The U.S. Department of State has recognized the University of Washington for producing 41 recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the spring 2025 cycle. The Gilman Scholarship supports U.S. undergraduates with financial need in studying or interning abroad. The UW’s strong showing reflects the University’s commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for all students.
Gilman Scholars from the University of Washington will represent the United States abroad and return with global networks and language skills that support U.S. economic and national security interests.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Gilman Scholarship recipients, whose achievements have earned them access to these transformative global learning experiences,” said Ahmad Ezzeddine, Vice Provost for Global Affairs. “The Gilman Scholarship reduces barriers for UW students to study, research or intern abroad, providing those with limited financial means the opportunity to gain international perspectives and prepare for success in today’s interconnected world.”
The University of Washington students are among 3,500 recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which supports Pell Grant–eligible undergraduates to study or intern abroad in more than 170 countries. More than 70% of this year’s recipients are from rural areas and small towns, and 55% are first-generation college students. UW students were awarded a total of $131,500 in Gilman Scholarships this cycle.
“These awards enrich our academic community and reflect a strategic investment in developing globally-minded leaders,” said Ezzeddine. “As our students engage with different cultures and tackle complex international challenges, they return not just as enhanced scholars, but as cultural ambassadors who contribute to our local community’s global awareness and our nation’s diplomatic and economic competitiveness on the world stage.”
Three students in the spring UW cohort received the Critical Need Language Award, and one was awarded the Gilman-McCain Scholarship. The Critical Need Language Award supports students studying high-priority languages in countries where those languages are commonly spoken. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship supports child and spousal dependents of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
About the Gilman International Scholarship
Established by the U.S. Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. The next application cycle will be launched in August 2025. To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship, visit gilmanscholarship.org.
Learn about scholarship opportunities at UW
The Gilman International Scholarship process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
About the Office of Global Affairs
The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) is the University of Washington’s hub for global engagement. OGA advances global teaching, research and learning for faculty, staff and students and works to enhance the University’s global presence and impact with a footprint that spans all over the world.
The Office of Global Affairs is pleased to feature Caleb Allred for our May 2025 edition of the Global Visionaries series. The Global Visionaries series highlights the University of Washington’s global impact by featuring innovative, globally-engaged faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Caleb Allred is a fourth-year medical student at the UW School of Medicine. Caleb was recognized as a 2025 recipient of the Husky 100. He is passionate about improving health care access for patients with language barriers and making pediatric specialty care more equitable and efficient. Caleb’s previous experience includes serving in global health initiatives in Ecuador and Chile, working as a Spanish medical interpreter, and publishing multiple peer-reviewed studies.
Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, Caleb was inspired to explore the intersection of medicine and service by his father who was an OB/GYN and his mother who was a nurse. During his time at the UW, he decided to specialize in otolaryngology after working on a project that involved immigrant populations, mentorship, and Spanish fluency. After graduation this June, Caleb will begin his residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan this summer.
As a medical student, I worked on projects to improve healthcare access for non-English-speaking patients, particularly Spanish speakers. At Seattle Children’s with Dr. Bonilla-Velez, we addressed scheduling disparities for Spanish-speaking patients in the pediatric otolaryngology clinic. We found that requiring patients to call for appointments created delays due to language barriers and confusion with interpreter services. Our intervention shifted the process: schedulers proactively called patients with interpreters ready. A pre- and post- intervention study showed a reduction in scheduling disparities, and the project was published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, earning the Health Equity in Otolaryngology research award from the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology in 2023. Another project explored shared decision-making, finding that language-concordant care (Spanish-speaking providers) improved patient engagement compared to interpreter-mediated care. We also studied adenotonsillectomy outcomes, noting that patients preferring care in a language other than English visited the ER more post-surgery, potentially due to confusing post-operative instructions. This led to efforts to improve post-surgical communication, highlighting the need for tailored materials. This work was a recipient of the Health Equity in Research award from the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology in 2024.
Caleb Allred presenting on shared decision making in otolaryngology at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting in 2023. Boston, MA.
Caleb Allred presenting on scheduling disparities at the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology conference in Boston, MA. 2023.
Relevant citations
Allred CM, Dahl JP, Parikh S, Wang X, Bonilla-Velez J. Effect of Race, Ethnicity, and Language on Adenotonsillectomy Outcomes in Pediatric Otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1002/ohn.1230. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40131170.
