A global experience opens minds and doors

This summer, Iyanna Sanders ’26 studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, something she’d never thought possible before coming to Denison.

Sanders flew to Geneva for an immersive introduction into the complex world of international economics, courtesy of a Denison Summer Seminar taught by economics Professors Zarrina Juraqulova and Luis Villanueva.

“I couldn’t believe I was actually going to Switzerland,” Sanders said. “It felt surreal.”

Denison Summer Seminars are a short-term take on the semester-long

Denison Seminars. Taught on The Hill by a pair of professors, Denison Seminars include visits to locations where students can activate their classroom knowledge. Summer Seminars students have traveled to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to study economics and politics, to Rome to study ancient history, and to England to study literature and geoscience.

This is the third Denison Summer Seminar that Juraqulova has developed and offered in collaboration with her colleagues. The support of the Provost’s Office and the Center for Global Programs was instrumental in making this seminar possible and in guiding its development, enabling students to gain meaningful insight into the critical contributions international organizations make to the global community. Juraqulova and Villanueva created their version with several goals in mind.

“We wanted our students to get a good understanding of global economic issues, meet people in international organizations, see some of the career possibilities in the field, and build their critical thinking skills,” said Villanueva.

As international economists, Juraqulova and Villanueva had plenty of connections to help them assemble their itinerary. They began planning nearly a year ahead.

Villanueva, who recently returned to Denison after spending two years with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, networked with friends at the World Trade Organization, the Office of Human Rights, and the University of Geneva to set up meetings and tours. One of their first calls was to former Denison Professor Xiao Jiang, now an economist at the ILO. Villanueva and Jiang published together when they were both at Denison.

“Xiao did so much,” said Juraqulova. “He played a key role by helping us identify potential speakers and international organizations in Geneva. In addition, he shared his own research on game theory with our students. They found his presentation both interesting and relevant to addressing social issues. His contributions not only enriched the seminar but also opened many new opportunities for us.”

A double major in economics and women’s & gender studies, Sanders was well-versed in the seminar’s focus on global economics. That wasn’t true for every student. Her classmates were majors in data analytics, physics, global commerce, and sustainability & environmental studies.

Prior to the trip to Geneva, Juraqulova and Villanueva assembled the group on campus for two days of intensive reading and discussion on globalization, international trade, and development.

Data analytics and global commerce double major Tanisha Mandlecha ’27 felt she “got a really good grounding” in economics, politics, and the history of trade. “It was also good to get to know the professors before we spent all that time together,” she said.

By the time they boarded the plane, the class was ready for their 10-day blitz of meetings with economists, directors, and foreign service officers at the ILO, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and other organizations.

After busy mornings, everyone took lunch breaks together, then broke into groups to explore museums and other points of interest.

“We wanted the experience to be both educational and culturally broadening,” said Juraqulova.

Students had ample free time to sightsee on their own.

“Throughout the trip, different groups would hang out together and visit new places,” Sanders said.

They implemented a buddy system, learned to navigate- gate local transportation, journeyed through Switzerland- land, and ventured into France.

Many students took a train to the city of Bern, known for, among many things, its local bear population and as the one-time home of Albert Einstein.

“It was the oldest and most historic city I’ve ever seen,” Braham said.

“We got closer with our professors, too,” said Sanders. “They were always ensuring that we were OK.”

A first-generation student, Sanders is passionate about promoting financial literacy and accessibility to financial tools. “Everyone needs financial literacy to help them understand what’s the best path for them,” she said.

In Geneva, she discovered that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has offices and hands-on projects worldwide that offer internships aligning with her goals. “A lot of them require their interns to have or be working toward a master’s degree,” said Sanders, who is contemplating both a master’s and a doctorate.

Hamdan Ashfaq ’26, a physics major in the pre-engineering program, is fluent in French and considering a post-graduate degree in Zurich or Geneva. He contacted a Zurich University professor who advised him to have published research before he applies, “and he even suggested research areas to focus on.”

Similarly, Braham reached out to a new contact at the U.N. Council on Trade and Development. “She agreed to be a mentor for me, which will really help when I apply to grad school.”

Economics major Karl Svallin ’26 is considering a career the federal government or an international organization. He emailed the IOM assistant secretary, asking how she achieved her position and what steps to take after graduation.

“I’m also reaching out to a Denison alum working at the U.S. mission in Geneva for specifics about how he did this,” said Svallin. “The day before we met in Geneva, he was on a call with a student we all knew!”

At the end of each day, the group met for debriefing sessions. “Students wrote reflections every evening,” said Juraqulova. “We talked about the speakers and asked for suggestions. They were all so excited to share their experiences.”

From the beginning of their time in Geneva, students began talking about possibilities for a professional life in an international organization, said Villanueva. “We could see the idea of becoming a global citizen solidified with this experience.”

The professors were impacted as well. Villanueva is developing a new course on economic policy that will incorporate his two years with the ILO in Geneva. The seminar was an opportunity to meet many of the people whose papers he will use in the classroom. Now he thinks they will be “more willing to speak to us online and be a resource for our students.”

For her part, Sanders said one of the biggest gifts was time spent with her fellow students. “Many of us didn’t know each other,” she said. “Coming back, we were really close.”

“Going to Switzerland was one of the best experiences of my life,” she said. “It was the first time I went abroad. And it reinforced my idea of what being a Denisonian is — truly caring for others.”