersection of science, technology and the arts. “Receiving a Fulbright to Poland is an incredible opportunity for me to connect the worlds of theatre and mime with classical music. I am always exploring new ways to approach my work as a conductor. Poland has a rich and long theatrical tradition, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn from the leading minds of the Polish arts community. I am also thrilled to get the chance to connect the musical cultures of the US and Poland and am looking forward to connecting with my Polish musical counterparts," said Dollesin.
Madeline Griffin
Brazil. Latin American Studies
Madeline Griffin is a recent UNM graduate, recently completing her master’s in Latin American Studies with a concentration in Conflict, Peace, and Rights. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory & Henry College, where she completed majors in International Studies, Hispanic Studies, and History. Since finishing her studies, Griffin works as an International student advisor at Maryville College in East Tennessee. She began studying Portuguese last summer through the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Rio de Janeiro, continued learning through CLS refresh lessons, and is thrilled to return and learn about a new region of Brazil. Griffin was selected as one of 10 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant finalists to support students and faculty in universities/post-secondary institutions. She looks forward to fostering intercultural exchange, learning, and support while working with students. “I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to continue learning and engaging while contributing to my surrounding community as an English Teaching Assistant in Brazil. The younger version of myself who first dared to chase my passion for intercultural exchange and language learning is beaming at this turn of events. A lot of hard work, mentorship, and good timing has gone behind this opportunity. I look forward to using this platform to create a meaningful learning atmosphere for my students as we work together. “I am privileged to learn from the many mentors and professors throughout my life who encourage me to push outside my comfort zones and dedicate my time to what I am passionate about. Thank you to all those who continue to support students chasing their passions. None of us would be here without you. I hope I can bring some of what you’ve taught me to benefit students as an ETA,” said Griffin. Griffin especially thanks those at the LAII, including Dr. Kathryn McKnight, Dr. Lenny Valerio and Rosa Prada Vivas, for their support and care throughout her studies. She thanks Laura Bunn, and her CLS Portuguese Professor Claudia Bello Winter for her passion in sharing her language and culture. She also thanks her Emory & Henry community including Professor Claudia Vestal, Dr. Sarah Fisher, Dr. Gaia and Dr. Boltwood.
Isela Rendon
South Korea. Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies and Latin American Studies
Isela Rendón is pursuing a dual master’s degree in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies and Latin American Studies at The University of New Mexico, which she expects to complete by December 2025. For the past three years, she has worked as a secondary public-school teacher in Albuquerque, following previous experience leading educational programs abroad. With her Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award, Rendón will travel to South Korea, where she will support English language education and continue to grow as an educator committed to global engagement. “I’m honored to be a Fulbright recipient and look forward to continuing my journey as a global educator,” Rendón said. “It has been quite a journey, and I’m eager to embrace this opportunity and excel in its greatness.” Rendón hopes to continue exploring how educational programs worldwide recognize and leverage students’ literacies as assets to learning. “I hope to carry what I learn in South Korea into every experience that follows, with the goal of better serving students and communities in the future,” she said. She would like to thank her mentors and Dr. Kiyoko Simmons for their support throughout the application process.
Lexi Baca
United States . Evolution and Ecology Lab
Lexi Baca is a PhD student in Dr. Joseph Cook’s Molecular Evolution and Ecology Lab. In the final semester of her undergraduate studies, she took a Mammalogy course with Dr. Cook, which sparked her interest in evolutionary biology. After excelling in the course, she was offered a postbaccalaureate position, gaining hands-on experience in museum, lab, and field work. As part of this role, she joined a seven-week field expedition in rural Mongolia with collaborators, including Dr. Batsaikhan Ookhnoi. This experience laid the foundation for her current dissertation research on Orientallactaga, a genus of bipedal, desert-adapted rodents from Central Asia. These syntopic species offer a rare opportunity to study genetic divergence, morphological differences, and ecological niche dynamics. Baca also contributed to the Mammals of Mongolia book, DNA barcoding over 600 animals to aid in species identification and build a molecular reference library. She has since expanded her research through collaborations in Uruguay—working with Dr. Enrique Lessa on resolving rodent phylogenies using Ultra Conserved Elements (UCEs), and with Dr. Ivanna Tomasco on describing a new species of tuco-tuco. Her work centers on phylogenetics, using evolutionary relationships to better understand biodiversity and support conservation in a rapidly changing world.
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