Small Grant, Big Ripple

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Small Grant, Big Ripple
shawn-wall

Short Description: One thousand dollars does not sound like much. But in the hands of the right organization at the right moment, it can set off a chain of events that reshapes the field.

Like many in this field, I entered led by passion. A passion for global education, connecting cultures, and opening doors that were once closed. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Denver, spent nearly my entire twenties studying, traveling, living and working across Oceania, Southeast Asia, and Europe, and founded World at Hand in 2020 while still living abroad. When I returned to Denver in 2024, the organization had been running for over four years. I brought a deepened sense of purpose, shaped by lived experience on both sides of the access gap, a business and entrepreneurship foundation, and a belief that community development and global education are not separate pursuits.

That perspective shapes every decision we make, including how we spend a $1,000 grant.

In the spring of 2025, World at Hand received a $1,000 Gateway/Compear International Education Administrators Grant to support professional development. For a small nonprofit doing big work on a tight budget, this represented momentum.

The funds went toward attending the 2025 NAFSA annual conference and expo in San Diego, where I participated not just as an attendee but as a speaker. The Future of Disability Inclusion  session drew roughly 30 attendees and later led to an invitation to present at the San Antonio International Educators Forum, reaching over 100 professionals across both events. Additionally, a conversation at NAFSA also sparked what has become one of World at Hand’s biggest innovations to date.

The remaining grant funds covered a Zoom Pro subscription, a mobile hotspot, printed marketing materials, and a CO/WY International Educators Conference registration fee. At CO/WY, connecting with local peers after years of working from across the globe helped grow awareness and root World at Hand more firmly in the regional professional community. The Zoom upgrade and hotspot made two major program pilots possible: the Inaugural Colorado Community College Virtual Study Abroad Fair and the long-awaited launch of Beyond Borders: Next Steps.

Much of international education remains focused on recruiting students abroad and growing participation numbers. That work matters. But studying abroad plants a seed. Without dedicated support on the return side, whether that seed grows is largely left to chance. Research from the Forum on Education Abroad, IIE, and others consistently points to study abroad as a driver of increased academic success, career readiness, and higher earning potential. Those outcomes are real, but they do not happen automatically.

It was not studying abroad that developed me into the founder of World at Hand. It was a decade of lived international experiences, reflection, and growth. Beyond Borders: Next Steps was built around that belief. The pilot supported alumni in working through reverse culture shock, articulating their growth, and translating their experiences into tangible next steps through updated resumes, interview-ready stories, and clarity on future opportunities including graduate programs and internships abroad. Completing this pilot meant World at Hand now offers a full continuum of support, from a student’s first introduction to international education all the way through post-travel reintegration and career readiness. As the program is fully virtual, it is not limited to local students. Students across the country who took the leap to go abroad can connect with peers, reflect together, and support each other through reentry to U.S. life and continued development.

The grant also supported the early groundwork for rural expansion. World at Hand’s first rural partnership was finalized in September 2025, and in January 2026 we made our first visit to the community. What we found there reinforced everything we believe about this work. Parents, students, and community members all said the same thing: bring these programs here. That kind of reception does not happen by accident. It happens when an organization shows up with something real to offer and a genuine commitment to the community it is trying to serve.

One thousand dollars. Two field-innovating programs launched. A rural expansion enabled. A professional network deepened. And a clear path forward.

This post is the first in a series. The next installment will go deeper into that NAFSA conversation and what it revealed about a long-overlooked gap in the study abroad ecosystem.

About Gateway Pledge

Gateway International Group is proud to support international learning and professional development. Gateway pledges 3% of all revenue to advancing international education and leadership. This has led to:

  • 35+ professionals and scholars supported, like Shawn
  • 5+ association grants awarded
  • $125,000+ invested in international learning

Learn more about the Gateway Pledge.

About the author: Shawn Wall is the Founder and Executive Director of World at Hand, a Denver-based nonprofit expanding access to and development through international education for underserved students. Since 2022, World at Hand has served 600-plus students, 92 percent of whom identify as BIPOC, with a focus on low-income, first-generation, and urban and rural communities across Colorado and the US.

