Davidson College Dean Rusk International Studies Program

The Dean Rusk International Studies Program was quite honored to be able to attend the World Affairs Council of Charlotte’s Global Business Series Luncheon with the Honorable Elaine F. Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State. The talk was titled “Local Roots, Global Reach: Driving Economic Growth Through International Partnerships.” 🌎

Jennet Ylyasova ‘29, who attended the luncheon along with the Dean Rusk Director, Dr. Jane Mangan, reflects on the experience:

“Sitting in that room, “global reach” stopped feeling like a distant phrase and started to feel real. Secretary Marshall spoke in a way that made big ideas feel simple and honest, not about policies or numbers, but about people, trust, and the small choices that shape something bigger over time. What I appreciated most was how she showed that the local and the global are not separate worlds; they grow from each other. It made me rethink what impact really means, not just how far something can go, but how much it truly matters to someone. I left with a quiet realization that stayed with me: that the kind of change worth building is not the one that impresses from afar, but the one that reaches someone up close and leaves them just a little better than before.”

Such an amazing opportunity! 👏🥳🎉

It’s Takeover Tuesday! 🥳 Head over to our Instagram stories throughout the day (and swipe left on this post) to see what Chetna Dawda ‘26 was up to this past winter in 🇮🇳! 🌍