Texas Global Spring 2026 Newsletter

This week, we celebrate the graduation of hundreds of students who have enriched the Forty Acres with their talent, ambition, and experiences. Their time at UT Austin is part of a larger story — one that extends well beyond commencement, strengthening cultural understanding and advancing knowledge and innovation throughout Texas and around the world. I hope you enjoy reading the impressive stories below; each is a representation of our notable strides in global engagement.

Hook ’em!

Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum 

Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement

Chief International Officer

Argentinian Graduate Thrives in Austin

From a multigenerational farm in Argentina to a fast-paced accounting career in Austin, Class of 2026 graduate Micaela Gatica is planting new roots without letting go of home.

Brian Korgel and students performing lab research.

International Visions for Innovation

World-class nanotechnology research isn't just done in the lab;
it's built across borders. For Professor Brian Korgel, 20 countries, two startups, and one global vision have shaped a career that's changing materials science.

"I think UT is an amazing place for international collaboration. What starts here changes the world ... and the only way that can happen is if we have really strong global engagement.”

Brian Korgel, Professor,
Cockrell School of Engineering

Abstract Illustration of Austin connection with Paris

French Connection on the Forty Acres

One conversation sparked a transatlantic partnership. Learn how UT Austin and France’s Institut des Amériques are opening doors across continents and advancing critical research and exchange.

Knight Center Delivers Journalism Courses to Students Worldwide

From AI to digital security to audio storytelling, the Moody College of Communication is equipping journalists across the globe with the skills to navigate an ever-changing media landscape.

350K
students

200
countries

170
courses

Alum Strikes Gold at Paralympics

UT alum Jen Lee (B.S. '18) just won his fourth Paralympic gold medal in Milan, capping a comeback story that went from military service to Longhorn life to the world's biggest stage.