Center for Global Engagement Archives - 91��

Trojans Travel to Great Lengths Over Spring Break

Ed Welch — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:32:14 +0000

A group of students took 91��’s pillar of great academics across borders when they traveled abroad over Spring Break.��

For some students, this was their first time out of the country; for a few, it might have been their first flight.��

Traveling abroad stretches us and changes our perspective. Being from a country where a 200-year-old building is considered ancient and exploring a thousand-year-old cathedral, for example. Learning how to get around using public transportation—taking the bus, train or the Metro (subway). Or getting close to a glacier. Perhaps walking through a rainforest and seeing animals that up to now were only seen in a zoo. Or tasting different foods. And all the time you’re making memories as you get to know other AU students for the first time.��

AU Abroad is the centerpiece of a full-semester, 3 credit course offering opportunities to travel internationally with 91�� faculty and classmates while engaging in meaningful intercultural learning experiences.��

This year, students traveled to England, France, Iceland, the Netherlands and Panama.��

Travel is coordinated through the 91�� Center for Global Engagement, which helps students explore opportunities for educational travel abroad that enhance their worldview.Altogether the center offers more than 70 Study Abroad programs.��

England��

A group led by Professors Cara Wood and Jessica Johnson retraced the steps of William Shakespeare, attending a play at the Globe Theatre and touring Stratford-Upon-Avon. They also explored the history and culture of London, seeing Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, watching the Changing of the Guard and visiting nearby Windsor Castle. They even took in “Paddington The Musical” at London’s fabled Savoy Theatre.��

“I enjoyed being able to watch West End shows that inspired me in my current career path and my major,” said Alexandra Norton, a musical theatre major and dance minor who was on her second AU Abroad trip. Last year Norton went to Germany and Austria.��

“I have been blessed to go to London three times with 91�� students. Each time was a wonderful experience,” Wood said.��

“It amazed me how there were such old sites in the middle of modern areas,” said Elizabeth Bailey, a 3D studies major and photography minor. “The architecture and art of London is amazing.”��

“When you travel outside of the country, it is an experience like no other that I believe everyone should have,” Norton added. “Some of my fondest memories of Anderson will be from studying abroad and the new confidence it has given me.”��

France��

Professor Karry Elson of the 91�� Center for Cybersecurity led a trip to France where students toured Paris landmarks that included the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and alsovisits to nearby French towns.��

“It’s a humbling experience to see all this history that so goes back��much further than we did,” said Thomas Cain, a cybersecurity major. Visiting an acquantance of Professor Elson who lives in Limoges, Cain was impressed by how they lived in the same family home that went back for more than a dozen generations.��

Memorable for Amelia Sprawls, a political science major, was visiting Oradour-sur-Glane, which memorializes the townspeople Nazis massacred there during World War II.��

“As someone who’s really interested in history… Just seeing those things—not just reading them in textbooks—was really valuable for me. Just being with our whole group there in silence for two hours and just hearing about the history there was truly eye opening,” Sprawls said, adding, “Going on the trip… honestly, I think it served me well because not only seeing a new country, seeing new people for the first time, I got to make some new friendships… that was very beneficial for me. And now that I see some of those students back on campus, it’s really nice to make those new connections here at Anderson, too.”��

A memory that Olivia Clark, a neuroscience major, will cherish, happened atop the Eiffel Tower. As they were taking in views of Paris, a rainbow appeared over the city. Clark added that she adjusted to modes of transportation different from what she was accustomed to.��

“It’s overwhelming at first, kind of a culture shock,” Clark said. “You get off the plane, onto the train, and everyone’s packed in, not a lot of personal space. But also, everyone was really nice. I think that was a nice surprise.”��

Iceland��

Professors Jer Nelsen and Luke Anspach of the South Carolina School of the Arts explored Iceland’s geology, history, architecture, art, literature and culture. Their itinerary included a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull with crampons and ice axes, visits to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach, Þingvellir National Park, the geothermal sites of the Golden Circle, Reynisfjarablack sand beach, Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa in Reykjavík, the Viking World Museum, the Snorri Sturluson homestead at Snorrastofa, and the Reykjanes Peninsula. Students also experienced the Northern Lights and had time for exploration of Reykjavík, the capital.��

Throughout the trip, students used a field guide designed by the professors to record observations and reflections, building a framework for understanding what they were seeing in real time.��

“It’s really cool to be up there just on the giant pack of ice and seeing the expanse of the mountains below and very unique,” said Heidi Dillow, a graphic design major. “I think main highlights of the trip, were very just getting the chance to spend so much time outside in creation… Also, it allowed me to learn a lot about myself and like how I go about forming relationships, how I go about talking about things that I’m processing or learning through creation and through what God has to say to me.”��

The Netherlands��

Students led by Drs. Kim Whitehead and John Frazier of the 91�� College of Business toured the Netherlands, learning about its rich maritime trade history and unique culture,as well as its ages-old experience of protecting land from flooding by the sea. They explored Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the unique Dutch countryside. Standing among the centuries-old windmills, Dr. Whitehead recalled, it was impossible not to reflect on the beauty and ingenuity found in God’s creation and human creativity.��

“I’d always found the time period of when the Dutch were such a global trading power, the Dutch East India Company, very interesting. So it was neat to me to see where these events took place and then also seeing the effects of World War 2,” said Jane Taylor, a mathematics major. “I think being immersed in the culture and going into stores and into restaurants were really special. On a day off that we had as a group, we got to go into a small town called Utrecht. It was really neat being in a not-so-touristy town and to see the culture there and see how welcoming everyone was.”��

While there, they also had dinner with Anderson College of Business and Economics alumna Danielle Atkinson Johnson, who lives and works as an accountant in Amsterdam.��

