Penn Global News & Media

Penn Washington is pleased to welcome Iris Ferguson as a Visiting Scholar focused on Arctic strategic competition and advancing stability and security in the region. Iris joins Penn Washington following a distinguished career spanning the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Senate. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Deputy Assistant…

Penn Washington has joined Ground Shift, a new cross-partisan initiative dedicated to developing bold ideas for the future stewardship of America’s public lands and waters. Ground Shift brings together thought-leaders, scholars, and advocates from across the political spectrum to generate dialogue and fresh thinking about how the United States should manage its public lands and waters…

Penn Washington is pleased to announce that Nicole (Nikki) Hinshaw has joined the team as Global Policy Programs Coordinator. Hinshaw comes to Penn Washington from Purdue University’s Institute for Tech Diplomacy, where she built cross-sector partnerships with industry leaders, diplomatic missions, academic institutions, and the U.S. government in support of democratic values through technology policy.…

Penn Global Seminars  Penn launched its Global Seminars program meant to “embed overseas travel into undergraduate seminars” in fall 2016.  These seminars are open to all full-time undergraduate students. Students can apply for a Global Seminar during the advance registration period in the semester prior to taking them. The applications are reviewed by a committee of Penn Abroad staff…

Penn has advised students to defer travel and transit through the Middle East until further notice, following rising regional tensions and potential “travel disruption.” According to a March 2 alert from Penn Global, University-affiliated undergraduate travel to the region will also be prohibited through March 15, at which point the ban will be reevaluated. The alert cited…

Penn Today spoke with experts from Penn Global and Perry World House to get a sense of what’s happening in the region and what may be next. The Middle East is in a state of war, with airstrikes and counterstrikes targeting sites in Iran and among U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf region. Yet questions…

The Middle East is in a state of war, with airstrikes and counterstrikes targeting sites in Iran and among U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf region. Yet questions remain about the future of Iran, the impact on its nuclear program, and the effects on oil going through the Straits of Hormuz. To learn more about…

Perry World House (PWH) at the University of Pennsylvania is thrilled to announce the launch of a new two-year project, “Confidence-Building Measures to Reduce Uncertainty in the Future Nuclear Landscape: U.S. China Competition and Global Risk From Emerging Technologies.” Funded by Longview Philanthropy and PAX sapiens of the Consortium to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, this gift will fund…

On February 23–24, 2026, Perry World House, together with Wyss Medical Foundation, hosted a conference to discuss this question and draw on lessons learned from those providing trauma care on the Ukrainian battlefront. It underscored Penn’s commitment to advancing global health, improving trauma systems, and partnering with international colleagues to strengthen medical readiness. The conference…

On February 12, 2026, Bangladeshis went to the polls in the first general election since the July 2024 uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasina. Perry World House Postdoctoral Fellow Muhib Rahman answered questions about the election’s outcomes and what opportunities and challenges now face the new government. Perry World House: When a student-led movement forced Sheikh Hasina’s resignation in…

Perry World House co-convened an expert consultation Climate Intelligence and Strategic Preparedness with the UN Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Thursday, February 12, hosted by the Munich Re Foundation. Held on the eve of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2026, the consultation at Munich Re headquarters connected climate‑security insights to the broader agenda of the world’s…

Perry World House returned to the Munich Security Conference by hosting its second side event on February 13, 2026. After hosting its first side event in 2025, PWH built on its previous success by convening over 20 leading foreign affairs and national security practitioners and academics. At PWH’s side event, World House Faculty Director and…

Multiple by program Fall Semester & Academic Year Abroad Deadlines January 10, 2026 January 20, 2026 February 5, 2026 February 15, 2026 February 20, 2026 March 1, 2026 Application Request Deadline: Oxford, King’s College London, University of Queensland (Nursing) Final Applications Due: Oxford, King’s College London Application Request Deadline: Competitive Programs Final Applications Due: Competitive Programs, University of…

This year, Perry World House (PWH) celebrates its 10th anniversary of advancing global policy engagement at the University of Pennsylvania. Since opening its doors in 2016, PWH has become a leader at bridging the gap between academia and the policy world in Washington DC, New York, and around the world. PWH is a hub for research,…

Perry World House Distinguished Visiting Fellow Mami Mizutori discusses the upcoming elections and their implications for Japanese policy and politics. On February 8, Japanese voters will head to the polls for their third national election in fifteen months. This is unusual even by Japanese standards, where national elections are held more frequently than in other democracies. In…

With 19 students and alumni offered an award, the flagship international education exchange program again recognized Penn as a top producing institution of Fulbright students. The University of Pennsylvania has been recognized as a Top Producing Institution by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of awardees for 2025-26. Last year,…

Penn Washington is excited to announce that Sasha Nicholas has joined the team as Domestic Policy Programs Coordinator. Nicholas brings experience spanning AI policy, early childhood education, and federal program administration. Most recently, she served as Manager of Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, where she led AI-focused initiatives for small…

On February 8, Japanese voters will head to the polls for their third national election in fifteen months. This is unusual even by Japanese standards, where national elections are held more frequently than in other democracies. In addition, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, the first female prime minister in the entire history of Japanese modern politics,…

Penn Global Seminars (PGS) are semester-long courses taught on campus that include an embedded travel component.  Through PGS, Penn undergraduate students are able to take full advantage of essential global learning Penn Global Seminars (PGS) combine on-campus coursework with immersive travel experiences, offering Penn undergraduates the chance to engage in global learning, no matter their…

