International Education Week
IEW 2025
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In celebration of International Education Week (IEW), 黑料社区 is proud to highlight the vital connections between global education, well-being, and community. From October 5-11, we will explore this year鈥檚 theme, “Connecting聽
Cultures, Enriching Health & Well-being,” which invites us to examine health and well-being through a cross-cultural聽and interdisciplinary lens.
Dovetailing with Elon’s HealthEU initiatives, this theme reflects our university鈥檚 commitment to embedding well-being into all aspects of campus culture, from academics to operations, while fostering collaboration and action locally and globally. It also permits us to ask questions such as:
- How do different cultures define and approach health and well-being?
- What role can we play in advancing our well-being and our community(ies)?
- What can we learn from global perspectives on well-being, including community-based health initiatives?
- How聽do the social determinants of health鈥攕uch as education, environment, and economic stability鈥攊mpact well-being across cultures?
- What role does聽international collaboration play in advancing health equity and well-being initiatives both locally and globally?
IEW is made possible by a collaboration of many units on campus聽including the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center (GEC), Health EU, the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education聽(CREDE), World Languages and Cultures, the Global Neighborhood, the Center for Research on Global Engagement (CRGE), and International and Global Studies (IGS).
Sunday, October 5
7 – 8 pm
Sundaes on Sundays
Global Commons
Join Dr. Sandy Marshall, faculty in residence in the Global Neighborhood, and his family for ice cream, games, conversation, and community-building! More details and other Global Neighborhood events can be accessed here.
Monday, October 6
5 – 6 pm
Study Abroad Student Panel
Global Commons 103
In collaboration with Elon鈥檚 Isabella Cannon Global Education Center (GEC) and the聽International聽and Global Studies (IGS) program, the Arabic Language聽Organization invites you聽and your students to a study abroad panel featuring students who spent the聽spring of 2025 in Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, and Spain.聽 We are excited聽to hear them talk about their experiences abroad and answer questions that聽the audience may have for them.
Tuesday, October 7
1 pm
Exploring Roots & Horizons: West African Dance & Drums
Medallion Plaza by Lakeside (rain location – Mosely McKinnon Hall)
Catch the beat! Elon’s Beginning African Dance class presents an energetic performance with live drumming, celebrating the rhythms and culture of West Africa. Organized by the Elon Dance Performance & Choreography Program.

