The MSU Global Learning Conference (GLC), formerly known as the Learning Abroad Conference, features presentations from students returned from international learning experiences and international students currently studying abroad here in East Lansing. Since its inception in 2012, over 300 students have presented at the annual conference. Domestic and International students from all academic levels—first year undergraduates to doctoral students—and a variety of academic disciplines have participated. They have utilized the GLC as an opportunity to share their education abroad experiences with fellow students, family, friends, and the greater MSU community.
Moderator: Erin Kunert
Place-Based Perspectives on Natural Resources (Ireland)
Colin Reese
Colin Reese is a senior at Michigan State University studying Comparative Cultures and Politics and Interdisciplinary Social Studies. In 2024, he interned with Coastwatch Europe in Dublin, Ireland, where he engaged in citizen science and community-based coastal conservation. Through conferences, fieldwork, and storytelling, he examined how local actors translate global environmental goals into place-based action. This presentation reflects on what it means to “listen, learn, and understand” across cultures, highlighting how public participation and relational environmentalism can inspire more inclusive forms of governance and stewardship.
From Timid to Resilient: A Journey Beyond Borders (USA)
Giang Vo
This presentation traces how 13 years of international experiences, from volunteer work in Cambodia to graduate study in Japan and now the Fulbright Program at Michigan State University, have shaped Giang’s identity as an educator. Using English as a teaching medium and Vietnamese as a cultural bridge, Giang come to see communication as the core of both learning and diplomacy. These intercultural experiences have strengthened Giang’s adaptability, empathy, and confidence in connecting across global contexts. As Giang returns to Vietnam, she aims to integrate these perspectives into classrooms, helping students engage critically with international issues, communicate effectively in English, and represent Vietnamese perspectives in global conversations with confidence and cultural understanding.
The Patients Who Became The Teacher: A Week in La Carpio (Costa Rica)
Miranda Amal Clinton
Miranda, a second-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, traveled to La Carpio, Costa Rica for a Global Health clinical immersion experience. In this underserved community, she helped provide care ranging from emergency to preventative medicine for refugees, uninsured families, and others without access to healthcare. Each night, she journaled about her experience which revealed a powerful realization: although she came to serve, Miranda’s greatest education came from those she served. Her presentation explores how global health reshaped her understanding of healing, humanity, and her growth as both a future physician and person.
Moderator: Benjamin Ladd
Just Make a Friend (Spain)
Megan Kenney studied in Valencia, Spain this past summer for 9 weeks. She lived with a host family and took three intense Spanish culture and language courses during her stay. Megan’s presentation highlights the local experiences she sought to improve her confidence and level in the language. These experiences were often out of her comfort zone, but as the trip progressed, she learned to be comfortable with unfamiliar situations. Through her global learning experience, she built up her skills enough to authentically connect and travel with locals.
One World, One Health (Guatemala)
Driven by his passion for travel and medicine, Nate journeyed to Antigua, Guatemala as a first-year medical student to provide healthcare alongside his classmates from MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. Now a third-year student completing rotations at Corewell Farmington Hills Hospital, he reflects on how this experience shaped his personal and professional growth. In his presentation, Nate will recount his immersion in Guatemalan culture and share fascinating insights about how local conditions influence the country’s health landscape. He will also compare the challenges he observed in Guatemala with those he now encounters in suburban Detroit, emphasizing how global health experiences can deepen and enrich medical practice at home.
Across the Pond, Toward Our Future (United Kingdom)
The presenters participated in a month-long study abroad program in London, England, focusing on Speech-Language Pathology. During their time abroad, they navigated the challenges of adapting to a new country while also engaging in unique opportunities to interact with diverse populations that speech pathologists often serve. These experiences not only deepened their understanding of the field but also helped them clarify their professional interests and the communities they hope to work with in the future.