Allred C, Jio J, Messner J, Mull H, Nakamura R, Parikh S, Sie K, Wang X, Bonilla-Velez J. Effect of an Outbound Scheduling Team on the Timeliness of Scheduling Referrals to Pediatric Otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online February 8, 2024. doi:10.1002/ohn.660
Allred, C., Parikh, S., Wang, X., & Bonilla-Velez, J. (2023). The Role of Language Concordant Care on Increasing Parental Engagement in Shared Decision Making. International Journal of Medical Students, 11, S71. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2023.2335*
*full manuscript currently in the submission process
While working at my father’s OB/GYN clinic, I stepped in as a Spanish interpreter when no formal services were available. I learned that quality interpretation is critical for alleviating patient stress, especially during high-stakes situations like pregnancy complications. Accurate, empathetic communication built trust and ensured patients understood their care, reducing anxiety. However, I also realized the limitations of informal interpretation—relying on a single employee wasn’t sustainable.
This experience taught me the importance of systemic solutions, like dedicated interpreter services and language-concordant care, to ensure consistent access.
Caleb AllredFourth-Year Medical Student
It also underscored how language barriers can exacerbate health disparities, inspiring me to advocate for equitable care in my research and future practice.
In Ecuador, as an Eagle Scout, I launched “Kicks for Ecuador,” a project combining my love for soccer with service. My father and I organized a soccer camp for youth, collecting shoes to donate to orphanages. We went with a non-profit group by the name of Dando Amor. We visited three orphanages to deliver the shoes. It was my first time serving in a foreign country. Though we couldn’t communicate with words, I fell in love with these kids and was touched by their gratitude and humility. Though rewarding, as time passed I came to realize the shoes were a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, sparking my desire for deeper impact. I took Spanish classes to prepare for future work.
My Father, John Allred, and I playing soccer with new friends at the Remar orphanage in Quito, Ecuador in 2012. Photo courtesy of Travis Gugelman.
Sizing shoes at an orphanage in Cuenca, Ecuador. 2012. Photo courtesy of Travis Gugelman.
Sizing shoes at an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. 2012. Photo courtesy of Travis Gugelman.
After high school, I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santiago, Chile. There, in addition to proselyting work, I addressed the needs of Haitian immigrants facing language barriers to employment. With Creole-speaking companions, I co-created a Spanish course focused on job interview skills, visa applications, and citizenship processes. Starting small, it grew significantly, helping individuals like “Carlos,” who secured a job and moved his family to a two-bedroom home. We also organized food and clothing drives, making this one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Post-Spanish class game of basketball with Elder Bushman and friends in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile. 2016.
Spanish class with Jake Nelson, Carlos Branchedor, and friends in 2016. San Miguel, Santiago, Chile.
My inspiration came from personal and professional experiences. Growing up, I saw my father, an OB/GYN, use medicine to serve others, which planted the seed for my career. Additionally, my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave me a strong foundation in service and provided many opportunities to get involved with service. My international service in Ecuador and Chile showed me the power of addressing systemic barriers, like language and job access, to create lasting change. At my father’s clinic, interpreting for Spanish-speaking patients revealed how language barriers caused stress and miscommunication, particularly for pregnant patients. These experiences connected global service with healthcare, motivating me to pursue medicine and focus on health equity. In medical school, I saw quality improvement and health systems research as tools to identify and solve access issues, especially for non-English speakers, driving my commitment to this cause.
In Ecuador, I saw the limits of short-term solutions like shoe donations, which led me to focus on long-term impact. In Chile, designing a Spanish course for Haitian immigrants showed me how targeted interventions could empower communities. This global perspective shaped my health systems research by emphasizing access. At Seattle Children’s, I applied this lens to assist my team in improving scheduling for Spanish-speaking patients, enhancing shared decision-making in language-concordant care, and addressing post-surgical disparities for patients preferring care in a language other than English. Ultimately, I believe that small changes in how we provide care can often have large impact for patients with language barriers. I remember feeling very vulnerable in South America before I became proficient at Spanish. I believe the collective medical community should continue to work toward alleviating those feelings and barriers so we can focus on taking care of people! As I head to the University of Michigan for my otolaryngology residency, I plan to continue this work, exploring new research in graduate medical education, health systems improvement, and global health.
