On May 6, Maryland Global celebrated the power of international education at its Global Classrooms Showcase, spotlighting groundbreaking faculty innovation and the remarkable achievements of students engaged in virtual global collaboration. This year's program reflected the growing momentum of global learning at UMD. This year 570 graduate and undergraduate students participated in 33 Global Classrooms courses and 11 new Global Classrooms were developed.
The event featured a dynamic keynote from Dr. Hassanatu Blake, Associate Clinical Professor and Inaugural Director of the Global Health Undergraduate Program in the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health. Dr. Blake shared how the School of Public Health is integrating global learning into students' academic pathways, and engaged in a Q&A with fellow faculty members. Her message resonated throughout the room: "Collaboration is key –– both inside and outside of your discipline."
The event also recognized outstanding leadership in the field, honoring Dr. Candace Moore with the 2026 Outstanding Global Classrooms Faculty Award. Dr. Moore's partnership with Maryland Global spans nearly a decade — through her first Global Classroom developed in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, a partnership she continues to this day through her current course on African Indigeneity in Education. Beyond her own teaching, Dr. Moore has been a consistent contributor to the broader global learning community at UMD, serving as a mentor to faculty developing new Global Classrooms and contributing to the campus-wide efforts to advance global learning.
Global Classrooms students also took the stage, with three student groups presenting their collaborative projects and demonstrating how virtual exchange can spark innovative thinking and drive meaningful solutions to real-world challenges:
“Language Rights Digital Story”
Presented by Arleen Galarza
Course: TLPL253: Language Rights and Repression in Education
Country Connection: Pakistan
“Green Gold or Blue Scarcity? Assessing Water-Food Trade-offs in Avocado Expansion across Mbeya Region, Tanzania”
Presented by Claire Keanna and Xue Yi
Course: MIEH690: Experiential Exploration of Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems
Country Connection: Tanzania
“Critical Literacies (Global, AI Literacy)”
Presented by Dean Haynes
Course: TLPL690: Critical Literacies, Digital Technology & Instruction for Diverse Classrooms
Country Connection: Worldwide
Dr. Moore asks Dr. Blake a question during the faculty Q&A regarding her experience incorporating global learning into student's academic curricula.
Dean Haynes delivers presentation on the advancement, ability and complexities of AI.
Xue Yi and Claire Keanna present their research project investigating avocado expansion and water access in Tanzania. Their partners in Tanzania, Marietha Kereti, Adam Mhagama and Geofrey Mugini were also able to join the showcase via zoom.
Arleen Galarza shares her final project from her global classroom exploring language equity in the classroom.