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Episode 29: Cultural Lens on U.S. Higher Education: Analyzing International Perceptions of 'Anti-Woke’ Discourse

Dive into a nuanced exploration of the global discourse surrounding higher education in the United States. Join us for a panel discussion with esteemed international educators as we embark on a journey through the lenses of culture and international perspective, examining how global audiences interpret and engage with the ‘anti-woke’ discourse within the context of U.S. higher education. This engaging panel discussion will delve into the intersections of culture, ideology, and education, and the complex landscape of how international audiences perceive the ‘anti-woke’ narrative that has emerged within U.S. academia.

Whether you’re a senior international officer, or simply curious about the diverse viewpoints shaping U.S. higher education, this podcast episode will provide an invaluable space for critical analysis and insightful conversations.

Speaker Biography:

Fanta Aw is a distinguished leader in international education, renowned for her extensive contributions to global learning, cross-cultural understanding, and educational equity. With a deep commitment to fostering connections between diverse cultures and promoting educational excellence, she has significantly impacted the international education community.

Fanta Aw’s career has been characterized by her dedication to advancing global education initiatives, promoting diversity and inclusion, and nurturing partnerships that transcend borders. She has held influential roles in various organizations, advocating for the importance of international collaboration and learning experiences that empower individuals to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

As a thought leader and visionary, Fanta Aw’s insights and expertise have shaped discussions on the future of international education, emphasizing the significance of equitable access, cultural exchange, and lifelong learning. Her work has not only elevated institutions but has also inspired countless individuals to embrace the transformative power of global education.

Date: September 14th, 2023
Time: 12 noon ET

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Mark Beirn

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An experienced global researcher and administrator, Mark Beirn brings a critical approach to risk management, factoring structural racism and identity-based violence into his rubric for supporting equitable global mobility.

Specialization Areas:

– Global Risk Management
– Education Abroad
– Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in International Education
– Health and Safety
– Curriculum Development

 

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Stephen Appiah-Padi​

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Stephen Appiah-Padi is an international educator with several years of teaching and administrative experience in both 4 and 2-year HEIs. An experienced global education practitioner-scholar, with a demonstrated history of success in the field.

Dr. Appiah-Padi has a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada in Educational Policy & Administration with a specialization in International/Intercultural Education.

At Northwestern College, he provided oversight in the administration of education abroad and international student services. In Lansing, Michigan, he first oversaw diversity and intercultural education at Lansing Community College, and later created the Center for International and Intercultural Education (CIIE) which merged intercultural engagement and international education programs of the institution, and he became its first director. Additionally, Dr. Appiah-Padi taught a course, “Diversity in the American Workplace”, to undergraduate management students of the College. In his current position, he provides leadership and vision in advancing strategic internationalization initiatives, including international partnerships and study abroad programs at Bucknell University.

Dr Appiah-Padi has created and facilitated several workshops for faculty and staff development in higher education and in business organizations. He has presented at several national and international conferences. In NAFSA, among several volunteer leadership positions, he has served as Dean of the Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication Workshop, the Leadership Development Committee member, Chair of the Africa Special Interest Group, and a Fellow of the Global Fellowship Program for mentoring emerging leaders of internationalization in African HEIs. He currently serves as a member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.

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Rosa Almoguera

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Dr. Rosa Almoguera has worked as an international educator for over twenty years. She was trained as a Hispanic Philologist at the Universidad Complutense, in Madrid, and did her M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. Her Ph.D., from Universidad Complutense included a field study and edition of written balladry “Romancero”. During many years Rosa combined teaching and her role as a senior administrator at the Fundación Ortega-Marañón in Toledo, Spain. At the Foundation, Rosa directed and, in many cases created, programs for the University of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Princeton, Ohio State, Arcadia, and the University of Chicago. She has also been a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota, University of Portland, and Interamericana de Puerto Rico.

Beginning in 2016, Rosa works as an international education consultant for both public and private European and US higher education institutions. Rosa has been successful in developing new partnerships and programs, as well as helping improve already existing ones.

Rosa is a member of Forum and NAFSA and has presented with higher education professionals on innovative academic and research programming, STEM in study abroad and Nationalism in Europe. Rosa is currently completing the final Professional Certification from the Forum on Education Abroad.

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