Jen BadieThe impact that Virginia Rowthorn, JD, LLM, has had on students throughout her career is felt among the most meaningful objects she has on her desk.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Center for Global Engagement (CGE) executive director and assistant vice president for global engagement has two metal Veuve Clicquot Champagne containers that look like directional signs pointing to Buenos Aires and Paris, a gift from a student whose parents own a corner grocery store in New York.
“I love them from a design perspective but also love that this student shared her background story with me. Talking about the shop led to stories about her parents and their immigration to the U.S. and dreams for their daughter,” Rowthorn said. “It felt like an honor to be brought into that story and to play a very small part in helping those dreams come true.”
She also proudly displays a mug with a quote from the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” a gift from a student whom Rowthorn helped overcome a difficult academic crisis.
“He knew the book so understood when I told him to channel the book’s main character —face the monster head-on and keep hiking. The moment felt dire, but it was just one step in a long journey, as long as he learned from it,” she said. “The gift was especially meaningful because ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go’ carries new significance now that I lead the Center for Global Engagement. The mug is a daily reminder of my role at UMB — helping students reach new places in many different ways.”
Global Education
Much of Rowthorn’s and CGE’s work focuses on the foundation of global education: the faculty who design and deliver curriculum to UMB’s students.
“Global Engagement and Education is a core pillar of the UMB Strategic Plan. From the outset, we recognized that achieving this required expanding beyond the small group of faculty already engaged in global work,” Rowthorn said. “To truly scale, we needed more courses infused with global or comparative perspectives — and that meant bringing more faculty along on the journey.”
To this end, CGE has offered faculty a week abroad as part of the Costa Rica Faculty Development Institute, where participants learn how to incorporate global concepts into their courses.
Rowthorn called the institute “transformative” and said it has generated 30 new or updated classes, reaching more than 400 students. The institute will again be held this December.
“The program will convene for the fourth time, expanding the opportunities for UMB students to gain global perspectives,” Rowthorn said. “Importantly, these are not just courses on international topics; almost any subject can be reimagined to show how common challenges are addressed in different, non-U.S. contexts.”
Rowthorn added that her goals for this year include promoting participation in the many programs CGE has for students and faculty that expose them to global research, service, or education.
“Some take place at ‘home’ in Baltimore and some overseas,” she said. “In these unsettled times, our goal is to affirm that global engagement is not only still possible, but more vital than ever — for staying relevant, connected, and at the forefront of the world’s best research.”
Peace Corps Memories
On her desk, Rowthorn also displays two mats she received as a gift when she was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Marshall Islands.
“This is really where my love of seeing other ways of life started,” she said. “The Marshall Islands are very remote and there are very few resources. For most of history, they had very little contact with the bigger world, but they still create art and add beautiful features to everyday items. It’s a reminder that human beings have a common love of art and beauty.”
Rowthorn has many knick-knacks in her office given to her over the years by international visitors and students and faculty who have traveled overseas.
“My office is a monument to global education, friendship, and gratitude,” she said. “I find that many countries have a stronger tradition of welcoming guests than we do in the United States. I always remind people to take a little gift from UMB or Baltimore when they travel overseas. It’s not the gift itself that makes a difference but the visual reminder of a connection that happened.”
She also has a glass-on-glass mosaic of the globe hanging in her window.
“My window looks on to an alley so direct sunlight only hits the mosaic about half an hour a day. And when it does, the colored glass lights up the room and looks magical,” she said. “I added a tiny bit of red glass where Baltimore is on the globe. It adds a little bit of wonder.”
That emphasis on Baltimore and UMB’s students is what drives Rowthorn’s work.
“CGE’s goal this year is to share the message that global education is integral to academic excellence itself — cultivating the knowledge, skills, and perspectives that prepare graduates for meaningful impact, even if their work remains rooted in Baltimore,” Rowthorn said.