Moderator: Luna Lu
A Journey of Firsts: Clinical Immersion in Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
Every medical student experiences a series of “firsts”: the first time using their equipment, their first real patient, their first diagnosis, and more. Apoorva and Rhea will share their journey abroad to Costa Rica, where they participated in a one-week clinical immersion caring for a community largely composed of Nicaraguan refugees with limited access to healthcare, a true experience filled with many firsts. Confronted with patients whose cultural backgrounds and life experiences differed from their own, they learned to navigate communication barriers, build trust, and adapt their clinical approach. This presentation highlights how these encounters shaped their understanding of empathy, adaptability, and the practice of compassionate care in a global health setting.
Policy Addendums to Address South Korea’s Emergency Department Admission Crisis (South Korea)
Destiny Kanning is a student in the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine who studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. During her time abroad, she conducted a policy study on Korea’s emergency department crisis, which was awarded Excellence in Research by the Korea Foundation and the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Her presentation explores how confronting healthcare inequities abroad shaped her identity as a future physician and global health advocate, and how global learning deepened her commitment to systems of change and equitable care.
Sustainability Around the World (South Africa, Iceland, New Zealand)
As an Environmental Studies and Sustainability major, Anna studied abroad in South Africa, Iceland, and New Zealand between 2023 and 2024. She began her journey focused on wildlife conservation through a cheetah rewilding program in South Africa, where she learned about population management and the ecological impact of human development. Her curiosity deepened during a geology course in Iceland, where she explored how geothermal and hydropower energy shape national sustainability efforts. Finally, she spent a semester in New Zealand immersed in a culture guided by the Māori principle of kaitiakitanga, experiencing firsthand how policy and cultural values intersect to promote environmental stewardship. Anna’s presentation highlights how each experience expanded her understanding of global sustainability and shaped her personal growth into a confident, curious, and committed environmental advocate.
Moderator: Erin Kunert
Echoes Across Continents: Peruvian Resistance and Spain's Catalan Memory in a First-Gen Global Journey (Spain)
Melissa Aguilar Gabriel is a first-generation, Latina, international student from Peru studying Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy at James Madison College, with a minor in Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering. Her presentation draws from her experience in the FSA Spain 2025 program, where she explored the legacy of the Spanish Civil War and Francoist authoritarianism through Catalonia’s cultural resistance. Melissa connects this to her Harvard-published research on constitutional structures in authoritarian regimes and her work as a UN Youth Delegate, uncovering how Peruvian exile communities and indigenous traditions relate to Catalonia’s civic landscape. She reflects on how global learning helped her bridge Latin American exile narratives and Catalan identity, shaping her pursuit of international law, developmental economics, and inclusive governance.
Beyond the Cycle: Menstrual Health Challenges in Ghanaian Schools (Ghana)
During the presenters’ education abroad program in Ghana through Michigan State University, they conducted research on menstrual hygiene among schoolgirls. This presentation will highlight the strength and resilience of young women navigating cultural taboos, limited resources, and social stigma while striving for dignity and opportunity. By sharing their stories and experiences, the presenters aim to emphasize the importance of access to education, health resources, and open dialogue. This research not only reflects the challenges faced but also celebrates the determination and courage of Ghanaian girls, offering insights into global health, gender equity, and the transformative power of resilience.
Self-Discovery Through Culture and Theater: My Time in Seoul (South Korea)
Brooke studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea for a first-year study abroad seminar for two weeks before her freshman year at MSU. Her presentation’s focus is to share her self-discovery through the art of theater and culture of South Korea. Brooke will also discuss how her global learning experience ultimately empowered her to be more dedicated to her education.
Moderator: Alexandra Jarvis
Valencia, Spain: An Experience of Personal Growth and Discovery (Spain)
Madison traveled to Valencia, Spain during the Spring Semester of 2025, studying Spanish language and culture. During her experience, she spent most of her time exploring Europe on her own and went down a path of personal discovery. This lead her to developing a new confidence and independence through learning to enjoy her own solitude while exploring her new home.
