University of Denver Spring 2026

ACADEMICS

Worlds of Impact DU faculty are crossing borders to ask big questions, build partnerships, and bring a global perspective back to classrooms and the community.

By Heather Hein

Studying abroad is a defining part of the DU experience—a chance to see the world and return with fresh perspectives. But that global curiosity doesn’t stop with students. Each year, hundreds of faculty members travel abroad to collaborate with partners, conducting research, teaching, and strengthening DU’s connections to the wider world. “DU is very globally engaged,” says Leasa Weimer, director of global partnerships in the Office of Internationalization. “Our study abroad program is one of the strongest in the country, and many of our faculty members are similarly eager to collaborate with colleagues around the world—and bring global perspectives back to DU.” From the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses, the Office of Internationalization connects faculty with opportunities and international

Chemistry professor Keith Miller spent last fall teaching in Florence, Italy.

College of Education, going abroad to India this academic year was a full-circle experience. Originally from Calcutta, Banerjee began her career as a special education teacher before earning her master’s and doctoral degrees in Kansas and then coming to Colorado as an academic. “I was like a child in a toy shop when I came to the U.S., soaking it all in,” she says. “Once you’ve crossed a few thousand miles, you gain a global perspective that stays with you.” On sabbatical in her home country, Banerjee made new connections as a scholar in residence at the India Institute of Management Indore. Her work there centered on two main areas—special education and education systems—as she delivered workshops on topics such as social-emotional learning, inclusive pedagogy, and the research process to various audiences, including those focused on business. That experience sharpened her interest in collaboration. “Coming back to DU, I want to focus more actively on interdisciplinary work,” she says, including partnerships with units such as the Daniels College of Business and the Graduate School

partners, and supports them at every stage, helping them develop ideas, apply, and carry out projects. In addition, some colleges and schools maintain their own partnerships and programs, creating additional pathways for engagement. Getting a 30,000-foot view For Rashida Banerjee, professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences in the Morgridge Morgridge professor Rashida Banerjee (right), with colleague Kajari Mukherjee, PhD, served as a scholar in residence in India.

10

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026