A delegation of visitors from Peru visit the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Thursday as they expand their collaboration. From left (foreground) are Magister Yannina Melissa Peña, Universidad Católica de Santa María Employability Development Director; Dr. Jorge Luis Cáceres Arce, Rector of Universidad Católica de Santa María; Dr. Manohar Singh, Chancellor of UW-Oshkosh; Dr. Milna Marjorie Delgado, UCSM College of Nursing Faculty.

The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh is expanding its international engagement efforts through a new collaboration with Universidad Católica de Santa María, a private university in Peru, as leaders from both institutions meet this week to strengthen academic and cultural ties. 

A delegation from the Peruvian university is visiting campus May 14-16 for a series of meetings, campus events and the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for future collaboration between the institutions. See welcome photos here.

The visiting delegation includes Dr. Jorge Luis Cáceres Arce, rector of Universidad Católica de Santa María, who will also serve as a special guest during UW-Oshkosh’s Spring 2026 commencement ceremonies on May 16; Dr. Milna Marjorie Delgado, nursing faculty member; and Magister Yannina Melissa Peña, director of employability development. 

Building international partnerships 

Throughout the visit, delegation members are scheduled to meet with university leadership, academic deans, nursing faculty and students while participating in campus tours, commencement activities and the official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony. 

The agreement is intended to create a broad foundation for future collaboration in areas such as academic exchange, faculty and student engagement, research collaboration and other educational initiatives. University officials emphasized that the partnership represents the beginning of a longer-term institutional relationship focused on global learning and cross-cultural engagement. 

The collaboration builds on an existing relationship between UW-Oshkosh and Universidad Católica de Santa María through nursing and health professions education. Earlier this year, UW-Oshkosh nursing students partnered with faculty and nursing students from Universidad Católica de Santa María during a 17-day study abroad experience in Peru focused on community health, cultural understanding and service-based learning in rural clinics and communities.  The delegation is on hand to present nursing students with Peruvian graduation stoles.

 

 

Expanding opportunities through global engagement 

Chancellor Manohar Singh also joined portions of the international visit, meeting with university leaders and U.S. education and embassy officials to support broader conversations around academic partnership and global engagement. 

“American higher education remains the gold standard in preparing leaders, professionals, and citizens who serve not only their own communities, but the world,” Singh said. “Collaborations such as this—especially in health care—represent the very best of American values: serving humanity, advancing human well-being, and sharing knowledge across borders. Through nursing and health professions education, we are not only strengthening academic partnerships; we are demonstrating that American education continues to be a global leader and a beacon of hope, healing, prosperity, and human dignity for all people, regardless of national boundaries.” 

University leaders said the partnership also reflects UW-Oshkosh’s continued investment in nursing, health professions and interdisciplinary education through the recently approved Mary Novak-Jandrey College of Nursing, Health Professions, and STEM. 

Learn more: 

‘We left Peru as a family’: UW-Oshkosh nursing students advance community health, careers abroad