OVPGA Welcomes New Associate Director of Global Education
January 18, 2022
UNC Global Affairs
Sharmila Udyavar is the new associate director of global education in the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs.
The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs (OVPGA) has appointed Sharmila Udyavar as associate director of global education. Udyavar previously served as interim director for international programs at Fayetteville State University (FSU).
As associate director, Udyavar will expand global learning opportunities for UNC-Chapel Hill students through on-campus curriculum. Partnering with and supporting UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, Udyavar will be a resource for developing globally oriented undergraduate and graduate courses or modules, often in partnership with faculty at global partner universities. Udyavar’s portfolio will include Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and the Diplomacy Initiative.
Throughout her career, Udyavar has created new global education opportunities for students and faculty, and she has obtained numerous awards and grants to support international programs at FSU. In her previous position as liaison to the FSU provost for international education, she designed new programs for international students, spearheaded FSU’s COIL and virtual exchange programs and developed new partnerships with global institutions. In addition to her administrative roles leading global programs at FSU, Udyavar has taught sociology since 2012 and has expertise in curriculum design, global learning and assessment.
Udyavar is an advocate for making equitable global education available to all students by leveraging virtual resources as well as immersive in-person experiences, which aligns with the central role she will play in Carolina’s Global Guarantee, the promise that each student has access to a transformative global education, articulated in the strategic plan Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good.
“With her impressive background in international education and commitment to the student experience, Dr. Udyavar has the expertise and commitment to help create and sustain a rich menu of accessible global education opportunities at Carolina,” said Barbara Stephenson, vice provost for global affairs.
Udyavar holds a doctorate in higher education leadership with a concentration in global learning and assessment and a master’s in sociology from FSU. Originally from India, Udyavar speaks several Indian languages including Hindi, Konkani, Marathi and Gujarati, among others. In her free time, Udyavar loves to travel and learn more about the world through cultures and cuisines.
Udyavar begins her appointment on January 18, 2022.