Redefining Possibilities: Overcoming Barriers as a First-Gen Student Abroad (Greece)
Norma Makki participated in the Business Law, Ethics, and Sustainability program in Athens, Greece, during her freshman summer semester. As a first-generation college student, she faced a range of financial and personal challenges, from securing scholarships and budgeting for international travel to helping her parents understand the unfamiliar concept of studying abroad. With limited familial guidance, she took the initiative to find the resources and support she needed to make the experience possible. In this presentation, Norma will share how she overcame these obstacles and how studying abroad strengthened her confidence and independence. Through her story, she hopes to inspire other first-generation students to pursue global learning opportunities and show how these experiences can be both transformative and empowering.
Finding My People Abroad (Spain)
Kayla is a junior at Michigan State University who studied abroad in Seville, Spain, through the CEA CAPA affiliate program. Arriving alone, she worried about finding friends, but by putting herself out there and embracing vulnerability, Kayla built meaningful connections and returned with a group of lifelong friends. Her presentation explores the challenges of going abroad alone, how shared experiences foster community, and the importance of making the most of time abroad.
Moderator: Luna Lu
Rethinking Conservation: A Global Perspective (New Zealand)
Madison Cole is a first-year MSU pre-veterinarian student dual majoring in Animal Science and Zoology. She studied abroad in New Zealand through a first-year seminar program, where she explored conservation practices and indigenous Māori perspectives. In her presentation, Madison will discuss how her expectations of wildlife conservation were challenged, particularly regarding the management of non-native species, and how these experiences broadened her understanding of the ethical and ecological complexities of conservation. She will also reflect on how global learning influences her approach to her future veterinary career and worldview.
When Graffiti Speaks: How Street Art in Oaxaca Shaped My Career (Mexico)
Jaime is a graduate student who studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico while completing her senior year at MSU. During her trip she witnessed Oaxaqueño-led resistance movements where street art and graffiti deeply resonated with her. This transformative experience led her to write her senior thesis exploring street art's role in Indigenous movements and pursue graduate studies in anthropology at Columbia University, where she now researches Indigenous resistance and documents disappearances in Mexico. Her presentation explores how studying abroad can provide more than just a trip, but genuine clarity and purpose.
Study Abroad in Spain: A Discovery in Faith and Culture (Spain)
Lilia Miller is a first-year student at Michigan State University, who participated in a First-year Seminar Abroad program, in which she spent two weeks in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Lilia first decided to study abroad because she wanted to meet new people, travel to a different country, and get a glimpse of college work. The trip ended up providing more meaningful growth and learning opportunities. In Spain, the group of students learned about Spanish history and culture and visited historical, cultural, and religious sites, including many churches. Lilia learned the importance of religion in Spanish culture and grew in her faith and personal beliefs. This presentation is intended to show how global learning helps to understand other cultures and communities, develop interpersonal skills, and, ultimately, grow as a person.
Moderator: Leticia Cherchiglia
Practicing Medicine Beyond Borders: Lessons from Peru on Culture and Health Equity (Peru)
Coral will share how her Global Health preceptorship in Peru challenged her to become more adaptive in developing treatment plans, recognizing that healthcare delivery varies widely across cultural contexts. Working in both rural and suburban clinics, she observed patients relying on a mix of traditional remedies and modern medicine, families struggling with both infectious diseases and chronic conditions, and communities expressing hesitancy toward vaccines. These encounters underscored the inseparable links between culture, poverty, and health, pushing her to think creatively about patient care. Ultimately, the experience deepened her sense of humility and strengthened her commitment to health equity. Her presentation will explore how global learning is not just about medicine in resource limited settings—it’s about cultivating the adaptability, curiosity, and compassion needed to serve patients from every background, anywhere in the world.
Community and connection in Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
Grace and Tessa traveled abroad to Nacientes Palmichal, Costa Rica over Spring Break 2025 to participate in an Alternative Spartan Break and volunteer for six days in the Cloud Forest. During their time there, they were fully immersed in cultural experiences and hands-on service opportunities in rural Costa Rica. They engaged in new sustainability practices, utilized natural resources from the land, and observed how other communities live and interact. They plan to share how this experience broadened their worldview and what challenges they faced when adapting to a new country.