Panama��

Dr. Joni Criswell, Oscar Gonzalez and Carrie Koenigstein of the College of Arts and Sciences led a group that explored rainforest ecosystems in Panama, visited an indigenous communityand took a boat ride on Gatun Lake, passing ships making their way throudh the Panama Canal.��

According to Dr. Criswell, visiting the Emberá Ella Puru Indigenous Community was one of the most memorable experiences, highlighted by a traditional welcome. The group gained insight into how the Emberá people balance cultural preservation with economic survival through ecotourism. This visit provided critical perspective on indigenous land rights, cultural tourism, and the complex relationship between conservation and indigenous sovereignty.��

The group also learned about Panama’s pre-Columbian history at the El Caño Archaeological Site, an active dig where archaeological research is ongoing.��

Witnessing more recent history, they watched as massive ships passed through the more than century old canal that joins the Atlantic and Pacific, while learning about the human and environmental costs of this twentieth-century engineering marvel.��

They also spent several days exploring marine ecosystems in the rural coastal Pedasi Province. At Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge and Isla Canas Wildlife Refuge, they snorkeled at one of the Gulf of Panama’s largest coral reefs, observing the marine biodiversity, which included tropical fish. They also saw free-roaming iguanas and a horde of hermit crabs. They also explored unique volcanic coastal formations, including black sand beaches.��

Panama was graphic design major Bailey Perritte’s first time leaving the country—an experience made especially meaningful by going off the tourist track.��

“As a design student, the art culture was unbeatable and in our free time we found a branding experience museum that shows how local products were made,” Perritte said. “The people we met and things we saw were life changing and it would not have been possible without AU Abroad. God created so much for us to see, and this trip just allowed me to see another side of His great design.”��

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Additional Travel��

In addition to AU Abroad trips, there was a mission trip to London co-led by Associate Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students Dr. Jonathan Gropp and Assistant Director of Campus Ministries Kaitlyn Jenkins.��

Music Professor Derick Cordoba led a trip where the Jazz Fusion Ensemble from the South Carolina School of the Arts traveled to Vienna to perform at an exclusive, invitation-only music conference.��

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Reflections����

Students shared some of what they learned when they returned.��

“I think it’s good to get out of what we are so comfortable with in the U.S.,” said Olivia Clark, a cybersecurity major who traveled to France. “I think we take a lot of things for granted here… Just to see how people live and what their day-to-day life looks like and trying their food… public transport and all of that—it shows you how big the world is.”��

Jane Taylor, a mathematics major who went to the Netherlands, said, “Just being able to walk around the city, seeing the big buildings and the beautiful architecture, was astounding. Youcan’t experience that fully by screen. You can’t experience the size and the smells and the sounds that you would experience by walking through the streets.”��

Heidi Dillow, a graphic design major who traveled to Iceland, said, “Putting boots on the ground and being in a space where you can actually experience something is a whole lot different than just reading about it, especially in a context where nature and the environment is such a large part of the culture,”��

John-Luke Grob, who also traveled to Iceland, said, “It opens up your understanding of what the human race is, but also for Iceland specifically, the overwhelming and sublime,mountainscapes, waterfalls, beaches, valleys and cliffs, there again remind me how small I am in this world. Looking up at the stars and Northern Lights reminds me even more about how small I am within the grand cosmos of the universe. Yet through all that, God knows me perfectly. He cares for me, despite being this small, insignificant speck in the universe.”��

Dr. Whitehead said, “Travel has a way of turning learning into something unforgettable. Watching our students take it all in—the landscape, the history, the conversations, and the wonder of it all—was a great reminder of why experiences like this matter so much.”��

“There are so many different things that you gain from going out of the country—getting to taste new food, having conversations with people that are from these countries, seeing all of these things in real life, getting to smell how the rainforest smells or how the food smells at an authentic restaurant,” said Jalyn Jeanes. “The experiences themselves shape you.”��

The 91�� Center for Global Engagement��

91�� offers a broad array of study abroad programs including summer, semester, and short-term options. Students can explore their options by contacting a study abroad advisor for assistance. With more than 70 programs available across 25 countries, the Center for Global Engagement continues to make international education an accessible part of an 91�� degree. Details about AU Abroad can be found online here.��

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Taking Great Academics Global

Ed Welch — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:24:18 +0000

The Fulbright Program is an integral part of 91��’s emphasis on Great Academics. In fact, it’s a top strategic initiative for 91��.��

Fulbright is the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government in partnership with nations around the world.��

Overall, the Fulbright Program awards approximately 9,000 merit-based scholarships in the United States and more than 160 countries every year to accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds and fields. Fulbrighters study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to complex global challenges.��

For the past several years, 91�� has focused on increasing the number of students who apply for a Fulbright Scholarship.��

Among the applicants is Paris Freeman, a senior biochemistry major. Having been involved with the 91�� Center for Cancer Research, Freeman set a goal to pursue more research opportunities and also to become an oncologist. She is looking into a master’s in cancer biology program offered through the Imperial College of London.��

“I think the main ways it would benefit me personally would be to not only have grown my knowledge base through the research project and through those courses that are available, but also forming more worldwide connections,” Freeman said, adding that the research component would benefit her as she makes plans to further her doctoral studies.��

William McArtor-Cline, a double major in biology and biochemistry, also has his sights set on studying in the UK. Previous travels to Panama with the AU Abroad program and a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic while in high school inspired him to pursue more study abroad opportunities.��

McArtor-Cline applied for the open award to potentially go to the University of Bath. He eventually wants to enter a Ph.D. program in the UK.��

