GCA Hosted Transformative Seminar on Global Health and Human Rights
New York, N.Y. (May 7, 2026) – Students, faculty and staff from Stella and Charles Guttman Community College (“Guttman CC”) and Bronx Community College (“Bronx CC”) participated in the 37th edition of the Global Citizenship Alliance, which convened undergraduate and graduate students from around the world for an immersive academic seminar in Salzburg, Austria. GC Seminar 37 focused on global health and human rights.
“I found that one of the most impactful aspects of the program was how students grew through their learning and were able to highlight their personal narratives in the context of what it means to be a global citizen,” said Dr. Kristina Baines, professor of Anthropology at Guttman CC and a GC Seminar 37 faculty advisor. The intensive, week-long program challenged participants to explore the intersection of migration, health, equity and justice through a global citizenship lens.
The seminar was held at the historic Schloss Leopoldskron, which offered a dynamic environment where students engaged in faculty-mentored, project-based learning alongside peers from varied academic and cultural backgrounds. The participating Guttman students were all part of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, majoring in Urban Studies, Liberal Arts and Secondary Education: Social Studies. In an anonymous post-seminar survey, students unanimously reported increased knowledge and confidence in ten measured areas, including engaging in dialogue across differences and collaborating between diverse groups.
As one student stated, “The seminar enhanced my ability to engage in difficult, high-level dialogues about global ethics and identity. I have developed a more nuanced vocabulary for discussing global issues, particularly in understanding how local actions ripple into global consequences. This experience has given me the confidence to advocate for more inclusive and globally minded perspectives in my professional and personal communities.”
“The CUNY cohort at this year’s Global Citizenship Alliance were eager to embrace all aspects of the seminar, especially their spectacular small group presentations,” said Andrew Rowan, English Lecturer and Global Programs and Study Abroad Coordinator at Bronx CC. “They brought out-of-the-box thinking to this work and demonstrated their innovative spirits and sound critical thinking skills. As with almost every CUNY group that has been to Salzburg, the concentration camp memorial site visit is powerful and evokes strong emotions for all. Guttman and BCC have formed a strong partnership around this flagship global program that I hope will extend far into the future.”
GCA students will have an opportunity to showcase their final presentations in the Guttman CC Atrium at 5:00 p.m. on May 13, 2026.
The Global Citizenship Alliance is a U.S.-based nonprofit legally recognized in Austria—is a leader in global citizenship education and engagement. It empowers colleges to prepare students for work, life, and citizenship in an interconnected world by holding week-long, immersive, residential seminars at its venue in Salzburg, Austria. The Alliance was founded in 2015 as an independent, non-profit organization, however, the origin of this enterprise dates back to 2004 when this work began under the aegis of the Salzburg Global Seminar, a renowned international policy forum based in Salzburg, Austria. Initially a pioneering effort to promote a critical engagement with the effects of rapid globalization as they relate to the aims and purpose of college education, over time the Alliance has succeeded in running one of the most systematic and inclusive programs on global citizenship education involving predominantly higher education institution from the United States.
Bronx Community College (BCC) is home to more than 40 academic programs that will prepare students to continue their education at a four-year institution or begin their career. In addition to BCC’s high-quality academic programs, the College offers students the opportunity to learn from outstanding faculty, create flexible class schedules and grow with the support of the College’s academic community. A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), BCC enrolls students from nearly 100 countries. BCC’s campus is also home to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the country’s first hall of fame. In October 2012, BCC’s campus was declared a National Historic Landmark, becoming the country’s first community college campus to receive such a designation.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College provides holistic support and advising to ensuretimely degree completion, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State in 2020 and 2021 by Niche.com, and WalletHub ranked Guttman the #1 community college in New York State for 2025.
