UM-Flint's global studies program connects students to the world

At first glance, sociology, psychology and exercise science might seem worlds apart. But for three University of Michigan-Flint students standing in the Flint Institute of Arts during a Día de los Muertos celebration, those worlds were converging in unexpected and meaningful ways.

Lake Obiagu, Isabella Modrak and Lauren Head were all enrolled in "Exploring Global Studies," a course taught by Daniel Birchok, associate professor of anthropology and program coordinator for International and Global Studies. Despite their differing majors, they'd each discovered something valuable: understanding the world beyond their immediate experience wasn't just enriching—it was essential to their future careers.

For Lake Obiagu, a senior sociology major from Norfolk, Virginia, who served 13 years in the Marine Corps before settling in Davison, the class offered exactly what he was seeking—meaningful conversations about real issues.

"I wanted to talk more about the issues that are going on right now, but also just to get the ground-level perspective from everyday people and learn about their experiences," Obiagu said. "I love the open-table discussions in class where we get the opportunity to express how we feel, express our own ideas, and have them validated and also challenged."

Isabella Modrak, a junior psychology major from Flint, came to the class wanting to expand beyond a U.S.-centric worldview. "I only really hear about things from the U.S. perspective," she said. "I wanted to expand my horizons and learn more because I knew there was a lot I didn't know."

The course exceeded her expectations. "It gave me so much insight into things I wouldn't have even considered," Modrak said. "It showed me how something that seems kind of small has this trickle-down effect on everything. It's very interesting to see where everything connects."

For Modrak, who personally celebrates Día de los Muertos, discussing it academically was thrilling. "I never thought I'd have the opportunity to talk about this at school," she said. "This class shares a lot of opportunities in Flint that I didn't even know we had."

Lauren Head, a junior exercise science major with a minor in public health and health communication from Lake Orion, enrolled in the class to pursue the certificate in International and Global Studies. She wanted something unique to distinguish herself in a field not traditionally associated with anthropology.

The payoff came quickly. When she told the exercise science department head that she was pursuing the certificate, he revealed something surprising. "He informed me that exercise science and anthropology have a long history together—learning about ancient civilizations and how they used to take care of their nutrition and health," she said. "I never saw that connection between studying older civilizations and other cultures around the world and exercise and health care."

That revelation transformed Head's thinking about her future work. She hopes to open her own gym in the future, focusing on nutrition coaching and exercise programming for people with heart conditions or type 2 diabetes.

"Health is not the same across all populations," she said. "I think it's really important to learn about these different ethnic groups and cultures and different races. This class is perfect for that."

The course's impact extends beyond field trips to cultural events. Recently, Birchok organized an international business panel featuring professionals who've built careers bridging cultures and languages.

Kasia Lynch, founder of Ikigai Connections, shared her journey from visiting Japan at age 17 to working in Poland's automotive industry, speaking Polish, Japanese and English, to starting her own company. "I want the students to be able to understand that they can do anything that they want to do," Lynch told attendees. "As long as you have the interest in taking on the hard work, you can get somewhere that you think is impossible."

Her advice to students was clear. "If you want to be able to bridge gaps and build connections, language skills are very important. If you know how to connect between two or more languages and cultures, you have great skills."

Alexis Menard, a 2025 UM-Flint graduate with a master of business administration degree who also earned a bachelor of business administration, works in international business and marketing at Lear Corporation. She shared that having meaningful connections and being ready to act when an opportunity arises increased her chances of landing her current role.

"As an alum, I understand the anxiety that comes with wondering what's next after college. I wanted to share that global opportunities are everywhere, but it's up to you to seize them," Menard said. "My mentors and alumni I've worked with emphasized the importance of building strong networks while in school, and I appreciate Professor Birchok for the chance to let me echo that message with his class."

For Birchok, helping students make these connections is at the heart of his work. "I am very interested in helping students understand how their lives and careers are tied up in the global. This is nearly always the case, yet students don't always realize the connections between their own lives and the global. Nor do they always understand how many different ways there are to participate in the global," he said.

He designed experiences, such as the international business panel, to show students the variety of ways they can act as global citizens. "Sometimes this entails travel, and sometimes it doesn't," Birchok said. "But it always entails a global mindset that is critically aware of the many different ways our lives are interconnected." Other experiences in the course included a discussion with local nonprofit and advocacy leaders working on international issues, a guest lecture by two transcultural nurses, and a lunch with Flint chef and community advocate Tony Vu.

"The International and Global Studies certificate and minor programs at UM-Flint offer students across all disciplines the chance to develop a global mindset," said Birchok. "Whether they're studying sociology, psychology, exercise science, business, or any other field, the skills they'll gain—cultural awareness, critical thinking about interconnected systems, and the ability to bridge different perspectives—will distinguish them in whatever career they choose."

Those interested in learning more about the International and Global Studies Certificate can contact Birchok via email at dbirchok@umich.edu.