“The Fulbright really stood out to me,” he said. “Looking at the Fulbright, not only is it an opportunity to address some of the financial concerns, but it also gives you the opportunity to search out a community and make a place for yourself that is more like home, even though you’re in a place that you’ve never been.”��

Mary Green, a senior majoring in elementary and early childhood education, is applying for an English teaching assistant position in Moldova, where she hopes to help students grow in their English vocabulary and using conversational English. She would also give presentations to familiarize Moldovan students with various aspects of American culture.��

Green, who previously had traveled to Poland and Romania, was drawn to apply for the Fulbright because of their strong emphasis on cultural connections and on finding ways to bridge gaps between American culture and other cultures offering positive ways to learn and grow together.��

“I feel it aligns with my values as an educator…. having experience internationally, working directly with students will be great for professional growth,” Green said.�� “I feel it fits my values of servant leadership.”��

Luanne Plemmons, a senior majoring in computer engineering, originally considered a healthcare career, but found she could study engineering and make meaningful contributions to healthy living.��

“I’m hoping to do a master of science in artificial intelligence specifically focused on the heart disease research that I was doing,” said Plemmons, who hopes to study in Scotland if she is awarded the scholarship. “I’m interested in the machine learning aspect of taking data analytics, taking that heart disease data, and then implementing it in a way that predicts whether or not patients are likely to see potential heart disease risk factors in the future.”��

Plemmons sees in the Fulbright program a great way to marry graduate studies with traveling.��

Some of the 2025 Fulbright applicants. From left, Paris Freeman, William McArtor-Cline, Mary Green and Luanne Plemmons.

Making Fulbright Connections��

Dr. Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous, Director of the Center for Global Engagement, has recently been selected as a Fulbright Specialist from 2025 to 2028. In this capacity, she will provide consultation to universities abroad regarding the development of partnerships with U.S. colleges.��

Faculty Scholars��

Additionally, 91�� has had several faculty members receive involving teaching and research abroad, helping to build international connections and share expertise with other countries. These include Professor of Finance and Economics Dr. Kent Saunders (Belarus), Organizational Leadership Professor Dr. Anthony Caito (Brazil), and English Professor Dr. Kolawole Olaiya (Nigeria). Associate Professor of History Dr. Lynneth Miller Renberg is currently conducting research in Norway.��

About the Fulbright Program��

The Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program provides participants, who represent the breadth of U.S. society and of societies abroad and are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, with the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, pursue professional projects, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international challenges. Grants are available for U.S. citizens to travel abroad and for non-U.S. citizens to come to the U.S. The Fulbright Program is an important element of the United States’ bilateral relationships with countries around the world. U.S. and foreign governments jointly set priorities for the exchanges.��

The 91�� Center for Global Engagement has Fulbright Program Advisors available to assist students with their application. Find out more about Fulbright and other available scholarships here. Details about the Fulbright Program can be found at .��

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AU Abroad Celebrates 15 Years of the Transformational Power of Faculty-Led Study Abroad

Ed Welch — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:36:49 +0000

This Spring, 91�� Abroad will be celebrating 15 years as a gateway to the world, enhancing its commitment to the University’s Pillar of Great Academics by providing exceptional faculty-led study abroad programming.��

AU Abroad is a semester long international studies class that has short-term international travel during spring break. The program initially grew out of a desire by 91�� to increase the number of students studying abroad on faculty-led programs. According to Center for Global Engagement Director, Dr. Ann-Margaret Themistocleous, the program was born out of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) in 2008 for 91��’s accreditation. AU sent its first class of students overseas with AU Abroad in 2011.��

Dr. Themistocleous states, “91�� has always been globally engaged and students have always had opportunities to take part on international programs. However, the AU Abroad program was specifically designed to allow faculty to design an international studies class with intercultural learning outcomes. A study abroad experience cultivates critical thinking, cultural competency and personal growth that simply cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting. Our faculty understand that, and with AU Abroad, they can design classes which allow them to develop intercultural competency while complementing their academic pursuits.”��

While it seems that technology has brought the world closer, it’s simply no substitute for seeing other countries and experiencing other cultures by being there, meeting people and directly engaging, interacting with the local culture. A study abroad experience challenges students to step beyond the familiar and engage with the world as global citizens.��

As a history professor, Dr. Lindsay Privette spends hours in the classroom trying to make history come alive to her students.��

“It is challenging to transport someone back to a World War I battlefield in France, a medieval Castle in Germany, or even Soviet Era Poland when you are sitting in a twenty-first century classroom complete with Wi-Fi, PowerPoint and fluorescent lighting,” Dr. Privette said. “Physically taking students to those places, letting them walk around and realize that the events they have been learning about were real—nothing beats it.”��

Dr. Privette noted that train travel is a big part of trips to Europe she takes with her students. She enjoys seeing students navigate a train station for the first time, interpreting timetables, finding the platform where they board their train and learning overall train etiquette.��

“I think it’s a very important experience for other students to be able to travel abroad because it enhances your perspective, and it also inspires you as a person,” said Candace Mbugua, a student who traveled to Germany and Austria this past spring.��

“Students have told me that the experience has been life changing.�� Most want to go back and visit again on their own terms,” said Music Professor Howard Kim, adding that he knows of one student who was inspired to the point of wanting to return to Austria to pursue graduate studies.��

When Allie Norton (pictured at left with Ellie Castano) was considering colleges, AU Abroad helped her to choose 91��. Norton, a Musical Theatre major and Dance minor, dreams of joining a touring theatre or dance group someday. Having been a part of the South Carolina School of the Arts’ production of “The Sound of Music” last year piqued her interest in the spring 2025 trip to Austria and Germany. Traveling to locations in Austria made famous in the 1965 motion picture adaptation of this classic musical was a dream come true for her. ��

