study abroad – Page 3 – Office of Global Affairs

Study Abroad Fair connects students to a world of opportunities

Today on the 91爆料 campus, over 1200 students visited the annual Study Abroad Fair in Mary Gates Hall Commons. International universities such as Waseda University, Universidad de Guadalajara, and University of Bristol, as well as representatives from 91爆料 faculty-led programs, scholarship programs, and other organizations – over 60 in all – were on hand to provide information about the many opportunities available for study, research, and internships abroad. Study Abroad Peer Mentors and International Programs & Exchanges staff members were available during the fair to direct students to appropriate resources and provide new ideas.聽Student participants could also attend information sessions during the fair, including several on study abroad scholarships.

Study Abroad Peer Advisers Samantha Walters, Melissa Wong, and Jackie Lungmus

“The Study Abroad Fair creates a really exciting atmosphere for students,” says Mike Renes, a Study Abroad Adviser and Regional Lead, “they can come into the Office of International Programs & Exchanges any day for advising and learn about program options, but getting to talk with a Program Director or alumni of a program makes it real for them and gives them a good sense of the kind of experience they’ll have on the ground. That’s what the Study Abroad Fair is all about.”

The Office of International Programs & Exchanges plans to hold the Study Abroad Fair at the HUB next year to provide room for additional participants and information sessions. “We’re very excited to move the fair to a new home in the HUB,” says Renes, “the new space will give the fair room to grow. Even students who come in thinking study abroad may not be possible will have the chance to come and learn everything they need to know… from program options to how to fund it.”

91爆料 named top produced of Fulbright scholars

The Institute for International Education recently named 91爆料 a . The efforts of 91爆料 staff and faculty members are key to the scholars’ success, both on-campus and abroad.

In late September, 51 91爆料 faculty and staff members volunteered to serve as Fulbright campus interviewers, providing feedback to 58 91爆料 seniors and graduate students who applied to the Fulbright US student program for next year. The Institute for International Education recently named 91爆料 a top producer of Fulbright Scholars.

鈥淭he campus selection process demonstrates the wide-ranging resources and research interests available at 91爆料,鈥� say Robin Chang, Marilyn Gray, and Natalia Dyba, 91爆料鈥檚 Fulbright advisers. It is just one of many ways that 91爆料 contributes to the success of Fulbrighters, abroad and on campus.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 another university that would so readily accept a business faculty member in the College of Engineering,” reflects Dr. Yan Cimon, the 2012 鈥� 2013 Fulbright Visiting Chair in Innovation at the 91爆料 College of Engineering鈥檚 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.聽“I benefited greatly from my amazing colleagues and research group at 91爆料… they were instrumental in making my Fulbright year a success.鈥� Dr. Cimon is Associate Professor of Strategy at聽Universit茅 Laval聽in Quebec, Canada and Deputy Director of聽CIRRELT, the Interuniversity Research Center on Logistics, Transportation and Enterprise Networks.

While at 91爆料, Dr. Cimon investigated the integration of international value chains through a multi-disciplinary research project. He also collaborated extensively with 91爆料 Scholars, including Dr. Anne Goodchild of the College of Civil and Environmental Engineering. 鈥淭he cross-fertilization of ideas between visiting Fulbright and 91爆料 scholars enriches the level of academic scholarship and discourse at the university and makes 91爆料 very globally relevant,鈥� he says.

Sam Lim, a 91爆料 alumnus and Fulbright US Student Program Fellow to Germany, emphasizes the importance of his 91爆料 education in preparing him for his Fulbright fellowship. 鈥淢y research experiences, particularly the ethnographic research I did with Dr. Taso Lagos during a study abroad program in Greece, allowed me to go on my Fulbright to Germany feeling quite comfortable with my research goals. Another critical aspect of my Fulbright prep work was simply the access I had to 91爆料 faculty mentors who helped me shape my research approach.鈥�

As a Fulbright Fellow in Germany, Sam served as an enthusiastic ambassador. 鈥淚 have great pride in being an American and a 91爆料 alumnus. I always seemed to find an opportunity to inform [fellow Fulbrighters and friends in Berlin] that the 91爆料 would be a great place for them to further their career. One ended up coming to 91爆料 for a summer research opportunity.鈥� Currently completing his Master of Arts in Education Policy at Columbia University鈥檚 Teachers College, Sam continued his ambassadorial work when he was selected in 2012 as a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador to assist with Fulbright鈥檚 national outreach efforts.

For visiting Fulbrighters and those abroad, 91爆料 is an ideal place to prepare for international scholarship and make strong connections with fellow innovators.