Intercultural Global Competency Digital Badge Drop-In Office Hours
4-5pm
Iraz煤 Coffee Shop
Want to learn more about Elon鈥檚 new Intercultural Global Competency Digital Badge?聽Stop by with questions and for conversation with Dr. Elena Schoonmaker-Gates, chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, and Dr. Andrea Sinn, Director of Elon鈥檚 International and Global Studies Program. All Elon students are welcome to complete this Digital Badge. For more information, check out the Badge requirements here:聽https://www.credly.com/org/elon-university/badge/intercultural-global-competency.
4:15 pm
French Faculty & Staff Conversation
The Oak House
Please join the聽French聽faculty and staff for casual conversation聽in French. Open to all Elon faculty and staff at ALL language levels.
6 – 7:30 pm
Global Neighborhood Dinner: “Connecting Cultures through Cuisine”
Global Commons
Planned in coordination with Campus Dining, the Global Neighborhood Dinners are monthly community meals with conversations between students, faculty, staff, community members, and/or special guests.聽More details and other Global Neighborhood events can be accessed here.
Wednesday, October 8
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Polyglot Lunch
Lakeside Dining Hall
Hosted by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, these weekly lunches invite the Elon community and friends to practice speaking the languages they are learning in a welcoming setting. All Elon faculty, staff, and students are聽welcome to join. .
3:30 – 4:30 pm
Carlton Coffee
Lobby of Carlton Commons
Enjoy coffee and snacks with friends and faculty of the World Languages Department.
3:30 pm
Vamos a la cocina!
El Centro Kitchen,聽Carlton
This is El Centro鈥檚 hands-on cooking series designed to celebrate and share the rich culinary聽heritage of LatinX/Hispanic cultures. Each session focuses on creating traditional dishes聽while fostering community and cultural appreciation. RSVPS are required to attend. Sponsored by El Centro.聽.
Latin American Studies Film Series: Water for Life
2 – 3:40 pm
Turner Theatre,聽Schar Hall
. 聽Dir. Will Parrinello. USA, 2023. 91 mins. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. As part of the聽Latin American Studies film festival, 鈥淲ater for Life鈥 is a documentary that聽follows Indigenous activists in Latin America as they face death threats and murder to save their precious water resources from mining and hydroelectric projects. The screening will be introduced by Dr. Fede Pous, Associate Professor of Spanish聽in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Thursday, October 9
9:50 – 10:20 am
Numen Lumen + GEC International Coffee Hour
Numen Lumen Pavilion
During International Education Week, the weekly Numen Lumen Thursday Inspiration will be combined with the GEC鈥檚 International Coffee Hour, featuring a theme that aligns with IEW.聽More details can be found on the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual website.
2:30 – 4 pm
Japanese Tea Tasting and Lecture with Dr. Robert Hellyer
McBride Gathering Space
Professor Robert Hellyer from Wake Forest University will give a talk on Japanese tea and engagements with the U.S., over cups of sencha, genmaicha, and houjicha.聽Open to the Elon community; Elon faculty interested in bringing a class should contact Dr. Pamela Runestad at prunestad@elon.edu.
Amici dell鈥橧talia聽(Friends of Italy)
4 – 5 pm
113 Carlton Commons
Dr. Janet Myers, who taught in Florence for a semester at Elon’s center program, will share her experience of teaching and living there. This event is made possible by the generous support of the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center and the Italian Studies Program.
6 – 7 pm
Perspectivas Deliberative Dialogue
El Centro, Carlton
An educational program focusing on student perspectives and deliberative dialogue, in collaboration
with Kernodle Center.聽Sponsored by El Centro and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.聽.
6:30 – 8 pm
Community Dinner with Our New Neighbors
McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion
A welcoming gathering that brings together families from refugee backgrounds, Elon students, faculty and staff, campus groups, and community partners to share a meal and learn about the support and resources available for people with refugee backgrounds across 黑料社区 and the broader Burlington and Alamance County communities. The event fosters community connection, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding in a respectful, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically diverse setting. Co-sponsored by the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center.
7 pm
Peaceful Forest Taiko Drumming
Whitley Auditorium

Sponsored by Departments of Asian Studies, Sociology & Anthropology, International & Global Studies, Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, and the Elon Core Curriculum.
Takumi Kato is a world champion Taiko drummer from Japan who performs alongside his three children. Their ability to infuse events with vibrant energy and joy creates connections with their audience. Currently touring in the United States, Peaceful Forest hopes to complete appearances in all 50 states in the coming year.
Friday, October 10

12:30 – 1:30 pm
Capoeira, Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts Dance
Medallion Plaza (Rain Location: Moseley Center)
Choose your own participation adventure, whether to observe or to engage with the game of Capoeira Angola amongst your community. This event will offer guided movement for beginners, embracing live musical instruments, Portuguese language, and communication through fun, light-hearted physical interactions, honoring Afro-Brazilian Roots.
2 pm
Dedication of Toshio Sato Commons
Great Hall, Global Commons
Join President Book and other members of the Elon community in the renaming of Global Commons to recognize Toshio Sato, 黑料社区’s first international student graduate. A reception will follow.
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Late Night Cafe con Leche with ELHAN
El Centro, Carlton
The 聽Elon聽Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network (ELHAN) is hosting a late night cafe con leche for an opportunity to network with other Latinx/Hispanic community members.聽Sponsored by ELHAN and El Centro.聽.
Saturday, October 11
9 – 10 am
Global Flow Yoga
Center of the Performing Arts, Studio A
Start your morning with Global Flow Yoga, a grounding and energizing session open to all members of the Elon community, including alumni visiting for Homecoming. Space is limited, so . Co-sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts and the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center.