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Exploring Germany and Beyond: Cheyenne Frey’s Global Grants Journey

Eileen Brown — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:59:28 +0000

Exploring Germany and Beyond: Cheyenne Frey’s Global Grants Journey Eileen Brown Mon, 07/21/2025 - 15:59

From the first glimpse of Regensburg’s medieval stone bridge to hiking castle ruins and swimming in alpine lakes, Cheyenne Frey’s study abroad adventure in Germany has been nothing short of extraordinary. As a Global Grants Scholarship recipient for the 2024–25 academic year, Cheyenne embraced every opportunity to immerse herself in German culture, explore Europe, and grow as both a student and global citizen.

A Memorable Start in Regensburg

Cheyenne began her exchange at the University of Regensburg in fall 2024, quickly falling in love with the city’s rich history and breathtaking architecture. “My first impression of the city was of its medieval beauty, including the iconic stone bridge and Porta Praetoria, a landmark dating back to the Roman Empire,” she shared in her October update. Her first month was filled with exploring the Altstadt (old town), visiting the cathedral, and diving into language studies through an Intensive Language Course. Her hard work paid off, earning her a place in the advanced B2.1 German group. Cheyenne’s coursework ranged from language and culture classes to a film course that explored German history through cinema - a class that became one of her favorites.

Winter Adventures and Cultural Immersion

By the end of fall semester, Cheyenne had fully settled into life in Regensburg. She spent her semester break traveling with friends, visiting cities like Nuremberg and Dresden, and even venturing beyond Germany to the south of France and Prague. One of her most memorable experiences was celebrating the holidays at Germany’s famous Christmas markets. “The lights, food, and decorations were so special and such a fun experience,” she wrote.

Spring Highlights and Family Visits

Spring brought warmer weather and new experiences. Cheyenne enjoyed relaxing afternoons by the Danube River and participating in local traditions like Maidult, Regensburg’s annual May folk festival. “It reminded me of the state fairs we have in the U.S., with rides, vendors, and food tents,” she recalled. May was also marked by a special visit from her mom, with whom she explored nearby towns and hiked to castle ruins in Kallmünz, enjoying sweeping views of the Bavarian countryside.

Summer Travels and Farewell to Regensburg

Cheyenne’s summer was filled with outdoor adventures, including a trip to Berchtesgaden, a picturesque mountain town near the Austrian border. There, she hiked, swam, and visited Salzburg, Austria - Mozart’s home city - along with the stunning Königssee Lake (photo). As her year abroad came to a close, Cheyenne reflected on her time in Germany with gratitude: “I know leaving Regensburg will be bittersweet. I’ll miss the friends I’ve made here and the pace of life I’ve adopted. I’m so grateful for this scholarship and for the opportunity to study abroad in Germany and experience so much.”

With finals completed and her family visiting to help her transition home, Cheyenne is excited to return to ɫ��ֱ�� for her senior year - though part of her heart will remain in Regensburg.

IAFS Students - Thinking of studying abroad? Learn about the Global Grants Scholarship!

Alumni - Want to support IAFS students as they study abroad? Learn about the Global Grants Fund!

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World Population Day - July 11, 2025

Eileen Brown — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

World Population Day - July 11, 2025 Eileen Brown Fri, 07/11/2025 - 07:00

Why Population Trends Matter in International Affairs

In 2022, the world’s population reached 8 billion - a major milestone in human development. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted, “The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity's shared responsibility for the planet.”

World Population Day, recognized each year on July 11, offers a chance to step back and consider not just how much the world has grown, but how population trends shape the future we’re building together. While we often talk about population in numbers, these issues are fundamentally about people - the ways we move, live, learn, and respond to global challenges like climate change, public health, and inequality.

In ɫ��ֱ��’s International Affairs Program (IAFS), population dynamics are a key part of understanding the forces driving today’s most pressing global issues. From urban growth and aging populations to reproductive rights and migration patterns, students explore how demographic trends intersect with questions of peace, security, and justice around the world.

Population Studies Across ɫ��ֱ��

ɫ��ֱ�� is home to several programs and research centers focused on population issues, including:

Population Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
This interdisciplinary program supports research and training in population-related topics such as migration, aging, fertility, and health - often with a strong international focus.
CU Population Center (CUPC) at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
CUPC is a leading hub for population research that promotes collaboration between CU faculty, students, and global partners. The center supports undergraduate and graduate research and offers fellowships, internships, and events related to demography, policy, and development.

Related IAFS Courses

Many courses in the IAFS major/minor explore population issues from multiple disciplinary angles. A few examples include:

IAFS 3000 – Special Topics in International Affairs: Humanitarianism
IAFS 4500 – Global Issues in International Affairs: Migration & Refugees
SOCY 3002 – Population and Society
PSCI 4283 – International Migration and Policy
ECON/GEOG 4292 – Migration, Immigrant Adaptation and Development

Students are encouraged to speak with IAFS advisors to learn which population-related courses best fit their focus region or thematic interest area.