“One of our female chaperones just took us to the places and we just took pictures and recreated the scenes,” Norton said.��

A highlight for Norton, who grew up listening to Beethoven on her iPod, was visiting the famous composer’s childhood home in Bonn.��

“They preserved his home so incredibly well,” Norton said. “We also got to go to the Bonn Opera House, which was absolutely amazing.”��

Mbugua said, “As a musician, it was inspiring to see an opera for the first time. I sing a lot of songs from operas, but I had never actually seen a full production of one before. That was extremely inspiring and renewed my love of opera because I enjoy singing it.”��

Norton praises AU Abroad and the professors in her group. She feels her trip was well-prepared in terms of what they did together as a group while providing freedom to explore in small, supervised groups.��

Traveling with Professor Kim, Norton said, “He knows the culture, he knows how to talk to the people. He helped prepare the class, not just by us learning German, but how they view the world, how they think, what their country means to them. Knowing all of that made me feel prepared, and when it came to the traveling aspect, there was no stress.”��

Josh Hiles (right), a senior majoring in History and Political Science, will never forget following the footsteps of Calvin and Martin Luther in the places where the Reformation occurred and Protestantism first took root. He enjoyed interacting with people of other cultures throughout his trip, whether on the plane or walking the streets of places like Frankfurt, Zurich or Geneva. He’s also thankful for the flexibility that helped him and other students to have unique experiences like playing a round of golf on a course built in an old German stone quarry. In fact, he rates his trip as one of the best experiences of his life. ��

Hiles loves to travel and appreciates witnessing history from a European perspective.��

“It was fascinating seeing how much older everything was,” Hiles said. “In the United States, we freak out if something is from the 1800s or 1700s. We went to a church that’s 1,200 years old.”��

Professor Kim, who has led several trips to Germany and Austria, enjoys students’ observation of historical timelines from a European perspective.��

“The main observation that stood out to the students when we visited the historic sites was how there were hardly any such structures in the USA; that our country is so incredibly young that it does not have such long-standing history comparatively speaking,” Professor Kim said. “They were awed by the beauty and age of the castles, museums and cathedrals.”��

AU Abroad (IS398) is part of 91��’s Gold Core Curriculum. The Gold Core Curriculum is grounded in AU’s Christian mission and liberal arts tradition.��

What makes 91��’s AU Abroad program truly exceptional is its faculty-led approach. Unlike traditional study abroad programs where students navigate foreign cultures independently, AU Abroad offers students the ability to learn with Anderson faculty who possess deep expertise in both their subject matter and the destinations they explore together. This unique model creates an unparalleled learning environment where academic rigor meets cultural discovery.��

“The course is extremely important for students to have the opportunity for an international firsthand exposure as a world citizen,” Professor Kim said. “The study of the history and culture of countries not their own and actually participate in the intricacies of the societies is a monumental life-altering experience that the classroom cannot teach.”��

Dr. Themistocleous explains that The Center for Global Engagement and AU faculty members thoroughly prepare students before they travel, helping them to learn about the country and culture.��

“Our faculty leaders don’t just accompany students—they serve as cultural bridges, helping students understand not only what they’re seeing but why it matters. When a history professor guides students through a medieval castle in Germany or a music professor shares insights at Vienna’s opera houses, the experience transcends tourism and becomes transformative education,” Dr. Themistocleous said. “Students gain confidence to explore while having the support and guidance from trusted Anderson faculty who not only understand the historical and cultural significance of the sites visited but of its country and people as well.”��

To make study abroad possible for students, 91�� offers scholarships of up to $1,000 to students to help offset the additional travel/course fee for AU Abroad. Juniors and seniors of all majors can apply for an AU Abroad scholarship that is based upon financial need and GPA. (Sophomore nursing and education majors can also apply for an AU Abroad scholarship.) This scholarship helps make study abroad possible for all students. 91�� is dedicated to global education and by offering the AU Abroad scholarship has been able to send hundreds of students abroad in the past 15 years with the AU Abroad program.��

Looking back on her study abroad experience, Norton said, “It’s absolutely worth it. I believe someone should go abroad during their time in college at least once… Whenever I did it with AU, that experience to me forever will hold a place in my heart. I want that experience for other people.”��

“It definitely helps you grow,” Mbugua said. “And then also because, the first time you’re ever seeing the Alps or something like that, it’s an incredible experience and something hard to describe. They’re majestic.”��

“To the next AU Abroad student, I could not recommend it more,” Hiles said. “It was an absolutely amazing and surreal once in-a-lifetime opportunity.”��

AU Abroad classes for the 2025-26 academic year include: The Netherlands, France, Panama, England and Iceland. Students can register for an AU Abroad class with their regular spring registration.��

Learn more about AU Abroad and all the 91�� Center for Global Engagement’s programs online.��

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Experiencing Spain’s Storied Past, Vibrant Culture

Ed Welch — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:05:47 +0000

A group of 91�� students spent part of their summer in southern Spain, a cultural crossroads of the European and Arabic worlds with a rich history that has enhanced Western culture and has given the world some of its most revered artists and authors.��

Through the Semester in Spain program, based in the heart of Seville’s Old City, they studied Spanish history, contemporary Spanish society and its healthcare system.��

Students in the Semester in Spain program were Alaina Cothran, Elecktra Gallegos, Jojo King, Hanna Michalisin, Emi Murrill, Weston Pack, Parker Rose and Abbey Williams.��

Being there for a month meant experiencing much more than a typical tourist could take in on a week or two of vacation, living with Spanish host families and attending classes taught in Spanish. They got to know the Spanish people, and also their American classmates from across the U.S.��

After an initial period of adjustment, the students were hitting their stride—literally.��

