Washburn University students and faculty gathered on Nov. 11 at the Memorial Union for the Worldview Workshop, an event designed to highlight global and local perspectives through student research and experiences abroad.
The workshop, organized by the Leaders of Tomorrow, the Aleshire Center, and the Bonner Program, featured presentations on topics such as sustainability, fast fashion and social issues, including women’s rights in Afghanistan. The program reflected one of the Bonner ideals—global or international perspective—and emphasized how global learning can connect to local leadership.
Morgan Alexander, junior religious studies major, one of the presenters and one of the event’s organizers, said the workshop stemmed from her recent study abroad experiences.
Alexander went on the religious studies Study Abroad trip in Canada in spring of 2025, following ILA Global Conference Study Abroad in Prague in fall of 2025.
“It has changed my perspective in a way that diversity is very important, that there are many different perspectives to how the world functions, and you can see that scene within different countries in comparison to how you live your life and how other people live their lives in different countries,” Alexander said.
Alexander explained that her time abroad broadened her understanding of culture and community.
“Even if it’s—I went to Canada for my first study abroad trip, and just because it was like literally not even changing continents, it was a pretty easy adjustment, but it made it so that I was able to get a more global perspective,” she said. “And so it allowed me to experience a world that’s new to me, similar in some ways, but then going to Prague also, they have so many valuable experiences and locations and places that definitely have impacted my life.”
Alexander’s case study presentation in Prague, focused on women in Afghanistan, also shaped her motivation for the workshop.
“Part of my project, going to Prague, my case study competition was on women in Afghanistan,” Alexander said. “One of the perspectives that was shared from an Afghan woman that now lives in the United States is that a large part of the activism that’s happening for women in Afghanistan is that people are using their voices to be heard about the injustices happening.”
For attendee Lynette Hosek, faculty member who teaches Academic English in the Intensive English Program, the discussion on Afghanistan struck a personal chord.
“For two years I lived in Tajikistan. One year of that was right on the border of Afghanistan,” Hosek said. “During that time, I was training English teachers, and through the US Embassy, we were able to bring six—I think I remember six—teachers from Afghanistan to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. And then they joined Tajik teachers for a month-long training.”
Hosek said the experience became bittersweet after the Taliban returned to power.
“Several of those teachers were persecuted and are still being persecuted, physically injured, they’ve all lost their jobs, and several have left the country. But the two or three who are still there live in great fear,” Hosek said. “Any presentation about Afghanistan and especially women there really touches close to my heart, because those people are my friends, you know, my dear, dear friends.”
Hosek’s reflection on global engagement echoed one of the workshop’s main messages.
“I believe every American should leave this country at some time, go somewhere, engage with the people in a different country,” Hosek said. “Go to a place where, if you’re able, go where life is different, life is harder.”
Alexander said organizers hope to continue hosting similar programs to promote global learning and cross-cultural understanding.
“We want people to go on study abroad trips if it’s accessible to them and if it’s important to them,” Alexander said. “We do a lot of our advertisement and engagement through emails, our Aleshire Center email, but also social media, Washburn Aleshire Center.”
The Worldview Workshop reflected Washburn University’s ongoing effort to foster cultural awareness, empathy, and leadership through global engagement. Students can be engaged with the program through Aleshire Center’s instagram page.
Edited by Stuti Khadka