Caleb celebrating his ENT residency match at the University of Michigan with his wife Catherine and children William, Eleanor, and Margaret.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to several individuals who have played pivotal roles in my journey. To my parents, Nanette and John Allred, thank you for instilling in me a spirit of service and providing early opportunities to engage in global outreach. To my wife, Catherine—your unwavering support and grace while raising our three young children have been nothing short of extraordinary. To William, Eleanor, and Margaret, thank you for inspiring the best in me; becoming your father is the greatest honor of my life. Finally, I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Bonilla-Velez and the team at the University of Washington Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Department for their guidance, mentorship, and central role in my professional growth.
If you would like to get in touch with Caleb Allred after he graduates from the UW, you can contact him directly at calebmallred@gmail.com.
The Office of Global Affairs is pleased to feature Antonia Romana Zito for our April 2025 edition of the Global Visionaries series. The Global Visionaries series highlights the UW’s global impact by featuring innovative, globally-engaged faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Antonia shares about her experience growing up in Panama, about conducting research on security and defense in Latin America and the Caribbean and what she is looking forward to about her career.
I am the proud daughter of an Italian father and a Colombian mother, and I was born in Rome, Italy despite me never living there. Up until the age of two, my parents moved around a lot because of my father’s work—eventually landing us in Panama City, Panama, the place that shaped me into the person that I am today.
As an immigrant, I have always lived a multicultural lifestyle because my parents and I all have incredibly different backgrounds. Beyond that, while in Panama, I was enrolled into an international school based off the American education system at the age of three. At the International School of Panama, almost all students were immigrants, and all students were multicultural and multilingual in the same way I was. So, while my parents were each teaching me their own cultural values, I was also absorbing a Panamanian culture and lifestyle, while my school gave me an American influence—all while I was learning about my friends’ different cultures as well.
Growing up in Panama—specifically, in a multicultural environment—shaped me to be an open-minded person who does not focus on what makes people different, but rather what aspects of our lives cross these cultural barriers. The differences in culture and language I was surrounded by are what pushed my curiosity of wanting to understand the world we live in. Beyond that, my experience in Panama showed me that the world is so much bigger than people think.
Above all, my American education whilst living in Panama heavily contributed to my ability to succeed once moving to Seattle—even though the culture shock was overwhelming at first.
Back in the fall of 2023, I had the privilege of being selected from a pool of applicants to travel to Washington, D.C. for a semester to complete my first internship. My academic and cultural experiences matched me perfectly with the research intern position at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies (WJPC). At WJPC, I would aid professors at the National Defense University by engaging in thorough research on global topics concerning security and defense across Latin America and Caribbean nations. My skills were uniquely suited to this research position because of where I grew up, the previous work I had conducted at the UW, and my fluency in Spanish because they are a bilingual center.
My last day at the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies holding my completion certificate
Specifically, as a research assistant to Dr. Patrick Paterson, I focused on climate change studies as I helped him create the foundation for the WJPC climate change program–the first for a Regional Academic Center of the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense. Specifically, I had the special opportunity to create an official glossary containing climate change terminology, which has now been distributed to thousands of U.S. government officials. Other research projects I completed include graphic designing climate change vulnerability of Western Hemisphere nations, and projects relating to water data for the nearly three dozen nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
I also had the honor of working with Dr. Erin McFee, who conducted quantitative research on a group of women in Colombia living under the FARC conditions through the gathering and analysis of their personal journals. Using the coding software MAXQDA, Dr. McFee and I would individually analyze these journals, highlighting various themes throughout them until we had at least 80% similarity between our codes. Once we hit 80%, Dr. McFee could then write a proper analysis paper commenting on the overlapping themes to understand what these women are commonly going through. This type of research was incredibly eye-opening, it was a timely, delicate process that left me with more than just basic research skills.
This internship was my first career-related work experience, giving me a sense of what it is like to contribute to hands-on work that is able to impact current events on a global scale and is useful within the U.S. government. My experience here was incredibly valuable and life-changing because as an immigrant, I did not think this was an opportunity where I could have such an involved role due to the limited views of American identity and who can be a part of government work. In D.C., it was a great opportunity to use my identify towards my career goals—I began to truly understand the gift I have and how it could show up in the world. For the first time, I was part of a team that valued my skills and made me feel a part of something bigger, and I knew I wanted to continue chasing that feeling.
Career event with Dara Yin
My time in D.C. motivated me to delve deeper into opportunities that allowed me to use my skills to contribute to my community. The following quarter, I applied for a position within the Jackson School Student Association (JSSA). As the Director of Logistics and the newly appointed Vice President, I am presented with various leadership opportunities as I help JSIS staff with their career-focused events and host my own academic-focused events for students of all ages. Our events are typically informative: for example, we have hosted career events within the foreign service sector with the Diplomat in Residence Dara Yin or LinkedIn profile building workshops.