“I would get about 20,000 steps each day going to class and back and then usually we would eat lunch and get some homework done, maybe take a siesta, a little nap, and then go back out and walk around and it’s beautiful,” said Pack, a Biochemistry and Spanish major.��

Outside of Seville, places students visited included the mountaintop town of Ronda, and the island of Mallorca with its beautiful Mediterranean beaches. Some students were also able to take side trips to Spain’s capital city of Madrid as well as Barcelona. Some traveled to Paris, France, and even crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco.��

The AU students could enjoy a variety of field trips in class, and outside of class there was more to explore. A special experience for Pack was seeing ancient Roman aqueducts in Segovia.��

“My mom was born in Mexico and my dad is of Mexican descent,” said Gallegos, a Nursing major with a double minor in Spanish and Healthcare Management. “I always wanted to better my Spanish, so I saw an opportunity to study in Spain. Because they had a health professions vocabulary terminology course, I thought this would be perfect, not just for myself but for my major.”��

Rose’s brother had done Semester in Spain before, so he was somewhat aware of what to expect. Being in the heart of Seville was a sweet spot for Rose and his classmates to experience the Spanish people and culture.��

“We visited the Plaza de ��貹ñ��. It’s a ‘must see’ in the city and it’s where they filmed some of the Star Wars prequels,” said Rose, who is majoring in Spanish and English.��

“I very much enjoyed the slower pace of life in Spain,” said Murrill, a Biochemistry major and Spanish and Medical Science minor. “I liked the food and just being able to walk around.”��

Of course, the AU students returned home with gifts and souvenirs for loved ones, but they received a special gift—friendships forged with professors and classmates that will extend for years.��

“The faculty encourage keeping in touch,” Gallegos said. “I keep in touch with several of the girls and definitely my roommate—she just got married. Even with some of the faculty like the ladies who host the spiritual events or the cooking classes, I text them recipes and they send me some as well.”��

King, a Kinesiology major, said, “You could start a conversation with any of the faculty or any of the students. I feel like I was blessed with a great group of students while I was there.”��

Semester in Spain participants could also experience worship in a different culture.��

Especially meaningful to King was meeting with a few classmates for prayer before class. He also appreciated the worship services within the program that took place on Wednesdays.��

“I am a born again Christian and I was really hoping to go to church on Sundays and they made it possible for us to go,” Gallegos said. “They recommended different places and then if we wanted to go along with the lady who’s in charge of all of the Christian organizational things, she was happy to go with us.”��

After returning from his trip, as Pack started shadowing a physician, he realized how the experience changed him. One day, encountering some men speaking Spanish at his medical school, he felt confident striking up a conversation.��

“We spent about 10-15 minutes speaking in Spanish,” Pack said. “I really think the trip increased my proficiency.”��

Upon returning to the U.S., students gave this advice to those considering a study abroad experience.��

“Be realistic and think about like your concerns… but know that you’re probably in the same boat as a lot of other people who are anxious about going to a new place… It’s definitely worth the experience,” Rose said. ��

“It’s easy to get lost in the overwhelming amount of things you want to do,” Murrill said. “Narrow them down to all the things that you really want to do. Don’t plan everything; sometimes the best things happen spontaneously.”��

“Set aside a certain amount of money dedicated to the trip, because we have the opportunity to travel outside of our designated city,” Gallegos said. On adjusting to Spain’s different routines, she adds, “Take as many naps as you can on the plane. I can’t nap on planes but I forced myself to take at least one. The first day, try to stay up for as long as possible.”��

“You mature a lot and you grow confidence in yourself,” King said. “If you can survive a month in another country living with a random person, you can do a lot of other things and you’ll just learn so much about the world around us. It broadens your perspective.”��

“I’m pretty frugal,” Pack said, “but I would say that this is very much worth saving up for and worth the cost, because not only did I learn a new culture, connected with new people, increased my proficiency in Spanish, but I feel since coming back home I have more awareness of the world around me.”��

Semester in Spain is a program of Trinity Christian College based in Seville. The 91�� Center for Global Engagement offers details about a variety of study abroad opportunities.��

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College of Education Graduate Receives 2025 BOLD Educator on the Rise Award

Ed Welch — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:52:27 +0000

91�� College of Education and Call Me MiSTER graduate Kamin Bond was recognized with the 2025 BOLD Educator on the Rise award. The award recognizes Bond’s dedication to his students and his commitment to excellence both in the classroom and on the basketball court.��

Bond, a 2023 graduate who is a middle school math teacher and head basketball coach at Beck Academy in Greenville, was recognized during the annual BOLD Celebration in Education February 10 in Greenville. BOLD Leadership Network is a nonprofit organization made up of a collaborative group of Black male school leaders whose goal is to make a positive impact in the community. ��

“To have someone in the community see something in me that I’ve been doing the work I’m passionate about—it was an honor,” he said. In addition to this award, Bond was blessed to be nominated this past August for the GSC First-Class Teacher Award.��

Though homeschooled for much of his education, Bond wanted to teach in a public school setting where he feels he can impact young lives in the most meaningful ways. Teaching seventh grade math, he is committed to building an engaging, safe and positive culture in his classroom and developing in them strong critical thinking skills that will serve them well in life. ��

“I believe that developing a strong work ethic is important in helping this current generation of students,” he said.��

Bond shared the simple joys he obtains from walking into his school every day. Seeing the character development, observing the academic progress and creating amazing memories with these middle schoolers is what it is all about for Bond. He shared that it was his mission to stay locked in for his students’ sake and be a daily dose of a positive light that will never dim.��

As a student, Bond received from the 91�� College of Education the Teacher Candidate of the Year award. He also received the Call Me MiSTER Distinguished Service Award at the conclusion of Camp iRock, a summer educational camp for elementary school students.��

