Recent OGA Travel Helps Expand Duke’s Reach

Colleagues share key takeaways from trips to Vietnam and India

-By Charles Givens

April 28, 2025

The Office of Global Affairs’ (OGA) global engagement efforts recently took two colleagues to Vietnam and one to India, providing opportunities to strengthen partnerships, share research and gain new perspectives on international education.

Julie Maxwell, program manager for the John Hope Franklin Center’s von der Heyden Global Fellows, and Katherine Black Conte, OGA’s international partnerships manager, traveled together to Vietnam with a delegation of other universities focused on understanding the country’s higher education landscape, identifying potential partners and building relationships beyond formal agreements. They also welcomed the chance to connect with peers from other U.S. institutions.

Maxwell said a primary goal was “to understand Vietnamese higher education, to find the best partners for Duke and build lasting relationships beyond MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding).” She added that building relationships with colleagues from other U.S. institutions was also valuable.

Conte said her focus stemmed from current projects. “We have ongoing research taking place in Vietnam and felt it important to deepen and further solidify partnerships and collaborative work.”

Both found the trip reinforced the importance of international partnerships. “Vietnam is eager to collaborate with U.S. institutions,” said Maxwell, noting the country’s prime minister emphasized higher education’s importance and met with their delegation for two hours.

“This trip further emphasized the importance of cultivation and intentionality when it comes to establishing collaborations,” said Conte. “It is vital to be on the same page when it comes to expectations, goals and intended outcomes. Partnerships take work, transparent conversation and commitment from both parties.”

The trip included memorable cultural and professional moments. Maxwell recalled “walking through Hanoi’s Old Quarter with colleagues and enjoying pho while sitting on stools that were a foot and a half from the ground.” Conte noted how welcoming the people of Vietnam are. “Visiting the ambassador’s home with the other delegates as well as the warm welcomes we received during each of our campus visits and tours was a novel experience. I was blown away by the incredible hospitality.”

“Study tours [like this trip to Vietnam] are crucial for building long-lasting relationships. Duke is committed to expanding partnerships in Southeast Asia, as shown by our participation in Institute of International Education (IIE) Study Tours to both Vietnam this year and Thailand last year,” said Maxwell.

Meanwhile, Rohini Thakkar, program manager at the John Hope Franklin Center, traveled to New Delhi to attend and present at the 2025 Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) conference. She said the goal was to represent Duke, discuss its “India-focused initiatives, particularly the Duke India Initiative,” explore new global engagement opportunities and learn from other institutions.

Presenting to the international audience was “both exhilarating and humbling,” Thakkar said. “While there was some initial nervous energy, it quickly turned into excitement as I began sharing stories and strategies from our work at Duke. During the question-and-answer session, I was thrilled to see how much interest there was in our initiatives.”

Thakkar said a lasting memory was a “Fuqua Around the World” alumni event in New Delhi. “The event brought together Duke alumni who are now changemakers in their respective fields. Their pride in Duke and enthusiasm for reconnecting with the university made the evening especially meaningful.”. “The gathering was also open to incoming students, many of whom had offers from multiple top universities. After the event, a few shared that their conversations with alumni solidified their decision to choose Duke. That moment truly reflected the power of community.”

Through this experience, Thakkar sees input from the next generation guiding international activities and maintains their significance. “At APAIE, hearing directly from students and young professionals reminded me that their perspectives bring fresh energy and direction to programming and global partnerships. Their insights help ensure our work remains relevant, impactful and responsive. That is something we must continue to prioritize moving forward.”