Overall, I am in charge of ensuring that my team and I can operate efficiently as we work with a fast-paced yet limited schedule, as we are bound to the quarter system. Through JSSA, I have the ability to create an environment in which students of all backgrounds can be properly informed of what their opportunities are both during their studies and after graduation. Moreover, I am also the representative for the JSSA on the UW Senate and act as a voting member.
As a student at UW, I have been given a space to develop a series of skills through my coursework that I then applied to opportunities that opened more opportunities for myself to grow. The experiences I have mentioned above made me feel valuable in a way I had never felt before—and while a lot of things are increasingly uncertain in our rapidly changing world—and as I mentioned above, I know I want to join a team which allows me to continue searching for this feeling.
My identity allows me to understand people in a unique manner and has opened more doors for me than I could have ever imagined. Where I used to feel culture or language barriers as a limitation, I now see the opportunity to build bridges through communication, understanding, and collaboration. Following the completion of my undergraduate degree, I have an ultimate goal of working for the UNHCR as I believe it would be a shame to neglect this gift my parents always spoke about. However, I would first work at a few NGOs with the same mission of protecting and advocating for refugees and all other types of migrants. I am looking forward to help people and to contribute to a bigger cause regarding equality and respect.
The new federal REAL ID Act goes into effect May 7th. This will change the way we are able to board flights to travel within the United States. Your standard driver license or identification card will no longer be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration.
This webinar will provide information about the new federal REAL ID travel requirements and your options for acceptable travel documents.
The University of Washington made the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of the top Fulbright producing institutions. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar and Fulbright U.S. Student Programs are sponsored by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to support academic exchanges between the United States and over 160 countries around the world.
Five undergraduate or recent graduates and eight graduate-level students (a total of 13 students) received Fulbright awards and six UW faculty were named Fulbright scholars. The Fulbright experience gives students and scholars the opportunity to live and work abroad, learning about their host country and developing a new community of colleagues and friends. These programs are designed to help participants gain a greater understanding of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, ultimately promoting an atmosphere of openness and mutual understanding.
Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is an international academic exchange program that aims to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The UW is proud to have had Fulbright recipients as far back as 1949.
The Office of Global Affairs is the liaison for UW faculty for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Please contact Anita Ramasastry (arama@uw.edu) if you have any questions or need support.
Join us for a spring lecture series on the international impact of the second Trump presidency.
These talks and discussions are available as an in-person 2-credit/no-credit course for UW students. It is also available and free for the public via livestream only. Faculty and guest speaker presentations will explore how different regions and global issues are affected by the policies of the Trump administration. Moderated by Danny Hoffman, Director of the Jackson School of International Studies and Stanley D. Golub Chair of International Studies.
JSIS 478 E – Trump in the World 2.0 (SLN 21568) – listed in MyPlan under Special Topics in International and Global Studies. Register in MyPlan for the course; regular attendance required if taking the course
Wednesday, February 26 // 4:30-5:30 PM // UW Career & Internship Center Lobby
Are you curious about what it’s like to serve in the Peace Corps?
Join us at 134 Mary Gates Hall to learn about the challenging, rewarding, and inspiring moments of service from returned Peace Corps Volunteers who will share stories from their unique service journeys abroad.
The Office of Global Affairs is pleased to feature Sabrina Prestes Oliveira for our January 2025 edition of the Global Visionaries series. The Global Visionaries series highlights the UW’s global impact by featuring innovative, globally-engaged faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Sabrina Prestes Oliveira is currently a senior studying Data Visualization in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at the UW Bothell (UWB) campus. Sabrina describes her experience exploring what it means to be a global citizen, learning about international human rights and making the most of global learning opportunities.
Global Scholars Graduation Ceremony
UWB’s Global Scholars Program was my way to incorporate international awareness while majoring in Data Visualization. Connecting with the cohort throughout the year, reflecting on our global experiences in class, and having critical discussions about how our personal identities and notions of the world are shaped by international power dynamics, brought me closer to my peers than in most other courses. We also had career-building workshops and the chance to hear from speakers and former Global Scholars about their experiences working in international affairs. Many of us in the program are first-generation students and/or first/second-generation Americans, and it’s rare to find welcoming spaces that provide much-needed insights about networking, the nuances of local and global engagement, and advocacy.