Being in the Call Me MiSTER program at 91�� was transformational for Bond.��

“Call Me MiSTER was really impactful for me I would say,” Bond said. “Something that’s big about Call Me MiSTER is the brotherhood and leadership training but also staying on mission and staying on focus… I know that I’m there for these kids, I’ve been trained up to stay locked in on my ‘why.’”��

“Kamin was an outstanding student and leader at AU, so it comes as no surprise to us to see him recognized for his work as he lives out his calling as an educator,” said 91�� College of Education Dean Dr. Mark Butler. “The Call Me MiSTER program is an exceptional program designed to support and mentor young men as they prepare to impact their communities, and Kamin is the realization of those aims as a role model, a professional and an outstanding mentor now himself.”��

Call Me MiSTER was created to increase the availability of African American male educators from diverse backgrounds, offering tuition assistance to undergraduates who are largely selected from underserved, socioeconomically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities. Details about Call Me MiSTER at 91�� can be found online here.��

The 91�� College of Education��

The 91�� College of Education focuses on the intellectual development of the student while being attentive to the ideals of character, servant leadership and cultural engagement. Programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, onsite or online. Details can be found here.��

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Students Experiencing European Business, Culture, History Over Spring Break

Ed Welch — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:56:14 +0000

When somebody travels to another country, they’re doing so much more than setting foot on the soil of a place they’ve never been—they’re opening their hearts and minds to new experiences. For some, it will be their first venture outside of the U.S. Indeed, some students will be flying for the first time.��

During the middle of March, spring break means “wheels up” for several 91�� students who will be traveling to distant lands to learn about them in the best way possible—firsthand.��

91�� College of Business Professor Scott Whitaker and a group of students are traveling to Greece over the break, visiting ancient sites around the country considered to be the Cradle of Civilization. They will explore the Parthenon and also follow the Apostle Paul’s footsteps at Corinth and Mars Hill.��

Whitaker said he and his group will also get to observe the Greek economy firsthand, visiting the Corinthian canal, a major economic waterway in Greece and learning about olives, Greece’s homegrown contribution to the world. They will also fly to Crete and see the original/oldest settlement in Europe in Knossos. They’ll also learn about culture and life on a Greek island and possibly walk on the pink sands of Elaffonisi Beach.��

Another group is traveling to a world-renowned cradle of classical music. 91�� Music Professor Howard Kim and another group of��students will together follow in the footsteps of composers Ludwig von Beethoven and Wolfgang A. Mozart, visiting their birth cities of Bonn, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. They will travel to Vienna, the city where they rose to cultural prominence, ultimately gifting the world with their timeless compositions.��

According to Kim, Vienna at the time was the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. The students will tour the composers’ homes, go to operas and concerts in each city, and see other sites including museums of composers influenced by the legacy of Beethoven and Mozart.��

Professors James Duncan and Lindsay Privette will be traveling with students to experience the history and culture of Germany, visiting Mainz, Worms, Eisanach and the Wartburg (castle), Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Berlin. They will also travel to Geneva, Switzerland. The trip’s focus will be on Gutenberg, Martin Luther and Calvin. They’ll be exploring the relationship between Gutenberg’s invention, the printing press, and the Protestant Reformation, ushered in by Martin Luther a little more than 500 years ago.

The AU Abroad classes are reviewed by faculty on the Global Engagement Committee and approved by Academic Affairs. They are coordinated with the assistance and support of Dr. Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous, director for the Center for Global Engagement and their staff. If you are interested in studying abroad, please contact a study abroad advisor at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu to explore your options. 91�� offers a broad range of programs including short-term, summer and semester programs.��

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Jenkins Receives Scholarship from U.S. Department of State

Ed Welch — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:02:54 +0000

The U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program selected recent 91�� graduate Kirsten Jenkins from a large pool of applicants to receive a scholarship aimed at helping American college students to gain important foreign language skills.��

Jenkins, who graduated this past May after dual majoring in Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Criminal Justice, is one of approximately 500 American students across the United States to be selected from more than 5,000 applicants to study overseas or virtually during the summer of 2024. She is studying Russian in a virtual program that is an initiative within the CLS program, CLS Spark.��

“I was apprehensive at first because I had zero experience with the Russian language, and the idea of learning it virtually was daunting. I am a hands-on learner and found that I retain information better using traditional methods of handwriting everything and tools such as physical flash cards. However, my fears were misled because my instructor, who is based in Moldova, is an amazing teacher and is very receptive to our individual needs,” Jenkins said. “The class sizes are small. There are four other students in my group, which allows more one-on-one interaction with the instructor. It has been very surprising how fast we are all picking up the language. It has been challenging but exciting at the same time. I would advise anyone interested in learning a new language to explore the CLS Spark program.”��

The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to increase the number of Americans studying critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. The program includes intensive language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences to promote rapid gains.��

The CLS program, through its CLS Spark initiative, provides beginner-level virtual instruction in Arabic, Chinese and Russian for competitively selected U.S. undergraduate students. CLS scholars are encouraged to continue their language study beyond the program and apply their critical language skills in their future careers.��

Recipients of the 2024 CLS awards come from all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and include students from more than 200 institutions of higher education, including public and private universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, military academies and minority-serving institutions.��

The AU Center for Global Engagement��

The��91�� Center for Global Engagement��assists students who are interested in applying for national scholarships such as the Critical Language Scholarship, Fulbright, Boren, Gilman, and Fund for Education Abroad. For additional information, please email��international@andersonuniversity.edu.��

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Semester in Spain: Morgan Experiences Spanish Culture

