International Education Week: Ghana

International Education Week: Ghana

A busy beach full of people and fishing boats with mountains in the background

UR’s Ghana Week

November 17-20, 2025

Each November, in recognition of International Education Week, the UR community "meets in another culture" here on campus. This year, our community’s engagement will be with Ghana -- a growing hub of global connection for UR students, faculty, and staff. Scholars and visitors will travel to Richmond to offer their expertise; faculty will align their teaching with topics and themes related to Ghana; and there will be opportunities for everyone to taste the cuisine, hear the music, and learn about our connections to Ghana.

Header image taken by Sherley Arias-Pimentel ‘23 in Tamale, Ghana; Winner of the 2022 Spiders Abroad Photo Contest.

Invited Speakers

Richard Dzikunu

Richard Dzikunu,
Senior Programme Officer at YIELD Hub

“Health, Hope, and the Power of Young People in Ghana: Centering Rights and Justice in Tomorrow’s Health Leadership”

Dr. Wunpini Mohammed

Dr. Wunpini Mohammed,
Cornell University

“Ghana to the World: Challenging African Stereotypes One Story at a Time”

Gideon Sarpong

Gideon Sarpong,
2023 Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Fellow

“Reporting on Climate Change in Ghana and Africa”

Kwaw Kese

Kwaw Kese,
Ghanaian hiplife artist

Discussion and Concert

A suspension pedestrian bridge leading into a forest

Pre-Week Engagement Opportunities

Hip-Hop Week

Hosted by Deandra Clarke, Adjunct Instructor of Theatre & Dance
November 4-6
Learn more here. 

African Film Festival

A series of African Films including three films from Ghana
November 6-8

November 6 - The Eyes of Ghana (2025)
November 7 - 
The Fisherman  (2024)
November 8 - Ama: An African Voyage of Discovery (1991)
Learn more here.

IE Week Programming Calendar

Monday
November

17

GHANAIAN BREAKFAST
Enjoy a variety of breakfast foods from Ghana
7:00-10:30am, @ Heilman Dining Center

 

Tuesday
November

18

LUNCH BEVERAGE DISPLAY
Try some Ghanaian beverages at lunchtime (while supplies last)

11:30am-1:30pm @ Heilman Dining Center

TALK
“Health, Hope, and the Power of Young People in Ghana: Centering Rights and Justice in Tomorrow’s Health Leadership”

Richard Dzikunu, Senior Programme Officer at YIELD Hub
12:00pm-1:00pm @ the International Commons

DISCUSSION AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Musical Guest: Kwaw Kese

6:30-8:30pm, @ the Current
Register for the event here.

Wednesday
November

19

TALK
“Ghana to the World: Challenging African Stereotypes One Story at a Time”
Dr. Wunpini Mohammed, Cornell University
12:00pm-1:00pm, @ the International Center Commons

FAIR
IEW Ghana, featuring more than a dozen stations with connections to Ghana

3:30-5:00pm @ Alice Haynes Room, THC

DINNER
Ghanaian Recipes

4:30-8:00pm, @ Heilman Dining Center

Thursday
November

20

CONVERSATION
“Reporting on Climate Change in Ghana and Africa”

Gideon Sarpong, 2023 Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Fellow
9:00am - 10:15am, @ Gottwald Auditorium (A001)

Friday
November

21

ECOCHALLENGE
The last day to compete!

See details below

A large stone building with the words freedom and justice on the front

Weeklong Programming

Opportunities to engage at your own pace and timeline
  • The Eighth annual Ecochallenge: Register here!
  • Library Guide - Curated by Boatwright Memorial Library. 
  • Display of books written by female Ghanaian authors in Boatwright Memorial Library.
  • Music Library - Playlist, Resources, and blog posts
  • Dining Hall: Specials Monday-Wednesday
  • Passport Café: Weekly special: Chicken & Vegetables with Peanut Sauce over Rice (Vegetarian option includes Eggplant).
  • Kente Cloth Exhibition in the International Commons Large Gallery

IEW Fair: Ghana

Richmond’s Many Ties to Ghana

More than a dozen tables/stations will be on display for the fair on Wednesday, November 19, representing a wide variety of Richmond connections to Ghana on such topics as:

Music, sustainability, children’s literature, cuisine, cultural reflection after study abroad, UR study abroad in Ghana, and more!

Faculty & Staff Involvement with IEW 2025

Dr. Dixon Abreu
Dixon Abreu

Senior Teaching Faculty of LALIS

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Rob Andrejewski
Rob Andrejewski

Director of Sustainability

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Heather Ervin
Heather Ervin

Science Librarian

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Dr. Linda Fairtile
Linda Fairtile

Head, Parsons Music Library

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Haley Herrmann
Haley Herrmann

Sustainability Communications & Engagement Specialist

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Dr. Kristine Grayson
Kristine Grayson

Associate Professor of Biology

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Dr. Todd Lookingbill
Todd Lookingbill

Associate Professor of Geography and the Environment

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Dr. Nigel James
Nigel James

Assistant Professor of Health Studies

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Karen Kourkoulis
Karen Kourkoulis

Manager, Passport Cafe

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Karen Masterson
Karen Masterson

Assistant Professor of Journalism

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Shahan Mufti
Shahan Mufti

Professor of Journalism

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Madeline Nathe
Madeline Nathe

Registered Dietitian

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Dr. Matthew Oware
Matthew Oware

Irving May Professor of Human Relations, Professor of Sociology

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Dr. Jennifer Pribble
Jennifer Pribble

Professor of Political Science and Global Studies

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Tenace Kwaku Setor
Tenace Setor

Assistant Professor of Analytics & Operations

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Dr. Ignatius G.D Suglo
Ignatius Suglo

Assistant Professor of Rhetoric & Communication Studies

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Vincent Savage
Vincent Savage

Director of Residential Dining

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