Each year, thousands of University of Michigan students turn the world into their classroom, benefiting from a robust array of international education opportunities.
From immersive study abroad and language programs to hands-on internships and meaningful service learning, these experiences are made possible by the commitment and expertise of U-M faculty and staff who inspire students to engage with new cultures and communities.
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The President’s Award for Leadership in International Education recognizes these vital contributions that connect U-M students to the globe. This year’s recipients — Cheryl Moyer, Lorenzo García-Amaya and Scott Riggs — have created programs, secured funding and mentored students in ways that broaden global learning at the University of Michigan.
The award ceremony will take place from 8:30-10 a.m. Sept. 12 in the Rogel Ballroom in the Michigan Union.
“Engaging at a global level is a cornerstone of the Michigan experience,” said U-M President Domenico Grasso. “Interacting with other cultures and nations builds intellectual capacity and empathy. I applaud the work of this year’s award recipients and how well they represent our commitment to international education.”
New to the award this year are two categories: Distinguished Service and Rising Professional. Moyer and Riggs were honored with Distinguished Service awards, while García-Amaya is the inaugural awardee for Rising Professional, added this year to reflect the Year of Global Engagement.
Empowering the next generation of global health leaders
Cheryl Moyer, professor of learning health sciences, and of obstetrics and gynecology in the Medical School, and professor of health management and policy in the School of Public Health, has served U-M for nearly 27 years. She co-designed the Medical School’s Global REACH unit, developing its educational programming. Supported by more than $9 million in grants, her research centers on women’s health in low-resource settings, emphasizing education and capacity-building.
“This award is particularly meaningful because my longtime mentor and friend, Dr. Tim Johnson, who received this honor a few years ago, passed away this May,” Moyer said. “I think of him as the godfather of global health at our university — his work in medical education in Ghana was truly transformative.”
Moyer has mentored 124 U-M students and trainees on international health projects, guiding them across disciplines from engineering to public health, for almost three decades.
“Working with students as they venture far beyond their comfort zones is a privilege,” she said. “None of us knows how we will respond when everything we know and everything we are used to is challenged. The growth I’ve witnessed over the years is remarkable. I feel fortunate to play a small part in these transformative experiences.”
Through the Minority and Health Disparities International Research Training Program, Moyer has helped 22 students — many from underrepresented backgrounds—gain research experience abroad. She also secured a prestigious NIH Fogarty grant, expanding global research opportunities for health sciences students.
Moyer ensures students lead and contribute: 75 of her publications include U-M trainees, with students as first authors in 50 cases.
“At this moment in history, it is more important than ever that we help students see beyond our borders and recognize the amazing, diverse people who comprise our world,” she said. “It’s our mission to inspire students to make the world a better place.”
Reimagining language learning abroad
Since 2012, Lorenzo García-Amaya, associate professor of Spanish and of linguistics and associate chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures in LSA, has strengthened U-M’s global programs through his teaching, mentorship and especially his leadership of immersive language experiences.
His research explores how students gain language fluency and cognitive skills in international, immersive environments. Tools like his Daily Language Questionnaire measure language use and his work is published in The Routledge Handbook of Study Abroad Research and Practice.
García-Amaya
García-Amaya has led 15 study abroad programs and conducted research in Spain, Argentina and South Africa since 2005. As a mentor, he trains students to conduct research abroad and has guided numerous undergraduate research projects, independent studies and honors theses related to international contexts.
“After leading all these programs, I see three lasting benefits,” he said. “Language proficiency — everyday encounters accelerate mastery; empathy and equity — living as a cultural guest lets students reexamine privilege; and purpose-driven careers — many of my alumni now work in global roles, from education in Colombia to computational modeling in Germany.”
His award-winning collaborative project “From Africa to Patagonia: Voices of Displacement” connects Michigan classrooms with an Afrikaans-speaking community in Argentina, while his fieldwork in multiple countries anchors his research on language, identity and cognition.
As a first-generation college graduate, García-Amaya said this recognition affirms his commitment to making global learning accessible to all students.
“I know firsthand how life-changing it can be to engage with the world through education,” he said. “This award reinforces that the work I’ve done is having a real impact.”
Bridging borders for commuter students: Access for all
Scott Riggs, director of global engagement at UM-Dearborn, has expanded access to affordable study abroad for commuter students. He co-developed the Dearborn Discovery Core Study Abroad program in Gdansk, Poland, which offers nine general education credits at a reduced cost.
He built partnerships with overseas institutions, integrated global learning into Dearborn’s strategic plan and maintained global engagement during the pandemic via virtual exchanges.
Riggs also advises international students, supports fellowship applicants and champions changes to make global experiences integral to the UM-Dearborn academic path.
According to Riggs, the Global Engagement office at UM-Dearborn works to prepare students to navigate a complex, interconnected world. The office creates resources and experiences that help students work across cultural divides on global challenges such as climate change, conflict and systemic inequities.
As global and local communities face increasing division, Riggs believes there is no more essential preparation for students than the ability to engage constructively in a diverse and fractured world.
“Receiving such an honor is humbling and something I will always cherish,” he said. “I hope to use this award as a reminder to help open as many doors as I can for those who are equally deserving but who do not yet have access to the privileges that I have had. “Furthermore, I also want to recognize that for a small office to have a broader impact, it takes a network of support. It means a lot to many of us at the Dearborn and Flint campuses when our work is seen and appreciated by the broader university community.”