Ed Welch — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 19:44:08 +0000

A rising senior from Snellville, Georgia, Morgan is studying English Literature with minors in Spanish and Communications. Her study abroad experience was made possible by the Gilman Scholarship.��

“The significance of the Gilman scholarship for me cannot be understated. Not only is it a privilege, but also an enjoyable challenge to be more intentional and pensive before, during and after studying abroad,” Morgan said. “The essays required for the application, the pre-departure steps after receiving it and the follow up service project create a thorough line of reflection. Moreover, the finances of the scholarship, along with other financial aid, are what enabled me to study abroad. In other words, without the money provided by the scholarship, I could not afford the trip. Therefore, I am very grateful for the incredible opportunity it bestowed me to truly experience another culture and language firsthand.”��

Morgan appreciates the opportunity to immerse herself in Spanish culture.��

“I always loved studying Spanish in middle and high school but I didn’t pursue it very far. But taking Spanish in college, it just reignited that and knowing that I would be in a different country and a different culture and surrounded by this language. I thought that would be really instrumental to my practice learning and understanding of the language,” she said.��

Morgan’s trip to Spain represented some firsts for Morgan—her first time flying and first trip out of the country. She enjoyed experiencing the history and culture of Seville and surrounding cities, including a day at Cadiz on the Mediterranean coast. She also traveled to neighboring Portugal. ��

“We got to see the cathedrals and the center of the city and got to spend a couple of hours on the beach. We also went to a palace, the Casa de Pilatos. That was probably one of my favorite days,” she said.��

Morgan enjoyed being able to walk to her classes at Trinity Christian College from the home of her host and adds that public transportation has been readily available as well. Her classes are The Golden Age of Spain and Modern Spanish Culture.��

“The classes are a little bit longer. We have them from 9:30 to about 1 p.m. with a 30-minute break at 11, and of course they are all conducted in Spanish,” she said. “It’s been cool to not only learn the history but to learn it in a different language and then we also have been visiting the sites we talk about. It’s been really cool to actually be able to go out and see these centuries-old places with this history we just learned in the classroom.”��

Morgan has learned to appreciate the different rhythm of daily life in Spain.��

“They have three blocks of the day based on meal times. Eight a.m. to 1 p.m. is technically morning for them. And then from 2 to 5 is the siesta time. That’s when you eat and then you maybe take a nap and rest your eyes a little bit. That’s when most stores are closed. I do some homework if I can. You have the entire afternoon, and then from 6 until 9 people are out. It’s like a whole second half of the day. We eat dinner at about 9:30 p.m., which is very different from what I’m used to,” she said. “The days feel longer and it feels like we take more advantage of them. I think that’s also why it feels like I’ve been here for a long time. That was one thing I definitely had to adjust to, but it wasn’t a bad thing at all.”��

Morgan has also enjoyed spending time with her host and getting to know classmates from all over.��

“I really love my host mom. I live with her and her older sister. I’ve met some of her siblings and her children. And then also it’s been cool meeting the other students—some from California, Washington state, Illinois—not only am I meeting people from Spain who grew up in Spain but also people who grew up in different areas of the United States,” she said. “I’m doing an Instagram takeover. I get to be logged into the Semester in Spain program’s Instagram and record my daily experiences for prospective students to see what it’s like.”��

Semester in Spain takes place at Trinity Christian College: Seville. Morgan is taking Modern Spanish Culture and Language, and also Spanish Literature.��

“You learn so much and so much more naturally and quickly by being in that immersive setting of having to speak to your host mom in Spanish, watching television with them, speaking during lunch, listening to your professors in Spanish and answering questions in Spanish and answering questions in Spanish. Ordering coffee and all of these different things you would normally do and you’re doing it in your second language—it’s reinforcing that,” she said. “Being able to live in the place you’re studying, and especially with a host family, is such a unique cultural experience that you can’t recreate.”��

The Gilman Scholarship��

A congressionally funded program of the at the , the Gilman Scholarship was named after the late congressman Benjamin A. Gilman from New York. The International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000 established the program. Details about the Gilman Scholarship can be found online at .��

The AU Center for Global Engagement��

The 91�� Center for Global Engagement directs short-term programs, mission trips, faculty-led experiential learning programs and semester-long programs. 91�� has cooperative agreements so students can take part in semester-long programs in such countries as: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and Uganda.��

For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2141.��

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AU Professor Studying Nigerian Movie Industry

Ed Welch — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:09:48 +0000

A professor from the 91�� College of Arts and Sciences has spent this academic year in Nigeria teaching, speaking and researching the Nigerian film industry.

91�� College of Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of English Dr. Kolawole Olaiya is supporting professional communication programs at��the Federal University of Technology Akure��in Nigeria as part of a U.S. Department of State and Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award.��

He is teaching graduate students at the Federal University of Technology Akure’s Institute of Technology-Enhanced Learning and Digital Humanities and helping them develop new project ideas. He’s also researching the customs and cultural attitudes that encourage and indirectly normalize sexual and domestic violence and will publish his findings.��

Dr. Olaiya commented that, in many cases, a patriarchal system in Nigeria and resistance to change works against women. Many cultures put an emphasis on women giving birth to male children to carry on the family name.��

“Change is always a difficult thing, so there’s always resistance to change. Some of the cultural attitudes that are supposed to be outdated are still being recycled in the movies. These themes are common and then, of course because of that, imagine the psychological torture for the woman,” he said. “Is the movie producer changing the narrative to reflect what’s happening in modern times? Are they still recycling this old story? Or are they just telling a single story?”��

In addition to feature-length movies, Dr. Olaiya is also looking at skits, which are short, but impactful films produced across Nigeria.��

“These short productions have a single major conflict that lasts in most cases about 5-10 minutes. These are so common in Nigeria,” he said. “If you go to YouTube, you can find them. It’s kind of popular because it’s easy to weave a story around a particular product. It’s replacing adverts now. They promote certain products. And points of view. I’m finding out they contain a lot of violence promoting a certain kind of view about the culture.”

