ALMA — Alma College marked a milestone this month as the 20th cohort of Posey Global (P-Global) Fellows gathered to share the results of their summer projects, representing a program that has now supported 560 students in 55 countries over two decades.
The event brought together students whose learning took place far beyond the classroom. Although not all fellows could attend in person, given that some are still completing experiences off campus, the annual gathering highlights the breadth of the program’s impact.
“Thanks to the generosity of Lee and Sally Posey, the Posey Global Leadership Fellows Program has given our students the chance to step into the world and learn by doing,” said Sandy Hulme, Arthur L Russell Professor of Political Science at Alma College and director of the program. “These experiences push students to confront global issues, build relationships across cultures, and return with a clearer sense of purpose and direction. That impact stays with them long after they leave Alma.”
At the event, students presented on experiences ranging from cybersecurity in France to child care in western Africa; from archaeology in Peru to marine life conservation in Australia. For many fellows, the experience is deeply personal.
Ruby Frisch, a junior environmental science major, spent a month in Sri Lanka working with elephants and sea turtles — an experience she described as transformative.
“It was genuinely life-changing,” Frisch said. “I learned and experienced so much that you really can’t understand unless you’ve gone out and done something like this yourself. As an environmental science major who hopes to work in large-animal conservation, this opportunity affirmed that I’m on the right path.”
Frisch said one of the most meaningful aspects of the program is the sense of community it builds among students who push themselves to explore unfamiliar places.
“The people presenting today have been so supportive,” she said. “I’m excited to finally join them, and I hope I can uplift the next group of fellows the way they’ve uplifted me.”
For Wassim Guerfali, who spent his fellowship working at the Canadian Consulate in Detroit, the event was both reflective and motivating.
“I feel very fortunate to have had this experience,” Guerfali said. “A big part of today is showing other students what’s possible and encouraging them to take advantage of opportunities they might not even know exist.”
He added that hearing from so many fellows at once drives home the scale and impact of the program.
“When you listen to everyone’s stories, you can’t help thinking, ‘I wish I could have done all of that,’” he said. “You only have so much time, and you have to choose something — but for me, it was an incredible experience.”
As the 20th year of the program wraps up, the message from students and organizers alike is clear: P-Global is more than a travel scholarship. It’s a gateway to global citizenship, personal growth, and a lifelong community that spans continents.
