By Dina Gustin
In recognition of their dedication to student success and campus culture, the UH Staff Council has awarded the IGE team the prestigious 2025-2026 Team Excellence Recognition Award. For UH students, this award reflects a year of expanded horizons, community-building, and streamlined operations.
Strengthening global engagement and guiding global citizenship are monumental goals, but for University of Houston students, such opportunities are in reach and at the heart of the work produced by the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE). By prioritizing experiential learning and genuine personal connectivity, the IGE team isn't just managing programs; they are actively shaping UH students into the compassionate, globally minded leaders of tomorrow.
Living and Learning Without Borders
Under the leadership of Ambassador Michael Pelletier (ret’d), the IGE team has refined
international education to ensure every student feels supported, included, and empowered.
This past year, student experience was transformed through several key initiatives:
Global House: Students looking for a truly immersive experience moved into UH’s first
Global Living Learning Community. This on-campus residential hub brought global engagement
to local student life, allowing Coogs from all backgrounds to live, learn, and share
intercultural connections together.
The Global Competence Accelerator (GCA): This program gives students a competitive
edge by helping them develop cultural intelligence and global problem-solving skills—essential
tools for the modern job market.
Model United Nations: UH students welcomed over 300 local high school students to
campus for the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston’s annual event, fostering
the next generation of scholars with a worldview.
More Accessible to Students
For many Coogs, the dream of traveling abroad can feel obstructed by logistics. The IGE team spent the last twelve months tearing down those barriers.
"The IGE team consistently demonstrates a people-centered culture rooted in collaboration,
care, and genuine partnership." — Ashley Simmons Coffey, Director of International
Student and Scholar Services Office
The Learning Abroad team went into overdrive to meet students where they are. By hosting
over 100 outreach events, they engaged 2,525 students—a significant 29% increase that
opened doors for thousands of Coogs to explore scholarly opportunities across the
world.
Even getting a passport became streamlined: the Passport for Coogs office launched a new online appointment system, smoothly processing over 750 passports and improving customer service. Furthermore, the team modernized the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) with accessible, engaging educational videos focused heavily on student well-being, risk-management, and long-term academic success while abroad.
Intentional Intercultural Connections
What makes the IGE team so effective at supporting “Global Coogs” is the culture they practice behind the scenes. By fostering an internal office environment rooted in mutual respect, flexibility, and teamwork, the IGE staff ensure that student services are not disrupted—even during peak project seasons or staff parental leaves. The experiential learning opportunities and student-first approach of the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) team have advanced shared goals and university initiatives. Through intentional connections with local and global institutions, the UH student community cultivates the skills, perspectives, and confidence essential to becoming impact-driven global citizens.