Vol 7 | Issue 1
We find ourselves living in a time of stark contrasts.
Recently, the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics showed us the power of Armonia (harmony). Athletes from 90 nations reminded us of what is possible when the global community commits to peaceful competition. Some of our students in Rome were fortunate enough to experience this "Olympic Truce" in person, and the stories you’ll read within this issue remind us of the beauty of shared human excellence.
However, the transition from the podium to the present has been a somber one. As the Games ended, escalating violence in the Middle East has cast a long shadow, reminding us how quickly peace can fracture.
This is why we do what we do. Global education is among our best tools for peace. At St. John’s, these tools take shape through our programs in Rome and Paris and around the globe; in our virtual exchanges; in our curriculum; and in the international students on our New York campuses. Through global education, we aim to erode the "culturally rooted mistrust" that Senator J. William Fulbright told us “sets nations against one another,” and seek to foster the "acquisition of empathy" he saw as the counterbalance.
As we continue this semester, let’s not let the spirit of Armonia fade with the Olympic flame. Let us use it to advocate for justice and seek truth in every corner of our global community.
Sincerely,
Christina Quartararo
Associate Provost, International Education & Global Strategy
In This Issue
Perspectives on Study Abroad as Student and Teacher
Sharing Sacred Spaces: A Global Online Learning Exchange with Somaiya Vidyavihar University
Cyber in the Americas: A GOLE Initiative on Safeguarding Organizations and Citizens Through Cyber Security Research and Cyber Security Research Collaboration Across the Americas
Cultivating Culturally Responsive Pre-Service Teachers Through the Global Online Learning Exchange (GOLE)
Artificial Intelligence in Homeland Security: US/Ukraine Collaborative GOLE Project
Study Abroad Ignites Transformative Breakthroughs: Global Ambassadors, Spring 2026
Blooming Far from Home: My St. John’s Journey
