A few snapshots of our UWO delegation in Peru this January.

The year, 2026, has begun with a powerful reminder of how learning stretches across both time and place. In January, I had the pleasure and opportunity to travel to Peru with UWO nursing students and faculty. While in Peru, we not only explored some of its most emblematic sites—Cusco, Arequipa, and Machu Picchu—but also visited multiple universities and UWO partners.

The expedition gave students, faculty members, and me the opportunity to share some once-in-a-lifetime moments during our adventure on the Inka Trail, and it also strengthened our relationships with international partners, as we learned from them and shared our traditions and ways of life. Rooted in history, the experience deepened our understanding of culture, resilience, and the power of people. As Maria Graf, the nursing professor who accompanied me, explained, “Study abroad is a unique experience for our students in the sense that the world becomes their classroom,” emphasizing the importance of encouraging students to pursue such opportunities.

These moments of learning and appreciation of the ancient were matched and complemented, back on campus, by a focus on what the future holds for us. Our Artificial Intelligence Workshop, or “AI Day,” brought together more than 200 colleagues across UWO to explore how emerging technologies can enhance teaching and learning. This demonstrated that UWO is not merely standing on the sidelines of technological advance; we are actively engaging with it and finding ways to embrace innovation so we can continue growing alongside our students and partners around the world.

Taken together, both experiences speak to who we are at UWO: a university that values the ancient past while embracing innovation. Whether learning from centuries-old civilizations or exploring the new paths technology is opening, our purpose is to educate curious, compassionate, and engaged students who are capable of weaving together both forces—the old and the new.