Study abroad gave alumna new perspective

When L’Oreal Kennedy came to 91爆料, she did not imagine that study abroad would be a part of her education. Today, she is completing an accelerated second bachelor’s program in nursing at Johns Hopkins University, having engaged in clinical internships in St. Croix and the United Arab Emirates. This autumn, she will begin doctoral studies at 91爆料 School of Nursing.

Working with children in Namibia. — Working with children in Namibia Photo: L'Oreal Kennedy

“I knew that [study abroad] was out there, but I didn’t know it was an option for me,” L’Oreal explains. 聽However, with the help of supportive professors and advisers at the 91爆料 School of Social Work, she discovered an exciting study abroad program in Namibia.

While in Namibia, “we saw how social work works in a different environment,” L’Oreal says,聽“we rode our bikes to an after-school tutoring center in a small township every day and worked as teaching assistants. It was a chance for hands-on application of the skills she was learning in her social work major, and it also convinced L’Oreal that she wanted to study abroad during her graduate studies. “I saw how important it is to get out there while you’re in a learning environment, to meet and develop relationships with local people.”

L'oreal Kennedy taking in the view. — Taking in the view Photo: L'Oreal Kennedy

During her nursing program at Johns Hopkins, she engaged in two international clinical rotations. Working directly with medical providers, women, and families in St. Croix and the United Arab Emirates, L’Oreal had the chance to see nursing practice at work in very different cultural contexts.

Now entering the Doctor of Nursing program at 91爆料, L’Oreal sees clear connections between study abroad and her future career. “I’m interested in focusing on under-served populations.聽[Study abroad] has helped me understand that there’s always another view, something else that I need to consider. I can’t just look at it from my perspective.”

GO! Scholar gives back through Study Abroad Peer Mentor program

Biochemistry major and aspiring pediatrician Melissa Wong embarked on a unique, self-directed study abroad in 2012. Through an independent study course with the 91爆料 Asian Languages department, she earned academic credit for completing an聽ohenro, or pilgrimage, to 88 temples scattered across the Japanese island of Shikoku. The journey, which Melissa made by bike, bus, car, train, and foot, took her across 750 miles of countryside. A Husky Promise student, Melissa studied abroad with the support of a聽. Funded by the Washington State Legislature, GO! Scholarships support study abroad opportunities for students with significant financial need.

Melissa Wong at the temple. — At a temple, on her last day of pilgrimage Photo: Melissa Wong

Melissa blogged about her journey to the temples of Shikoku. 聽She sums up her experiences in the following blog entry, made after visiting the final temple:

One of the most important gifts I received was courage and bravery. I am willing to take more risks and not be afraid of the unknown. The old Melissa would never bike to 88 temples, take initiative to meet new people, and travel out of her boundaries.聽This is something you can never learn from textbooks.

Now back on the 91爆料 campus, Melissa is giving back by serving as a Study Abroad Peer Mentor. The peer mentorship program, facilitated by聽International Programs & Exchanges, connects undergraduates just back from studying abroad with students considering a similar experience. 鈥淲hen I saw the opportunity to become a Peer Mentor, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give back after receiving the GO! Scholarship,鈥� she explains.

A pre-med biochemistry major, Melissa hopes that she can inspire fellow science majors to study abroad. 聽She wants to show that it鈥檚 possible and very beneficial to work around sequential courses and busy schedules to study abroad. 鈥淚 learned so much from the people I met in Japan,鈥� Melissa explains, 鈥溾€o go with the flow and do what I like, and see how it connects to my future goals later. Everything I鈥檝e done since getting back has been influenced by my experiences in Japan.鈥�

After returning from her study abroad, Melissa took Astronomy 101, just because the subject interests her. 鈥淪ince then, I鈥檝e been working with Professor Fraser on the Mobile Planetarium, where we teach 1^st and 2^nd graders about astronomy. I think volunteering as a teacher will help me become a better pediatrician.鈥� Melissa鈥檚 journey with study abroad doesn鈥檛 stop with peer mentorship. She will travel to South Korea this fall with the聽Family & Child Nursing: Culture, Immigration & Health Exploration Seminar, and she hopes to engage in a direct exchange or internship abroad next year.

Students engage in a Spanish community through storytelling

Dr. Anna Witte leads the dynamic 聽study abroad program at the 91爆料 Leon Center聽in northwestern Spain. The Center is housed in the 16^th century tower of El Palacio del Conde Luna, a gothic palace that was formerly the seat of the Kingdom of Leon and today hosts a museum and performance space.聽Its location in and strong connection to the Leon community makes the center an ideal place for Dr. Witte鈥檚 program, which engages 91爆料 undergraduates in local culture and life through homestays, school visits and teaching opportunities, as well as live performance.聽 In the classroom, students explore the craft of storytelling through a survey of Spanish children鈥檚 literature course, puppeteering workshop, and several group projects.

