Ohio University relaunches Global Leadership Center with renewed focus on experiential learning and workforce development

The revitalized Global Leadership Center (GLC) will serve as a hub for experience-rich global education at OHIO, connecting academic study with language learning, cross-cultural experience, professional development, and engagement with communities and organizations in the United States and abroad. The relaunch builds on the Center’s tradition of project-based learning and cultural immersion, helping students develop global competencies through collaboration on real-world challenges.

At the heart of the Center is the Global Leadership Certificate, an undergraduate certificate designed to help students distinguish themselves as well-informed, internationally connected leaders in their chosen fields. Open to students from across the University, the certificate is intentionally experiential: students earn it through a combination of coursework, foreign language study, and international experiential learning, either abroad or in a domestically based setting with an international focus.

Workforce development is central to this renewed vision. Students from every major and college need the ability to communicate across cultures, collaborate on diverse teams, and navigate an increasingly interconnected global workforce. The GLC will help students translate these skills into professional success across industry sectors in Ohio and beyond, preparing them to contribute to the communities and organizations where they live and work.

The Center will focus on developing experiential learning opportunities—including internships, collaborative projects, and leadership-building experiences—through OHIO’s strategic university partnerships in West Africa, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and Europe. These partnerships provide a foundation for sustained collaboration, connecting students with peers, faculty, community organizations, and employers to address shared challenges while developing practical skills and lasting professional relationships.

OHIO alumnus to helm center

Leading the relaunch is Dr. Richard Kraince, director of the Global Leadership Center in Ohio University’s School of International Studies and Languages and global engagement coordinator for the Cutler Scholars Program in the Honors Tutorial College. A three-time Ohio University alumnus, Kraince earned a B.S. in Geology with a focus on invertebrate paleontology, an M.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in Southeast Asia Studies, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education focusing on the role of students in social change internationally.

Kraince brings extensive experience in international education, global leadership, and experiential learning, with particular expertise in Southeast Asia. He has conducted research and educational work in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines and previously served as a program officer with The Asia Foundation in Jakarta. As part of the Fulbright ASEAN Research Program in 2024–25, he held visiting research fellowships at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia, the University of Malaya in Malaysia, and Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He has also held academic and research positions at El Colegio de México in Mexico City. Most recently, he served as dean of Cooperative, Experiential and International Education at Antioch College, where he was an associate professor of Cooperative and International Education for 14 years.

"Rick brings a remarkable combination of international experience, commitment to experiential learning, and deep roots at OHIO," said Haley Duschinski, director of the School of International Studies and Languages. "We are delighted to welcome him back to carry forward the Global Leadership Center’s legacy and expand opportunities for students across the University. With Rick’s leadership, the Center will build on OHIO’s distinctive excellence in global education, connecting students and strategic partners to advance global opportunity and impact."

Global Dance Night celebrates the GLC relaunch during Homecoming Weekend

The University community and the public are invited to celebrate the Global Leadership Center’s relaunch during Global Dance Night, a special Homecoming Weekend event at the Athens Armory.

Featuring DJ Morefire, food, and music from around the world, Global Dance Night will bring students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members together for an evening celebrating the international communities that make up Ohio University and the wider Athens community.

The evening will feature Afrobeats, Bollywood, K-pop, Southeast Asian Pop, Salsa, Reggaeton, Dancehall, Pinoy Hip Hop, Dangdut, Khmer Surfer Punk, Amapiano, and more.

Global Dance Night
Friday, October 9, 2026
7:00–10:00 p.m.
Athens Armory
1 Armory Street
Athens, Ohio

All are invited. Tickets are $20 per person, or guests may reserve a table for six for $120.

Learn more about Global Dance Night 

The celebration marks the beginning of a renewed effort to connect Ohio University students with people, communities, organizations, and opportunities around the world. Through the Global Leadership Center, students will prepare to contribute thoughtfully and effectively wherever their lives and careers take them.