I have served as leader on two study abroad programs both of which are run under Hokies Abroad managed by our partner provider, AUIP (one to New Zealand and Australia, and one to Antarctica). I enjoy study abroad because I feel it is an incredibly rewarding opportunity for students. Sharing in their experience as they develop and enrich their personal perspectives is rewarding for me. I have stepped back from study abroad a little, but I maintain an active interest in developing new programs. In my mind, study abroad should do several things. First, it must be equitable and available to all students. Second, it must offer students real opportunities to participate in meaningful activities. Third, it must give back to the communities that support it, and, lastly, it must be sustainable. It is my goal to develop a study abroad program that meets all these facets and incorporates meaningful research into conservation.
Hokies Abroad: Antarctica. This is a two part course. The first part is a semester long lecture series in the fall. Each lecture is delivered by Antarctic researchers and explores many different aspects of the continent. The lectures are full of information, but aside from the fantastic reviews of Antarctic life, geography, and glaciology, the highlight for me is the exploration of the international treaty governing Antarctica. The international collaborative effort to sustain this pristine environment is a model for what is possible. The second part of the course sees travel to Ushuaia, Argentina from where students board a small cruise for a 10 day cruise along the Northern part of the West-Antarctic peninsula. The highlight of the trip is the daily outings in the bays and fjords of the West-Antarctic peninsula. Students observe ice, sea birds, marine mammals, and some of the most starkly beautiful landscapes imaginable. To me, the experience is special and life changing. The sound of whales exhaling in the still waters of a sheltered bay ringed by crevassed glacial faces is profoundly beautiful.