Empathy to unite: Study abroad academy
USA
Hasan Gökberk Bayhan

Hasan Gökberk Bayhan is a Ph.D. student at MSU. He studied abroad in Vilnius, Lithuania as an Erasmus exchange student during his undergraduate sophomore year. After this experience, he traveled to over 30 countries. He traveled to 8 different countries to attending academic conferences/courses/seminars. In this session, Hasan will share his experiences navigating different cultures, including academic cultures and teaching and learning styles. His presentation focuses on the importance of his cross-Cultural exchanges in Europe and the U.S. and how they have inspired him to pursue a future in academia.

Healing Hands of Cuba: Lessons Learned from Cuba’s Healthcare System
Cuba
Noumi Chowdhury

Noumi studied abroad in Cuba during the spring semester of 2019. She came with intention to learn more about the Cuban culture. Her goal to become a physician also piqued her interest in Cuban’s healthcare system. However, she ended her trip reflecting on the gaps in the U.S. healthcare system, and how we can learn from Cuba. In her presentation she plans on sharing her experiences of the healthcare system in Cuba, the strengths the system has formed to overcome its weaknesses, and how the U.S. can learn from it.

A leap of faith
South Africa
China Tolbert and Julie Herek

This presentation is about two domestic MSU student’s experience in an education abroad. The program was called Quantitative Literacy and it was located in South Africa. This took place during winter break over a course of three weeks in total. Our presentation consists of the importance of studying mathematics abroad and emphasized on our experience with helping people globalize their target audience.

Adventure Changes You Forever: Remembering Study Abroad During a Global Pandemic
UK (England)
C. Rose Widmann

The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the face of the arts industry forever; many artists are facing uncertainty in the post-pandemic world and turn to their experiences for inspiration. For MSU students who went on the Theatre in London program in 2019, that means turning to memories of studying abroad to inspire creation and community.

Being Bold, Finding Balance
USA
Claudia H. Lim

The presenter talks about self-discovery, mental health, and how she found balance during a time of crisis, a worldwide pandemic. She describes what it was like to be learning abroad, as an international student, while having to remain in their home country. Focusing on her process of maintaining connections at home while starting a new (and virtual) life, she presents lessons she learned in finding balance among her academic goals, interests, and the self.

For every heartbreak of a skipped port, there was a blessing in disguise around the corner
Various Locations
Kaitlyn Kramer

Kaitlyn studied abroad on the spring 2020 voyage of Semester At Sea. Her presentation highlights how the semester was a constant environment of change while living and studying on a ship during the COVID-19 pandemic. She learned that there are things out of our control and it’s how you handle those changes that really matter. Kaitlyn is currently completing her senior year, earning a degree in Media and Information and a minor in Public Relations.

The journey with no end
Tanzania
Angelina Kuczewski

Angie’s first education abroad experience in Tanzania led her to have profound realizations about her perspective and future…so, she decided to go back! Follow Angie as she reflects on the value that came from studying abroad twice and discover why she feels her journey is just beginning. She invites you to join her in asking, “What comes next?”

MSU’s first COIL course: Student perspective
Japan
Renae Latoski and Guanglong Pang

Renae (domestic student) and Guanglong (international student) participated in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course between Michigan State University and International Christian University (ICU) in Japan during the fall 2020 semester. The presentation will begin by briefly introducing COIL and how it was structured between MSU and ICU. The presenters will share several benefits and challenges of participating in COIL. The presenters will finish by sharing their individual learning from the COIL course.

Resilience, the key to success during a global pandemic
USA
Shawn Luo

2020 has been an abnormal year for many people, Shawn was no exception. As an international student who came from China, Shawn struggled to find his path in the middle of a pandemic at East Lansing. After losing his summer internship and a week of emergency care in the hospital, he was able to turn the setbacks as motivations and find resilience from his close ones. In this presentation, he will present his journey as an international student finding his way to success and become a student leader in the United States.

Never Give Up: My First Semester as a Spartan
China
Shaobo Du

Shaobo Du is a first-year international student from China who has never set foot on the campus of Michigan State University. In spite of this, Shaobo has already participated in the Big Ten Academic Alliance Initiative at Rutgers and has taken advantage of MSU’s China-Based Semester at Fudan University. His first semester at MSU was an unforgettable experience. In this presentation, Shaobo will talk about the challenges he has faced as a first-year Spartan based in China and will share how he has overcome these challenges.

Practicing new medicine in Mexico
Mexico
Brittany Ladson

As an undergraduate, I visited the osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) clinic in Mexico. OMT has never been used as a treatment there so it was the physician’s responsibility to educate the patient on what to expect. Everyone knows what a vaccine is, but not necessarily OMT. I admired the physician’s education skills while shadowing. Now, as a medical student, I have an increased appreciation of what I witnessed. The world of medicine is evolving which means medical communication is equally important. Regardless of the treatment, doctors must be able to properly explain it to their patients in order to achieve the best outcomes.

What’s happening in Thailand?
USA
Panathip Chimrak

The presenter is an international undergraduate student from Thailand, majoring in business at MSU. While living in East Lansing and studying at MSU, she became inspired to explore how political and societal change happens in the U.S. and to consider what aspects of U.S. sociopolitical culture might be beneficial to Thai society. She will share what is happening in her country and hopes to inspire others to practice global citizenship and awareness – by simply paying attention.

Lost and found: My time in Tanzania
Tanzania
Brittany Newfer

Brittany earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Michigan State University in 2020. Before receiving her degree, Brittany studied abroad in the Sustainable Community Development Program in Tanzania. This program focused on cultural immersion, interdisciplinary research, and the implementation of sustainable development projects. In her presentation, Brittany will discuss what she let go of and what she found because of her time abroad. Additionally, she will share how her experience abroad has shaped her path in life and continues to impact her today. Currently, Brittany is receiving her master’s degree in Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.