Who says opportunity isn’t for everyone? 

Too often, colleges assume some students just won’t engage with global education. Dawn Wood, Dean of Global Learning at Kirkwood Community College, is here to challenge that thinking. Her research and leadership show that, given the chance, even “nontraditional” students deeply value and benefit from international learning.

From her roots on a farm in Iowa to advocating for interculturality on campus, Dawn has made it her mission to ensure every student at Kirkwood sees themselves in the world—and sees how the world can come to them.

Dawn Wood is re-writing the narrative—showing that when international education is made accessible, every student stands to gain.

• Immediate Impact: At Kirkwood, international education isn’t just about study abroad, it’s about skills and perspectives that students apply right in their jobs and communities.

• Demographics Don’t Define Engagement: Dawn’s dissertation proved that students from every background will seize international opportunities if programs are accessible and relevant

• Media & Policy Noise: Massive policy changes and confusing media narratives make Dawn’s grounded, data-driven perspective more important than ever.

• Dialogue Over Assumption: Opening doors for all means listening deeply, sharing success stories, and challenging labels about who gets to participate on the global stage.

Dawn Wood is Dean of Global Learning at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa—a passionate advocate for making international education accessible across community colleges. Dawn’s research, including her PhD dissertation, highlights the positive impact of global learning on all students, regardless of background or circumstance. She leads with empathy and believes every student deserves the chance to engage in intercultural dialogue—and to thrive because of it.

[00:00] Podcast begins

[01:23] Farm to College: How Dawn found international education & returned to Iowa

[04:59] Exploring Interculturality: Student data-driven study for Dawn’s PhD dissertation

[12:24] Media Circus: Colleges impacted by policy uncertainty & media confusion

[17:23] Rapid Fire Questions: Dawn talks traveling, visiting Ghana, & VISA requirements

Kirkwood Community College | kirkwood.edu

Connect with Dawn:  LinkedIn

For More Information:
Learn more about the Association of International Education Administrators at AIEAworld.org. Visit ViaTRM.com to learn more about Via TRM and access to additional resources.

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