Global Learning from a Student Instructor’s Perspective (Nigeria, USA)
Jogi Katende is a Senior International Student from Uganda, majoring in Finance and Economics. Along with his professor, Jogi took on the challenge of co-creating a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course between students at Michigan State University, and students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In this presentation, Jogi will share his personal experiences as an international student instructor and how he supported students in navigating international collaboration, as well as how he has grown from these experiences. In this, Jogi hopes to encourage other students to consider supporting their colleagues' Global Learning.
Moderator: Alexandra Jarvis
Interviewing Europeans on American Politics: Lessons for My Future Classroom (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands)
Chloe Krawczak is a third-year Elementary Education major in the Pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade band track, with a TESOL endorsement. This summer she studied abroad in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands with the Learning, Culture, and Technology in Europe program. While there, she focused on answering the research question: How do individuals in Europe view American politics? She spoke to individuals of different ages and backgrounds to gain the best understanding she could. Her presentation makes sense of her findings by showcasing her experience as an interviewer discussing a controversial topic in unfamiliar terrain and how it shaped her as a future educator.
The Courage to Share: Creating Safe Spaces in Care (Costa Rica)
The presenters traveled to La Carpio, Costa Rica for a one-week global health rotation with a program through the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. During their experience, they encountered a patient whose initial reluctance to disclose her history highlighted the importance of trust, privacy, and non-judgment in patient care. Over time, she felt safe enough to share more openly, allowing the team to provide appropriate education and support. This presentation will discuss the challenges of caring for vulnerable patients abroad, while navigating disclosure and protecting privacy, all within the constraints of limited resources and the need to ensure safety.
Learning Through Play: Connecting with our Youth (Japan)
Leelawadee interned abroad in Tokyo, Japan, for a company that taught English via avenues of immersion and play. Through this, she uncovered a bright, energetic personality within herself. In her presentation, she aims to discuss her observations about livelihood in Japan, the importance of play, and how her global learning experience influenced her goals for the future.
Experiencing New Places: Informal Education from Ghana to the Mid-West (United States of America)
Abby is a Graduate international student from Ghana, where she had most of her education in Ghana. In 2016, Abby attended Cleveland Heights High School as an exchange student for her senior year of high school. She also came to MSU in August 2023 during her undergraduate studies as an exchange student. Despite her exposure to American culture and educational system, Abby still struggled adopting to a new environment as she pursued her graduate studies in MSU. In this presentation, she discusses the challenges she faced and the strategies she employed to overcome them, highlighting how these experiences have shaped her life. She connects her journey to research conducted with her colleagues and offers valuable recommendations for students encountering similar challenges, as well as for advisors and professionals working with students from comparable backgrounds.
Moderator: Angela Boldrey
From Taboo to Teaching Tool: Reframing Journalism in Tanzanian Classrooms (Tanzania)
Kyla L. Wright, a second-year Ph.D. student in Information and Media at MSU will share her global learning experience in the Designing Technology Solutions for Schools in Africa program in Tanzania. While teaching secondary school students about storytelling, she adapted her journalism expertise to respect cultural sensitivities and foster engagement through a board game, "Dash to the Deadline." Kyla will discuss connecting with youth, navigating personal and cultural challenges and deepening her identity as an African American in Tanzania. She will highlight her ongoing research efforts, the problem-solving required in international educational contexts, and lessons in global collaborations.
Paris to Peru: Global Lessons in Osteopathic Medicine (France, Peru)
Madeline and Lilja are Osteopathic medical students who recently participated in MSU’s Global Health Institute Clinical Immersion program in Peru. During their undergraduate education, they also participated in a History of Medicine course in Paris, France. Their time in Paris showed them what it was like to be an outsider – to be isolated from the culture through unfamiliarity and language barriers. Yet, when it comes to medicine, they reflect on how many people feel like outsiders in the medical field. Using these parallels, they draw upon the ability to bring human-focused care to patients all over the world.
Far From Home: Processing Grief Through Global Learning (United Kingdom)
Jayda is an undergraduate student studying Supply Chain Management and Global Studies in the Arts and Humanities. During the summer semester of 2025, she experienced a profound loss with the death of her grandmother 6 weeks before she attended the London School of Economics. She plans to discuss how grief impacted her global learning experience and how she learned how to navigate the minefield in her mind by stepping into her new environment.
