Two Texas Social Work leaders joined The Other Side of Campus podcast to discuss how the School turns global experiences into local leadership — and why international perspectives strengthen practice anywhere students serve.
Noël Busch-Armendariz, associate dean for global engagement, and Stacey Jordan, assistant dean for administration and planning, sat down with podcast co-hosts to explore the School’s guiding principle for global engagement: Leave to Learn, Return to Lead.
“A global lens only adds value to your perspective,” said Jordan, who serves as faculty liaison for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Texas Social Work holds the longest-standing institutional partnership with UNHCR, sending Longhorn interns to headquarters for 30 years to work with staff coordinating refugee efforts in Ukraine, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sudan and Haiti.
Busch-Armendariz, who brings more than 40 years of international experience to her role, explained that students return from global placements with deeper empathy, greater confidence and sharper understanding of how systems work across borders. The Office of Global Engagement’s newest initiative, “From Texas to the Troubles,” launches in summer 2026, immersing students in Austin, Dublin and Belfast to study constructive dialogue and leadership in divided societies.
Whether working with international organizations or navigating community conflicts at home, global frameworks prepare students to lead effectively in any context.
Listen to the full conversation on The Other Side of Campus.