Inspired by a career and personal life filled with adventures across dozens of countries, a Columbian College alumna has provided significant funding support to help students participating in faculty-led Short-Term Study Abroad Programs that occur every year over spring break. The gift opens up unique experiential learning opportunities for students, immersing them in the historical sites, artifacts, cultures and people at the center of their studies.
While away, these students often embark on research projects and service initiatives that evolve into presentations for departmental and college-wide events—something that the donor, who chooses to remain anonymous, hopes will continue.
This past spring, faculty-led cohorts of students went to Spain and Portugal to assess how old European cities are adapting buildings to meet modern sustainability standards; to France to study the changing nature of communications media in a global environment; to Oman to expand Arabic language capacity and cultural proficiency; to Mexico to collaborate with speech-language pathology clinicians; and to Normandy and Great Britain for hands-on immersion in the history of World War II.
“I feel like a lot of Americans don’t get the opportunity to go abroad and I think, if it was easier for people to go abroad, the world would be a much better place.”
Matthew Bottorff
Environmental Studies and Geology
“This opportunity not only deepened my understanding of global approaches to sustainable design, but also reinforced my passion for creating healthier more human-based spaces in the built environment.”
Maegan Warner
Interior Architecture
“[Traveling to Oman] was the most incredible curated opportunity to explore a new part of the world.”
Alex Tapia
Economics and Political Science
