Drexel Study Abroad Newsletter
October 2014
Table of Contents
We’ve moved!
New address:
3225 Arch St.
Page 2 Inbound Exchange
Program Update
Page 3 Intensive Courses
Abroad: Expanding into
Latin America
Pages
3-4
Outside of the Classroom:
International Experiences
Page 4 Program Highlight:
London/Amman
Page 5 Study Abroad Student
Profile: Mackenzie
Grapes
Page 6 EAGLES Program Soars
to Madrid and Milano
From the Director:
By: Daniela Ascarelli
Welcome Fall!
As the new school year begins, the Study
Abroad office is getting used to its new home.
Come visit us at 3225 Arch Street, across from
the soccer fields. Please bring along your
Dragon Card as you will need it to enter the
building.
Academic year 2014-15 is going to be an
exciting year as we welcome our largest
group of exchange students ever. We had 88
students join us during the fall term and we
anticipate welcoming another 30 students
during winter and spring terms. Erica
Sebastian, Assistant Director for Exchange
students, is the person in the study abroad
office who makes sure that all of these
students are welcomed, advised and fully
integrated
into
“During Fall break
Drexel’s world.
This past summer (early Sept) the study
was very busy for the
abroad office had 6
Study Abroad office.
Not only did we different programs
move, but we sent running that served
out a record number 75 students.”
of students to study
during the summer term. With over 15
summer programs and over 115 students
participating, Lauren Steinberg, the study
abroad advisor that handles the vast majority
of these programs, was very busy.
Other areas of rapid growth in our office are
linked to shorter programs abroad. Ahaji
Schreffler, Associate Director
for
Undergraduate programs, is our lead
developer in our intensive courses abroad
(ICAs), which take place during the breaks
between terms. During Fall break
(early Sept) the study abroad office more on
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From the Director, continued
had 6 different programs running that
served 7 students. Programs for winter and
spring break are posted on our website.
Lucia Cucinotta, our Assistant Director for
the Health Sciences has spearheaded the
offices effort to guide, vet and support the
many international experiences that our
students are undertaking.
International
Experiences can take many forms including
an international Alternative Spring Break, a
service trip abroad, a research trip abroad
or just a short jaunt for a conference
presentation. During the past academic
Inbound Exchange
Program Update:
Fall 2014
By: Erica Sebastian
This September, the Drexel Study Abroad
office welcomed its largest group of
incoming Fall term exchange students to
date — 88 students hailing from 36 different
universities in 14 countries around the
world. This talented and diverse group of
exchange students will join Drexel’s
residence halls, student organizations, and
classrooms across nearly every college and
school. At the end of their time at Drexel
they return to their home school to complete
their degree.
year, Lucia worked with over 200 students
going on 35 trips.
Finally this past year we have worked hard to
move the university forward in how we handle
our
emergency
evacuation,
medical
repatriation insurance, and health and safety in
general. We are anticipating that in the coming
month, medical evacuation and repatriation
coverage will be offered free of charge to all
members of the Drexel community. Marcia
Henisz, our Associate Director for Graduate
programs, has taken the lead on this year long
project and has brought together a wide range
of university stakeholders to bring this project
to fruition. ◊
The inbound exchange program at Drexel has
seen tremendous growth and success over the
years. Since its inception in 2006, the program
has seen growth from just four inbound students
in the 2006-07 academic year, to 40 inbound
students in 2009-10, and most recently to 96
total inbound students during the 2013-14
academic year. Looking ahead, the program is
expected to see continued steady growth, with
more than 125 total exchange students
expected to attend Drexel during the 2014-15
academic year.
For more information about the incoming
exchange student program, or to become a
Dragon Buddy, please contact Erica Sebastian,
Assistant Director of Exchange Programs, at
ehs36@drexel.edu. ◊
Exchange students meet each other and other Drexel students that have recently
returned from summer study abroad at the annual “Welcome/Welcome Back” party
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Intensive Courses Abroad: Expanding into Latin America
By: Ahaji Schreffler
Santiago, Chile
An Intensive Course Abroad (ICA) is a credit
bearing, international opportunity that takes
advantage of Drexel’s inter-term break
periods (September, December, March,
June.) to offer students a hands-on learning
experience enhanced by an international
location. Collaboration with Drexel partner
institutions has been a successful component
of ICAs. It fosters cultural exchange between
Drexel and local students, strengthens
faculty connections, and increases Drexel’s
international presence. Most ICAs have no
prerequisites, opening the opportunity to
study abroad for a wide range of students.
Latin America has been a hot spot for recent
ICA’s with opportunities as varied as Music
Industry and Culture in Brazil; Sites of
Remembrance
(Literature)
in
Chile;
International Development in Guatemala;
and
Forensic
Psychology
in
Argentina. Additionally, a newly launched
ICA for Spring Break in Brazil focuses on the
History of Commodities. The Study Abroad
Office is now working on ICA program
development for Summer and Fall break
2015. Interested faculty should begin by
contacting ahaji@drexel.edu to learn more
about the process and planning timelines. ◊
Upcoming ICAs