Why Population Matters in Global Affairs

Population trends are not only academic - they have immediate policy implications. As students in IAFS examine…

Climate change and environmental displacement…
Global migration and refugee flows…
Health equity and reproductive rights…
Education, employment, and urbanization…
Aging societies and intergenerational challenges…

…it becomes clear that demography is a powerful lens through which to understand global change.

As we recognize World Population Day, it’s a good reminder of how interdisciplinary education plays a key role in preparing the next generation of leaders, researchers, and advocates to take on complex global challenges.

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Paid Fall 2025 Internship with Congressman Crow's Office - Apply by 7/18

Eileen Brown — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:52:15 +0000

Paid Fall 2025 Internship with Congressman Crow's Office - Apply by 7/18 Eileen Brown Tue, 07/08/2025 - 13:52

[Congressman Crow Internship Page] Applications for fall 2025 internships in Congressman Crow’s District and D.C. office are open until July 18, 2025. Congressional internships provide an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to learn about the legislative process. Candidates must be willing to commit to working at least 10 weeks for a minimum of 15 hours per week and will be paid a stipend of approximately $15/hour.

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Fall 2025 Cuba Global Intensive Program

Eileen Brown — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:35:05 +0000

Fall 2025 Cuba Global Intensive Program Eileen Brown Tue, 07/08/2025 - 11:35

Fall 2025 IAFS 3000: Politics & History of Cuba

This is a standard 3-hour, upper division International Affairs course in the Fall/2025 semester, after which time the class will travel to Cuba for an intensive 10-night/11-day education abroad program. The travel dates will be from December 26, 2025 to Jan 5, 2026. The course is usually capped at approximately 15 students.

Contact Dr. Grant Cohen to learn more about the Fall/2025 Global Intensive course and post-semester Education Abroad travel program to Cuba on Cuban Politics, History, and Society. Dr. Cohen will explain the cost, dates, what you can expect to experience on the program, as well as the controlled registration process to sign up.

This global intensive program is speciﬁcally geared toward, and prioritizing, students of the International Aﬀairs (IAFS) program.

IAFS Students: This Global Intensive course and Education Abroad travel program can satisfy:

Off-Campus Experience Requirement OR Latin American Geographic Concentration (IAFS Majors)
Capstone Requirement (IAFS Minors)
As always, please check in with your advisor with any questions about requirements!

If you’re interested, you must email Dr. Grant Cohen ASAP.

Sample Highlights:

Spend 10-nights/11- days in Cuba exploring the following destinations: Havana, Cienfuegos, Bay of Pigs, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Vinales. Learn about Cuban politics, US-Cuban relations, economics, history, and society directly from local experts to everyday people.
Meet with local experts, such as: entrepreneurs, economists, historians, gender and race experts, architectural experts, a former member of the Cuban Congress, and everyday local families. Visit Old Havana, salsa class, the Revolution Plaza, the National Museum of Fine Arts, a cigar factory, Che Guevara's statue/mausoleum, and private jam sessions with influential Cuban musicians.
Visit the site of the Bay of Pigs invasion (Playa Giron), Cienfuegos, Che Guevara's statue and mausoleum in Santa Clara, and spend three nights in Trinidad, a beautiful, fun, historically signiﬁcant town in the Sancti Spiritus region, a major area for sugar production. Finally, visit Vinales, the beautiful countryside and Cuba’s main tobacco growing region located a few hours from Havana.

Join the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit livestre
am for powerful conversations on climate and human rights, including ɫ��ֱ��'s program featuring global experts and Indigenous voices.

Looking to go deeper? Explore the IAFS Global Environmental Affairs Certificate - a unique opportunity for students to focus on the intersection of international affairs and the environment.

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news

Exploring Germany and Beyond: Cheyenne Frey’s Global Grants Journey

A Memorable Start in Regensburg

Winter Adventures and Cultural Immersion

Spring Highlights and Family Visits

Summer Travels and Farewell to Regensburg

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World Population Day - July 11, 2025

Why Population Trends Matter in International Affairs

Population Studies Across ɫ�����ֱ��

Related IAFS Courses

Why Population Matters in Global Affairs

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Paid Fall 2025 Internship with Congressman Crow's Office - Apply by 7/18

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Fall 2025 Cuba Global Intensive Program

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Navigating the Tide: Global Responses to Large Scale Migration - 7/17/25

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Bastile Day French Fest - July 11-13

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World Refugee Day 2025 - 6/20/25

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Michael English (PACS) - A&S Magazine - Protesters taking freedom of assembly to the streets

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2025 GlobalMindED Conference - 6/16-18/25

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Celebrate World Environment Day - 6/5/25

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Population Studies Across ɫ��ֱ��