The response was immediate and global. Viewers in Mexico, Bolivia, and beyond began implementing what they learned from his videos. Millison realized he had found a leverage point: “Public education at scale. That’s how I could make the biggest impact.” Today, his channel has racked up millions of views. His content bridges academic rigor with accessible, real-world storytelling that delivers both a call to action and a practical guide for change. And his work is gaining attention in international policy circles. His new fourpart video series, produced for the UN’s &RQIHUHQFH WR &RPEDW 'HVHUWLńFDWLRQ (COP16) in Saudi Arabia, will be used by WFP to pitch expanded restoration funding for the Sahel region. Millison has been invited to speak on “Resilience Day” and lead D VLGH HYHQW IRU 81 FRPPXQLFDWLRQV VWDŃ on how to better share their impact stories with the public. This global visibility comes with challenges. Filming in Niger and Chad required military escorts and diplomatic clearances WR HQWHU FRQŅLFW VHQVLWLYH ]RQHV DQG Ņ\ drones. “They don’t just let anyone walk in with a camera,” Millison says. “The fact that OSU backed my travel to these high-risk areas shows real commitment. These are places where the stakes are high, and where the solutions can be gamechanging.” Stone agrees. “The cutting edge often lives in places where the problems are most acute. High-risk regions are often hotbeds of innovation out of necessity. Supporting faculty to engage in those places is how we stay connected to realworld solutions.” 8OWLPDWHO\ 0LOOLVRQ÷V ZRUN H[HPSOLńHV the full circle of OSU’s land grant mission— education, research, and outreach—looping from Corvallis to communities across the globe and back again. “My students, whether they’re in Oregon or online from across the world, aren’t just learning theory,” Millison says. “They’re seeing the real-world application of these ideas in some of the most challenging environments on Earth. And they’re realizing they have the knowledge DQG WRROV WR PDNH D GLŃHUHQFH WRR ú 9 PROGRESS | FALL 2025
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