On January 20 and 21, 2026 Perry World House hosted a conference, bringing together scholars and practitioners to discuss the future of global development assistance. Given the shuttering of USAID and the decline of official development assistance, we convened experts to reflect on the successes and challenges of nearly a century of Official Development Assistance.…

Penn Washington is pleased to welcome Daniel Schneiderman as our new Director of Global Policy Programs. In this role, Daniel will lead the development and execution of Penn Washington’s global policy initiatives, connecting the University’s intellectual resources with policymakers and policy influencers working on pressing international challenges. Daniel arrives following a distinguished career spanning the…

In a Perry World House conversation, ‘Venezuela and U.S. Policy After Maduro,’ international affairs experts shared insights into oil, the Venezuelan economy, and what to expect next in the region. The United States’ deposition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after a military incursion removed the authoritarian leader but has also left many questions remaining about…

Huntsman senior Florence Onyiuke, who was named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar in November, sat down with Penn Abroad to discuss how her international experiences and research led her to the Rhodes Scholarship. Congratulations on this incredible achievement! What did you first do when you got the news that you received the Rhodes Scholarship? The final interviews and recipient…

Announces Transpacific and Asian Dialogue Fellows The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is pleased to announce the selection of the fellowship cohort for the Transpacific and Asian Dialogue on China, a new initiative designed to contribute to policy deliberations across the Asia-Pacific region over the novel and complex challenges posed by China’s rise…

Penn Global today announced the renewal of two Penn Global Research Institutes—the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance (GERA) and the Penn Global Documentary Institute (PGDI)—for new three-year funding cycles. The renewed support reinforces Penn Global’s commitment to offering transformative global research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, expanding community-engaged scholarship, and advancing solutions to major…

This message is to share an important update regarding USCIS premium processing fees that may affect petition and application planning for our schools and units. What’s ChangingThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule adjusting USCIS premium processing fees based on inflation between June 2023 and June 2025, as authorized under the USCIS Stabilization Act. This…

On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that it will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. According to the official statement, the pause is tied to a federal policy review related to public benefit usage and will remain in effect until further notice. It is important to highlight that: The suspension…

Following the U.S. strikes in Caracas and subsequent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, PWH hosted a virtual event with a panel of our experts to discuss the many questions that remain. PWH Thakore Visiting Fellow Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, PWH Distinguished Visiting Fellow Samantha Vinograd, PWH Non-Resident Senior Advisor Robert M. Scher analyzed what governance in Venezuela will look…

In 2025, Penn navigated widespread changes impacting higher education. The year saw new faces, initiatives, and academic programs.  As Penn enters another year, The Daily Pennsylvanian asked students, administrators, and community members to share one hope they have for the University in 2026. Here’s what they said. “My goal for ISSS in 2026 is to…

In a Perry World House conversation, ‘Venezuela and U.S. Policy After Maduro,’ international affairs experts shared insights into oil, the Venezuelan economy, and what to expect next in the region. The United States’ deposition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after a military incursion removed the authoritarian leader but has also left many questions remaining about…

The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is delighted to have received a substantial renewal grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York to continue to build and expand on its mission of elevating new voices in U.S.-China policy discussion. This funding makes it possible for the Project to convene three more fellowship cohorts in the…

Perry World House (PWH), the University of Pennsylvania’s home for global affairs, has selected twenty graduate students to form the 2025-2026 cohort of our Perry World House Graduate Fellows Program. The Graduate Fellows Program cohort has been assembled following a highly-competitive selection process with the aim of pulling in graduate student expertise from all corners…

Perry World House (PWH) at the University of Pennsylvania announces the launch of a new project in conjunction with the Wharton School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Penn Washington. The Tech for America project will work to develop policy and governance ideas to enable and accelerate technology development and adoption in the…

Penn Washington was honored to host Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washington Post reporter Maegan Vazquez for an engaging dialogue on protecting democracy and bringing passion to public service. The conversation was a partnership with Penn’s Andrea Mitchell Center for Democracy, the NYU John Brademas Center, and the Association of Marshall Scholars. As Associate…

The lack of significant actionable items from the end of COP30 shows that the world remains divided on how to address the critical issue of climate change. Experts from across the University of Pennsylvania and our extended network—some recently returned from Belém—have shared their perspectives on the results of COP30 and what may be in…

Despite a national decline in international student enrollment at universities across the country, Penn’s total international student enrollment increased by 2.1% in the 2024-25 academic year.  Recent data from the Institute of International Education — published on Nov. 17 in the 2025 Open Doors report — showed that Penn’s international student enrollment rose from 8,956 to 9,143…

On November 20, 2025, Perry World House convened a workshop that brought together leading democracy scholars and researchers to identify the key elements of a “global democracy playbook.”  How do resilient democracies around the world push back against authoritarian and non-democratic populist movements?  What institutional, social, and normative practices have been able to slow or even block democratic backsliding?  What…

Penn Abroad has paused study abroad applications to King’s College London for most College of Arts and Sciences students, citing increased challenges with KCL’s admissions and course-registration processes. The update — posted last week on Penn Abroad’s Passport website — stated that applications to KCL are suspended for all students except those in the Department of English and…

On Nov. 6, former General Timothy Haugh spoke at a Perry World House event about the global threat landscape and its implications for policymakers, the U.S. economy, and defense.  In conversation with Perry World House faculty director and political science professor Michael Horowitz, Haugh — who formerly served as the commander of the United States…

Perry World House hosted a talk featuring the father of a former Israeli hostage to discuss his international advocacy for the release of Israeli hostages.  The Nov. 18 event was co-organized by the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies and Perry World House. During the discussion, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Eastern European Jewish history professor and former…