Writer and travel expert Jessica Nabongo will deliver the 2023 McSwain-Walker Lecture at William & Mary on April 11 at 5:30 p.m., the Reves Center for International Studies recently announced.
Her talk, “Intentional Travel: How Education, Empathy and Confidence will Help You Create the Life You Want to Live,” is free and open to the public. It will take place in in Tucker Hall, room 127A.
Nabongo is a writer, photographer, entrepreneur, travel expert, influencer and public speaker.
She completed her journey as the first Black woman on record to travel to all 195 U.N.-recognized countries of the world in October of 2019. At her core, she is a dreamer looking to craft a life and career that connects her passions and talents. She wants to use her story to educate and inspire others to travel and experience the world around them.
A first-generation American, Nabongo was born and raised in Detroit by Ugandan parents. She attended St. John’s University in New York where she earned a degree in English Literature, later completing a graduate degree in Development Studies at the London School of Economics. She uses her blog, “The Catch Me If You Can,” to share her travel adventures and build a global community. She is also the founder of the lifestyle brand The Catch.
In the National Geographic travelogue, “The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World,” Nabongo describes her journey around the world, highlighting 100 countries with fascinating stories of adventure, culture, travel musts and human connections.
“My goal is to expand people’s understanding of the globe and make it more accessible to everyone,” said Nabongo. “This book is a collection of countries that make my heart smile. I hope my stories make you laugh, cry and ultimately think differently about the world in which we live.”
Nabongo is committed to increasing cultural awareness and encourages people to think positively about other countries and the world at large, so that we do not miss out on opportunities to have amazing experiences with our neighbors.
“I hope what other Black people see from my story is that you should feel comfortable traveling anywhere you want to go. My journey is about showing everyone, not just Black women and men, that your dreams are achievable.”
The annual McSwain-Walker lecture brings renowned scholars, artists, analysts and other notable public figures to William & Mary to speak on topics related to how other countries and cultures interact with the United States and how the United States interacts with them.
To learn more about Nabongo, visit her website.