The 2024 conference focused on a central theme, Growing Through Global Learning. Presenters discussed how their education abroad experiences addressed issues related to
this topic.
2024 Conference Program
The 2023 conference consisted of presentations where students discussed how their education abroad experiences addressed issues related to the theme, Growing through Challenge: Learning Abroad in a Time of Change.
2023 LAC Presentations
The 2022 conference consisted of presentations where students discussed how their education abroad experiences addressed issues related to the theme, Growing through Challenge: Learning Abroad in a Time of Change.
The 2021 conference consisted of a series of online webinars, in lieu of in-person presentations, where students discussed how their education abroad experiences address issues related to the theme, Growing through Challenge: Learning Abroad in a Time of Change.
2021 Featured Presentations
2017 Featured Presentations
2016 Featured Presentations
2015 Featured Presentations
2014 Featured Presentations
2013 Featured Presentations
Faculty Workshops
Featured Student Presentations
Sorry, I don't Speak Chinese (Ferguson, Nickolas)
The presenter participated in a non-MSU program offered by the Shanghai International Studies University. Nickolas's presentation focused on his cross-cultural learning while living and studying in China for six weeks. Through his experiences, he learned to build authentic relationships and appreciate difference, which he discussed during the presentation.
Çay, Conversation and Cultural Immersion: Intensive Language Instruction in Azerbaijan (Selig, Hannah)
The presenter participated in a non-MSU program. She spent eight weeks in Baku, Azerbaijan as part of the American Councils and Department of State Critical Languages Scholarship program. While immersed in an intensive Azerbaijani language course and living with a host family, Hannah learned about the linguistic, economic, and cultural changes Azerbaijan has undergone since the country gained independence. Hannah's presentation focused on her cultural and language immersion experiences as well as how she gained access and funding to support her study abroad. Her career interests includes working in the health industry in Central Asia where she hopes to apply her Azerbaijani and Turkish.
Attempting the Impossible: Throwing Up Among Gorillas in Uganda (Ravary, Riley)
The presenter participated in the Evolution of Uganda's Forest Biodiversity: Apes to Aves program. She spent 25 days studying evolution and biodiversity while tracking gorillas through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Her journey was filled with mishaps, challenges, and immeasurable rewards. Riley's presentation focused on how she attempted the impossible, yet accomplished the possible.
Bakavu, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Medical Student's Perspective (Vijitakula, Pat)
The presenter spent a month working collaboratively with Dr. Mukwege and his Obstetrics/Gynecology team at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the College of Human Medicine International Study program. He gained valuable insights and practical experience regarding how to deliver quality health care with limited resources. Pat's presentation focused on the knowledge and skills he gained during his education abroad experience, such as the importance of patient advocacy, and how he consequently applied his learning to medical practice.
Becoming Fluent in German and Building Lifelong Friendships (Abbott, Andrew)
The presenter participated in a non-MSU program. He was stranger to Germany; in fact his first experience entailed living with a host family in Germany for three weeks during a German Exchange Program, offered by his high school. His passion and interest for German language and culture brought him back a few years later, this time as an MSU student studying at the University of Stuttgart. He took courses in German for four months at the university and lived with the same host family. Andrew's presentation highlighted his motivations for, challenges with, and successes in continued engagement while in Germany and with his host family; and how he individually crafted an education abroad experience to meet his needs and interests.
Cuba: Bridging the Sea of Politics and Generational Influence (Bratzel, Allison & LeBlanc, Michelle)
The presenters studied abroad in Cuba for four weeks as part of the Culture and Sustainable Development in Cuba program. The group presentation focused on how the experience provided an opportunity to explore and learn in a country that is metaphorically distant to the U.S., yet broadened their knowledge of the younger generation of Cubans, and politics and culture in Cuba.