The Nigerian Film Industry

The Nigerian movie industry, known as Nollywood, is growing so fast that its output surpasses Hollywood. Nollywood is a multibillion dollar industry that’s dominant on the African continent and its reach has expanded worldwide, thanks to platforms that include Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

As part of his research, Dr. Olaiya has been interviewing actors, writers, directors and producers.��

“My Fulbright project is 50 percent teaching, 50 percent research. I am currently conducting a scriptwriting workshop. Part of my interest is how to write movie scripts, how to write for feature films and so on. I’m conducting a workshop not just for students, but for faculty and staff who are coming to partake in my workshop,” he said, adding that the American Embassy often invites him to talk on anything that pertains to his field.

To learn more about the Nigerian film industry, check out the blog Dr. Olaiya created on his featuring artists, actors, producers, script writers and others who work in the Nigerian film industry. He has also posted many interviews online on his .

About the Fulbright Program

Dr. Olaiya is among a select group of U.S. citizens teaching overseas during the 2023-2024 academic year through the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program. The program helps professors in the United States to expand their professional networks and forge future partnerships between institutions.��

Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates and 78 MacArthur Fellows. More than 400,000 participants from more than 160 countries—like Dr. Olaiya—have been chosen for their academic accomplishments and potential with the goal of providing them with opportunities to exchange ideas and contribute to ﬁnding solutions for communities across the globe.��

Dr. Olaiya is an honors graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun, Nigeria, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts. He earned a Master of Arts in English from the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Dr. Olaiya has taught English, literature, writing and communication courses at 91�� since 2015.

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Study Abroad: United Kingdom

91�� — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 20:05:10 +0000

91�� students have been in the United Kingdom taking part in study abroad programs while gaining a global perspective with help from the 91�� Center for Global Engagement.��

Claire Christensen, a student in the 91�� College of Health Professions, has been learning about British healthcare while exploring the culture and history of England, Scotland and Wales. She also crossed the English Channel to tour Paris.

Christensen’s study abroad experience through , a study abroad program, is devoted to comparative healthcare systems and finding out more about Britain’s National Health Service (NHS).

“I just finished my internship and I’m at this charity organization that helps support the elderly,” said Christensen, a rising junior from Hartsville, South Carolina, who is studying nursing.

“Honestly, I thought this class was more on the health care level—how they treat things, what type of methods they use, whereas class was more policy based—learning how world events and how the government does play a big role in it,” Christensen said. “It’s been really cool seeing the background of the healthcare system and the culture and what led up to it being where it is today.”

Christensen has been sharing a flat with other students just minutes away from the Tower of London and the iconic Tower Bridge. From there it’s been easy to get around. There’s much to do within walking distance, and London’s subway system, known as “the Tube,” has been easy for her to figure out, though at times it could be crowded. When Christensen and some friends were going to a Harry Styles concert at Wembley Stadium, she said the Tube was packed.

“We’ve been able to explore London every day, basically after classes, after internships, and then on the weekend, we’ve been trying to do little short weekend trips,” Christensen said. “We’ve gone to Paris one weekend, we just went to Oxford for a day trip last Friday and then Saturday, Sunday we just did an overnight trip in Edinburgh.

Christensen has fallen in love with London and feels that learning about another country’s healthcare system has been beneficial.

“I want to go into medical missions and just delve into countries that don’t have good health care,” Christensen said.

Further north, Chloe Wallace was studying and experiencing the history of Scotland. Wallace, a rising senior from Winter Park, Florida, majoring in Elementary Education, took a three-week course at historic University of St. Andrews.

“I knew I wanted to study abroad, and I wanted it to be somewhere in Europe, preferably the U.K., so I specifically chose Scotland. It’s super beautiful there,” Wallace said. “It was a great program, because it was short term, so I was able to be there for three weeks and did a lot, but not be on the whole semester, which is what I wanted, and it worked with my education schedule because I couldn’t be gone for a semester. It kind of checked all the boxes.”

Wallace appreciated her program’s flexibility, attending class Monday through Friday, then having time to explore.

“That was really nice,” Wallace said, “because I felt that given extra time, I was able to kind of explore the city more… Class was about 10 people—we would have lunch together, and then we would have the afternoon to explore and go on trips. Fridays were always day trips, so instead of sitting in for two hours, we would go from about 10 to 3. We would go on different field trips around the area.”

Wallace could see, feel and touch the history she was studying.

“My favorite field trip was to Dunnottar because it really encapsulated parts of the Scottish coastline and then with the medieval castle there. It was really beautiful to witness first hand. We got to walk around it and see how it was laid out. We also were studying castles, and so we got to witness why castles were built the way they were as fortresses, and then later, as luxury buildings,” Wallace said. “On other trips we went to the Blackwatch Museum. We went to Edinburgh, the capital, for a field trip and we went to Holyrood Palace, which is where the monarchs stay when they visit Scotland.”

Wallace stayed in campus housing at St. Andrews along with classmates from across the U.S., as well as Canada and Singapore. Interacting with them as well as the local Scottish people, she felt she was able to gain a better understanding of people from different backgrounds.

This summer, 91�� students have pursued study abroad programs in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (London and St. Andrews, Scotland).

The Center for Global Engagement directs short-term programs, mission trips, faculty-led experiential learning programs and semester-long programs. 91�� has cooperative agreements so students can take part in semester-long programs in such countries as: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and Uganda.

For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2141.

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