Poster Presentation on Human Rights Day
During our week in D.C., as part of the seminar, we met a delegation of Ecuadorian activists and public defenders in partnership with local advocacy organizations as well as Amazon Watch and Amnesty International. The stories they shared about violence, cultural erasure, police brutality, and territorial/environmental rights violations motivated me to focus on Ecuador for my research paper.
Ecuador once stood out in the region for its low homicide rates and progressive human rights legislation (even if it was more on paper than in practice). Now, it has become prized territory for international criminal organizations in the trafficking of drugs. A weakened state and prison system have allowed these organizations to take control. The more I researched, the more I discovered that drug traffickers are by no means independent agents. They are enabled by and benefit from both international and local political and corporate interests.
I was recently selected for UW’s Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship to support a project to pinpoint, assess, and visualize Latino community needs and demographics in WA. The Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI) is expanding their educational and entrepreneurship programs to Everett, and thoughtful data analysis can help guide their upcoming outreach initiatives. While I’ve started my analysis with data from the U.S. Census, with the support of the LETI team, I hope to expand into broader sources and find ways to highlight empowerment and opportunity in our community.
Latino Leadership Initiative cohort at Bothell High School after the first mentoring session
The UWB’s Latino Leadership Initiative (LLI) is truly a game-changing program as a Latino student. I joined in 2024 simply looking to connect with other Latinos on campus but also as the chance to hear many WA leaders’ stories of representing their communities, starting a business, and advocating for change in local politics. The leadership seminars with the Latino Educational Training Institute made me realize that success, unlike what we’re always told, isn’t solely an individual effort. Connecting with UWB’s LLI cohort and organizing our service project, where we hosted college/career mentoring sessions for Latino high schoolers, helped me find a space here in the U.S. where I felt I could contribute meaningfully.
This spring, Professor Yen-Chu Weng, UW College of the Environment, brought together students from the University of Washington and National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan to evaluate the accessibility of interpretive signs in nature parks.
Professor Weng’s course, “Environmental Issues in East Asia”, was a five-week collaboration with Professor Chen-Chen Cheng’s course in Special Education from National Kaohsiung Normal University. The partnership was the result of a 2023-2024 UW Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Fellowship. COIL Fellowship projects link university classes in different countries, provide students with critical digital literacy and virtual collaboration skills through shared assignments and projects and allow faculty members from each country to co-teach and manage coursework.
Students attended joint lectures on the basic design principles for accessible interpretive signs and inclusive communication for people with disabilities. They also conducted field work to observe and analyze interpretive signs in their respective cities – The UW Arboretum and the UW Farm in Seattle and several parks in Kaohsiung and Tainan, two major cities in Southern Taiwan. In a survey following the project, students ranked the following as having the strongest impact on their growth: Learning and understanding other ways of seeing the world, growth in self-awareness, greater understanding of different cultures, and understanding how to interact with people from different cultures.
As the academic school year comes to an end, many students will continue their studies by packing a suitcase and heading overseas. A record-high 3,000 UW students will study abroad this school year. UW leaders say these programs promise profound experiences and lifelong memories, and new research shows that college students who study abroad are more likely to graduate.
“Studying abroad increases success for everyone,” said Dr. Gayle Christensen, interim vice provost, Office of Global Affairs, and a coauthor on a paper that evaluated graduation rates of students who study abroad. “But it increases the success for underrepresented students and underserved students even more.”
The study, published last year in the Journal of College Student Development by Tory Brundage, Doctoral Candidate in the College of Education and Dr. Gayle Christensen, found that students on college and university campuses who study abroad complete their degrees at higher rates, particularly among historically underserved students — defined as students who identify as Black, Latinx, Native American or Pacific Islander.
Learn more about how study abroad at the UW is a high-impact practice.
Students attended joint lectures on the basic design principles for accessible interpretive signs and inclusive communication for people with disabilities. They also conducted field work to observe and analyze interpretive signs in their respective cities – The UW Arboretum and the UW Farm in Seattle and several parks in Kaohsiung and Tainan, two major cities in Southern Taiwan. In a survey following the project, students ranked the following as having the strongest impact on their growth: Learning and understanding other ways of seeing the world, growth in self-awareness, greater understanding of different cultures, and understanding how to interact with people from different cultures.
“Studying abroad increases success for everyone,” said Dr. Gayle Christensen, interim vice provost,