Office of Global Engagement

September 2025 - Teachers College, in partnership with EUniWell and UNITAR, will host the 1st Transatlantic Conference on Well-Being & (Teacher) Education from February 23–26, 2026, at Teachers College and the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Centered on the theme “Bridging Well-Being and (Teacher) Education: A Globalised Perspective to Science Diplomacy,” the conference will bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world to explore urgent challenges facing the teaching profession and to advance strategies that strengthen teacher well-being. Participants will engage in global policy discussions, practical sessions, and networking opportunities that will shape how teachers are valued, supported, and sustained in the years ahead. Those interested in getting involved with the conference are encouraged to contact the Office of Global Engagement at globalengagement@tc.columbia.edu. Registration details will be shared in the coming months—stay tuned!

July 2025 - The Office of Global Engagement, in partnership with IES Abroad and led by Dr. Mary Mendenhall, launched a credit-bearing study abroad program in Morocco for 25 master’s and doctoral students. Titled Education, Refugee, and Migration Policies & Practices, the ten-day course combined academic sessions with field-based learning across Rabat, Tangier, and Fez, offering students firsthand insight into Morocco’s unique role in global migration. Participants engaged with grassroots and international organizations—including Fondation Orient-Occident and UNHCR—to examine the intersections of migration, education, and displacement. Now a Signature Study Abroad Course, the Morocco program will run annually, with related opportunities available in Costa Rica and France through OGE’s global offerings. Interested in studying abroad at TC? Fill out this interest form!

June 2025 - Each year, the Office of Global Engagement's Fulbright Team supports current Teachers College students through the application process for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. For the 2025-2026 award cycle, two TC students received the prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Read more about our recipients and the TC Fulbright Program here!

April 2025 - Faculty and staff from Teachers College traveled to Cologne and Konstanz, Germany to participate in the inaugural Transatlantic Well-Being Summit. This groundbreaking event marked the beginning of a dynamic collaboration between Teachers College and the European University for Well-Being (EUniWell).

Co-organized by the Office of Global Engagement, the summit convened scholars, university leaders, and teacher-educators from across the Atlantic to explore a central question: What would it mean to place well-being at the heart of how we teach, lead, and envision the future of education?

Over three days, the summit offered a collaborative space for open dialogue, thematic exploration, and reflective practice—reimagining education not merely as knowledge delivery, but as a catalyst for healing, sustainability, and resilience in response to global challenges like climate anxiety, digital disruption, and mental health crises.

The Teachers College delegation was led by Dr. Portia Williams, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Global Affairs, and Amine Mechaal, Director of the Office of Global Engagement, alongside six esteemed faculty members. Their participation reflected a deep commitment to advancing global dialogue in education. The delegation returned with a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility, inspired by the transformative potential of moving beyond collaboration toward meaningful co-creation.

April 2025 - Teachers College had the honor of hosting a distinguished delegation from Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg School of Education, marking a significant milestone in the College’s growing transatlantic partnerships.

The visit included thoughtful discussions around a shared vision for the next five years and culminated in the in-person signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement was formalized by Dr. KerryAnn O’Meara, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean of the College (left), and Prof. Dr. Frauke Melchior, Rector of Heidelberg University (right).

Joining the Rector were Prof. Dr. Michael Haus, Professor of Modern Political Theory and Member of the Academic Board of the Heidelberg School of Education; Joost Punstein, Chief of Staff to the Rectorate; and Dr. Katja Simons, Executive Director of the Heidelberg University Association.

The visit reaffirmed both institutions’ commitment to advancing collaboration in teacher education, expanding joint programs, and enhancing mobility opportunities for students and faculty.

March 2025 - In celebration of Teachers College's new study abroad initiative, the Office of Global Engagement hosted the inaugural International Study Abroad Film Festival. Centered on the theme Learning to Heal: Education's Role in Conflict and Reconciliation, the festival showcased student-produced short films from the recent Costa Rica study abroad program held in January 2025. Award recipients were selected through a combination of audience votes and evaluations by a panel of esteemed judges, including Teachers College staff and external partners. By the end of the evening, the Office of Global Engagement had raised more than $15,000 to support future study abroad scholarships. Stay tuned for the next edition of the festival in spring 2026!