Educational Travel: From Abstraction to Human Experience (Wilson, Kristopher)
The presenter has international experience in nine countries across five continents, three of which were academically oriented. Kristopher's presentation focused on how experiences abroad led students from an abstract perception of other places and cultures to a deeper cultivation of global understanding beyond limited personal perspectives.
Embracing the Uncertainty: Made in Italy 2012 (Boren, Kyle; Herzing, Sam & Kallil, Jeffrey)
The presenters studied abroad in Rome for six weeks as part of the Made in Italy program. The group presented on how the study abroad experience led them to step outside their comfort zones and to examine and share their personal stories in a meaningful way, helping them to enjoy a unique bonding and learning experience.
Excuse my French, but I'm an American: Cultural Exchange, Lessons, and Appreciation Abroad (Brewer, Kara; David, Katelin & Shalda, Elizabeth)
The presenters studied abroad in France for eight weeks as part of the French Language Literature and Culture in Tours program. The group presented on their individual and collective cross-cultural learning and how they incorporated important lessons from abroad into their respective lives.
Fearless and Prepared for International Learning Experiences (Blancou, Jean-luc)
The presenter is an international graduate student from France. He hoped to maximize his learning from the cutting-edge French Engineering School at MSU and develop knowledge regarding a culturally-different business environment. His journey from France to MSU was in the accompaniment of his wife and four children. Jean-luc's presentation focused on the challenges and strategies associated with his family's transition to Michigan and how he hoped to utilize his new academic learning in future career endeavors. He is presently a full-time employee with Key Safety Systems Inc, an automotive supplier headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Growing Our Family: Community Engagement in a South African Township (McCullough, Meghan & Melcher, Annie)
The presenters participated in the Race Relations program and spent three months as interns at Vumundzuku-bya Vana: Our Children's Future. Their time in Zonkizizwe, a peri-urban, informal settlement located on the southeastern periphery of Johannesburg taught them how to cultivate genuine relationships with the youth and community members and to grapple with issues of their own identity in post-apartheid South Africa.
Gundam, Gangnam, & Chicken Rice: Studying and Interning in East Asia (Wilson, Andrew)
The presenter studied abroad for one week in Korea and two weeks in Japan in a technology communication program, followed by a six-week internship in Singapore at Veev Interactive where he was involved in web content development. Andrew's presentation highlighted how his study abroad connected to, and expanded upon, his academic and cross-cultural learning and his interests in the sociology of information technology. Study abroad provided Andrew with opportunities to try new fields and to consider applications of his undergraduate degree for employment or graduate study.
Identity of Cuba: The Relationship Between Religion, Rhythm, and Music (Lockhart, Gibron)
The presenter studied abroad for five weeks, participating in the Culture and Sustainable Development program in Havana, Cuba. His education abroad experience included learning about Afro-Cuban music, and observing and performing with top Cuban musicians. Gibron's presentation addressed the intersections between identity, music, and religion and how these intersections created a model through which he came to better understand his own identity.
Il Belle di Viaggiare da Soli (The Beauty of Traveling Alone) (Maher-Balduf, Amanda)
The presenter studied abroad for four months in Italy at the American University in Rome. Her presentation focused on her personal growth and learning across three distinct stages of the experience: studying and living with four other Americans in Rome, traveling alone to Morocco, France, and England, and living independently in Rome for three additional months.
Jane Austen and Bone Implants: Designing an Interdisciplinary Experience at the University of Cambridge (Pearson, Craig)
The presenter independently arranged a 12-week program that included a research-internship at the University of Cambridge. Immersed in intensive literature courses and hands on training in the material science lab by day and exploring the United Kingdom by night, Craig gained invaluable skills and enriched his cultural knowledge. His presentation featured useful tips for how to plan ahead, establish networks, and craft learning abroad experiences unique to individual interests.
Learning and Interning: Adventures of a Spartan in the United Kingdom (Porter, Kara)
The presenter participated in a two-week Freshman Seminar Abroad in Scotland prior to beginning her freshman year at MSU. In her senior year, she spent three months interning in England at the Royal Aeronautical Society. Kara's experiences abroad afforded her the opportunity to gain valuable skills sets and professional experience that she has applied at MSU. Her presentation featured the similarities and differences across her freshman and senior year abroad, and how these experiences fueled her passion and preparation for an international career. Kara is presently a Peer Adviser at the Office of Study Abroad.