Two people with puppets sitting at a table. — Working with puppets Photo: Matthew London

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like learning about how children grow up, how they relate to adults and other kids, to learn about another culture,鈥� says Dr. Witte.聽 Her program provides many opportunities for cultural exploration through the lenses of child development, teaching, and storytelling.聽 Much of her students鈥� time is spent engaging hands-on in local schools and in the Leon community.聽 Students visit a local public and private school, first observing and then returning several weeks later to give lessons in English and Spanish.聽 The lessons are great opportunities for the 91爆料 students to put their new teaching through storytelling skills in action.聽鈥淪chools in Leon are basically bi-lingual,鈥� explains Dr. Witte, and local educators are excited for American students to participate in their classrooms.

Performing for an audience – with wolf ears Photo: Matthew London

The program culminates with a public storytelling event at the Leon Center, organized and performed by the program students.聽 The free event is publicized by the Leon Mayor鈥檚 office, and tickets sell out on the first day!聽 This spring, 91爆料 students performed a 鈥渟tory salad鈥�, mixing together several familiar stories, a song, and a puppet show for the audience of 30 youngsters.聽 Because the event鈥檚 theme was 鈥淭he Wolf鈥�, one group even made wolf ears for every child in the audience!

Celebrating the performance Photo: Matthew London

鈥淭his was the best experience of my 30-year teaching career,鈥� says Dr. Witte. 鈥淭he program showed students that being in the classroom is a lot of work, but they ended up wanting more interaction with the children!聽 I look forward to building even closer relationships with schools in Leon.鈥澛� These partnerships will no doubt benefit children in Leon as well as 91爆料 study abroad students.

Dr. Witte watches the performance Photo: Matthew London

Provost鈥檚 Grant enhances Zambia study abroad program

for faculty and programs! Grant applications are due April 11.

A Provost’s Grant from the Office of Global Affairs will further enrich an exciting聽91爆料 study abroad program to Zambia聽in summer 2013.

Developed and led by聽, Director of 91爆料 Bothell鈥檚 Center for University Studies and Programs, the month-long interdisciplinary program began in 2010 and introduces students to the socio-economic, political and health challenges faced by Zambians 45 years after the end of British colonial rule. While in Zambia, undergraduates from all three 91爆料 campuses retrace the steps of Dr. Ashbaugh鈥檚 own previous research on urban-to-rural migration pathways and outcomes. Along the way, they gain exposure to the complex problems facing individuals and institutions in a country where the government and the international donor community struggle to meet citizens鈥� basic needs.

Traveling by foot Photo: Rabeka Anne Randall

Program activities include collaborating with聽聽students promoting healthy practices on their campus, observing at health clinics and children鈥檚 centers, conducting a health education workshop, and spending 10 days in聽, working in local clinics by day and viewing game by dusk.聽鈥淲e鈥檙e on the go from 7am to 7pm every day鈥�, says Dr. Ashbaugh. The program鈥檚 packed schedule is designed to provide many opportunities for cultural exchange with Zambian students, professionals and local residents.

The Provost’s Grant has allowed Dr. Ashbaugh to add a completely new field experience to this summer鈥檚 program. With grant support, the group will embark on a five-hour journey, by bus and then on foot, to visit a rural village and volunteer-based goat farm where HIV positive individuals raise goats for milk and pasteurize goat milk for consumption by babies. Goat鈥檚 milk is a better substitute for breast milk than cow鈥檚 milk, so the enterprise provides community members with a livelihood, a safe and healthy infant feeding solution for HIV positive mothers, and a chance to overcome the stigma of HIV infection. Dr. Ashbaugh sees the visit to this village as a chance to witness best practices in development work, but also as an opportunity for students to experience and learn from the strength of Zambian communities and the generosity, kindness, and family-orientation of the local people.

Hearing local stories Photo: Misty Provenzano

With the support of the聽Office of Global Affairs, Dr. Ashbaugh鈥檚 study abroad program allows students to engage in meaningful international field work, learn first-hand about the challenges faced by members of another culture in an increasingly globalized world, and test career interests in global health and development. Just as importantly, she says, students gain humility and 鈥渞ecognition that [Americans] have much to learn from Zambians. I鈥檝e done my job if students leave for Zambia thinking they have some answers, and then return home humbled and able to recognize the complexity of issues related to development.鈥�

-Sara Stubbs