"The course, called 'From Lab to Governance', would be the highlight of my teaching portfolio as a biologist with an interest in ethics and social inequalities: an opportunity to mentor students and to witness their curiosity unfold while they attended museums and spoke to representatives of biomedical organizations."
"I had planned every site visit meticulously, to places including the Aurum Institute, a health-care organization based in Johannesburg that focuses on HIV and tuberculosis, as well as the offices of the South African Medical Research Council in Cape Town."
"My initial response was a mixture of professional embarrassment and personal frustration. All 15 of my undergraduate students had already booked their travel."
In June 2025, a study-abroad program in Cape Town for biology undergraduates was planned, focusing on biomedical research and ethical considerations. Two weeks before departure, the course director's visa was denied without explanation, causing significant disruption. All students had booked travel, and arrangements were made for site visits to key health organizations and cultural excursions. The sudden visa denial led to feelings of embarrassment and frustration, as the director faced the challenge of managing the situation with students and the study-abroad office.
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