Learning through Teaching: Eli's Work in Mali and South Africa (Sullivan, Eli)
The presenter participated in the Ethics and Development program and was involved in community engagement at a local school in Kati, Mali for a month. Upon return to the African subcontinent, Eli spent three months interning with an NGO in Cape Town (South Africa), teaching human rights in townships. Pursuing the passion to live and learn, Eli returned to Mali for another month, this time to build upon prior experiences in Kati. Eli's presentation illustrated how the education abroad experiences led to personal growth across several life stages: from traversing loneliness and being an unmistakable 'outsider' to embracing 'aloneness' and problem-solving independently.
Living a Life of Immersion: The Kenyan Experience (Corden, Sam & Dodge, Leah)
The presenters spent four weeks in Kisumu, Kenya with Global Youth for Education and Change, a non-profit organization. They taught youth empowerment and job readiness programs in an urban office setting and in an orphanage in the outskirts of the city. Their connection to the community made possible the opportunity for activism and advocacy, which they shared during their presentation.
Mining for Gold: Anything is Possible in the Peruvian Highlands (Bassman, Emily & Kim, Will)
The presenters participated in the Community Engagement and Interdisciplinary Study in the Peruvian Andes program. During their three months in Peru they engaged in research, held various internships, and developed Spanish language proficiency. Their presentation focused on how they built sustainable community through authentic engagement with their host families and community members.
My Indian Summer: Growing Personally and Academically (Wright, Jessica)
The presenter spent four weeks in India participating in the Ecology of the Mountains program. Jessica's presentation focused on her 'Indian summer' and how the experience not only impacted her intercultural learning and personal growth but shifted her academic focus from a natural science degree to the pursuit of dual degrees in interdisciplinary studies and anthropology. Jessica is presently a Peer Adviser at the Office of Study Abroad.
New Perspectives on Nature After My Journey to the Galapagos (Rygiel, Christine)
The presenter participated in the Biology in the Galapagos (Ecuador) program for three weeks. Christine's poster presentation focused on her new appreciation for wildlife and the importance of environmental conservation.
Paying It Forward: A Career in International Education (Blanton, Laura)
The presenter spent a month in Argentina participating in the Globalization, Politics and Social Capital program and nine weeks in Spain engaging in the Spanish Language Literature and Culture in Valencia program. Laura's presentation focused on her personal growth throughout both study abroad experiences and how these experiences shaped her vocational aspirations to pursue a career in study abroad advising, administration, and program implementation. Laura is presently a Peer Adviser at the Office of Study Abroad.
Pop Culture and Shedding Stereotypes in Ghana: Travel as the Best Education (Mullen, Jackie)
The presenter spent three months living with a host family in Tamale, Ghana while interning with a Microfinance and Small Loans Centre. Her cross-cultural learning occurred through dialogue with Ghanaians and interacting with Ghanaian pop culture. These unstructured experiences helped break down her stereotypes and misconceptions, which she shared during the presentation.
Reentry Shock: How my Life Abroad Changed my Life at Home (Scharra, Katie)
The presenter studied abroad at Lancaster University. During her nine months abroad she took physics, microbiology, chemistry, and history courses and traveled across England, France, and Greece. Her presentation focused on how her re-entry into Michigan led to reverse culture shock, a change in academic major, and rebuilding her life as she grappled with issues of identity and incorporating the "new with the old".
Same Same, But Different (The Journey vs. the Destination) (Fabian, Leanna; Fisher, Elly; Ridge, Jenae & Thorp, Elise)
The presenters studied abroad in India for three and half months as part of the Multidisciplinary Studies in New Delhi program. The group presented on their journey through the land of possibilities that helped them appreciate and respect the importance of cross-cultural learning, amidst situations that seemed "same same, but different".
Schizophrenia: My Hong Kong Identity in the Context of Cross-cultural Interaction at MSU (Tang, (Cecilia) Hiu See)
The presenter is an international student from Hong Kong. Her research focuses on the cultures, economics, politics and histories of contemporary China in relation to Hong Kong and America in the context of a globalized world. Cecilia's presentation unearthed how, through interactions with domestic students, international students and faculty/staff in Michigan State, she now understands her identities in light of her research and interactions and how she positions herself within the American context.
Speechless in Brazil: Community and Identity (Courant, Ansel)
The presenter participated in the Globalizing Forces: Study in Brazil, eight-week program. Ansel engaged in teaching English to children at a black empowerment organization in Salvador and Braganca, Para, and teaching trombone and marching lessons in Portuguese to local youth. The poster presentation focused on how the international learning experience affected Ansel's cross-cultural learning and communication and provided insight into how to relate cross-culturally to international students at MSU.
Striving to Save the World: A Lesson in Humility (Wilson, Chris)
The presenter spent two summers and a winter break studying and conducting research abroad in Tanzania. During his experiences and while at MSU, Chris gained valuable insight into the complexities, challenges and realities facing international development work which he featured in his presentation. He told his story as he seeked to find his niche as an international activist. Chris is presently a Peer Adviser at the Office of Study Abroad.
Study Abroad Times Two: Mediating My Experiences as an International Student (Chung Kwan Fan, Mark)
The presenter is an international graduate student from Mauritius. Prior to arriving at Michigan State, Mark spent five months studying and living with a host family in Mexico where he learned how to speak Spanish through interacting with community members and academic work. Mark's presentation focused on his intercultural learning, personal growth, and how his experiences in Mexico prepared him to be an international student at MSU.
The International Corporate Tour: Four Stories of Personal and Professional Development (Heatherington, Brittney; Jones, Alexa; Minissale, Angelica & Mozdrzech, Sarah)
The presenters participated in the inaugural International Corporate Tour coordinated and implemented by the Lear Corporation Career Services Center (Broad College of Business) and the College of Engineering. During their two-week experience in England, Italy, and Germany, they visited seven corporations. Their presentation spoke to how the experience enabled them to advance their understanding of the global marketplace and the importance of developing an international mindset in business.
The Making of a Zoologist: Why Kenya Mattered (Salome, Sabrina)
The presenter participated in a three-week program, Behavioral Ecology of African Mammals while living and studying in Kenya. She gained valuable knowledge about how to conduct research and take field notes while being up close with wildlife during her stays at Lake Nakuru National Park and the Masai Mara. Sabrina's presentation focused on how her education abroad confirmed her desire to be a zoologist and how she has since applied what she learned in the field at MSU.
Transcending Comfort Zones (Kim, Taehoon)
The presenter is an international undergraduate student from South Korea. During his time at MSU, Taehoon participated in the European Union, Globalization and Social Change program in France and Belgium, and held an internship in London, England. His presentation focused on how the education abroad experiences shed his prior stereotypes and prejudices and informed his own identity. Presently, Taehoon volunteers at the Office of International Students and Scholars and serves as mentor with the American Semester Program through the Office of Study Abroad.
Trust the Bones (Shelton, Kailey)
The presenter participated in the Forensic Anthropology and Human Identification program. During her five weeks in London and Bournemouth she contemplated her academic and career interests. Kailey's poster presentation focused on the importance of mentorship in education abroad and how her mentor's lesson to "trust the bones" was key in making decisions about her career aspirations.
Vocation and Transformation: A Veterinary Internship in Argentina (Stefansky, Eileen)
The presenter spent three months living with a host family in Cordoba, Argentina practicing her Spanish proficiency while interning at a veterinary clinic. Her education abroad afforded her an immeasurable opportunity to 'scrub in' and gain 'hands-on' experience about animal anatomy, as well how to recognize and treat medical conditions in animals. Her presentation focused on her personal transformation through these experiences and how the education abroad in Argentina confirmed her choice of vocation.
Student Stories
Perspectives from abroad
Global Learning
Conference
Students sharing their global learning experiences
November 21st | 11:30 am | International Center
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