Winter Break
(between fall and
winter terms)
Brazil: Sao Paolo Music &
Culture
Guatemala: Development in
Action
Argentina: Forensic
Psychology






Spring Break
(between winter and spring terms)
Germany & Czech Republic: Legacies
of Nazi-era Policing

Dominican Republic: Culture, History,
Community

Guatemala: Development in Action
Iceland: Global Youth Culture
Brazil: Commodities & the Making of
Sao Paulo
Jamaica: The Economy of the Caribbean
Summer Break
(between spring and
summer terms)
Haiti: Creative Writing
Intensive
Scotland: Edinburgh Fringe
Outside of the Classroom: International Experiences
By: Lucia Cucinotta
International Experiences are a non-credit
bearing international research, outreach,
civic engagement, professional enrichment,
cultural enrichment, or a residency project.
While typically an international experience is
non-credit bearing, work done during an
international experience could be counted
towards practicum or independent study
credit at the discretion of the participant’s
school or department. An International
Experience is also an optional international
trips associated with a Drexel University
course that is for additional credit or
clinical hours.
For example, through Nutrition Sciences
Department faculty member Nyree
Dardarian’s connections, one graduate
Nutrition Science student was able to
participate in the Healthy Head to Toe
Summer Camp (July 28-August 1) in the
East Grand Bahamas. Through this
international experience, the student was
able to gain valuable experience
more on
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: London/Amman
By: Lauren Steinberg
Imagine spending 9 weeks in two incredibly
diverse countries, studying peace and
conflict, learning Arabic, all while earning
Drexel credit. The London/Amman program
provides students with just that!.
Students begin their learning journey in
London to learn the methods, ideas, and
principles which emerged from the efforts to
manage and mediate what appear to be
intractable conflicts. Using the ‘Troubles’ in
Northern Ireland as a case study, students get
to meet Irish and U.K. players that were
instrumental in the successful peace
negotiation. During a short field trip to
Northern Ireland, students are provided the
opportunity to contextualize their classroom
learning. The history of Northern Ireland is
used to understand the current issues in the
Middle East which is the focus of the 2nd half of
the program which takes place in Amman,
Jordan
Throughout their time in Jordan students live
with a host family, in order to better
experience daily life. From an academic
point of view coursework continues to focus
on conflict resolution and management and
intensive Arabic language instruction.
Students explore not only the Arab-Israeli
conflict, but also conflicts involving Jordan,
Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, but inter-tribal
conflicts as well.
If your students are interested in Peace and
Conflict, the Middle East, encourage them to
take a look at the London/Amman program! ◊
Drexel students Suzanna Benjamin, Nicole Anderson, and Kelsey McSorley in Petra, Jordan
Outside of the Classroom: International Experiences
(continued from page 3)
planning a week-long meal plan, including
nutritional value and cost of each meal for 70
children.
The camp was such a success, and feedback
from the in-country staff was so positive, that
Professor Dardarian plans to expand Drexel’s
involvement in the program next summer.
Another great international experience
happened this past summer. The Men’s
Basketball team traveled to China to gain
experience participating in international
competitions, strengthen team unity, and to
create cultural and educational opportunities.
The Men’s Basketball team worked with Drexel
University to ensure all participants were
covered by the On Call Emergency,
Evacuation, and Repatriation Insurance as well
as provided a Health and Safety Predeparture Orientation. The Men’s Basketball
team had a wonderful experience competing
with different teams in China and connected
with some of Drexel University’s major
partners in China and alum.
If you have an international connection that
could lead to service learning, research, or
other international opportunities for your
students please email lucia@drexel.edu to
discuss how the Study Abroad Office can
support you. ◊
Healthy
Head to Toe
Summer
Camp in the
East Grand
Bahamas
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Leaving a Beginner and Coming
Back Fluent:
Studying Abroad in Bioko, Equatorial
Guinea and Madrid, Spain
Name: Mackenzie Grapes
Major: International Area Studies with a
concentration in Justice and Human Rights
Study abroad programs: Bioko, EPA Madrid
and Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Terms abroad: Fall 2013 and Winter 2014
Q: How did you become interested in
studying Spanish?
A: I began studying Spanish at a young age,
not because I was necessarily drawn to the
language or even chose to do so, but
because it was required. It’s interesting and
somewhat ironic that I ended up choosing to
study Spanish at Drexel because French was
my language of study in high school. In the
end, I returned to my roots and am so
incredibly pleased with my decision to do so.
I truly and deeply love the Spanish language!
Q: Did you always know you wanted to
study abroad?
A: Yes, 100%. As the youngest of 7 children, I
spent what feels like a lifetime yearning to
travel and expose myself to things beyond
my comfort zone. Constantly welcoming
siblings back from abroad, my desire to
experience new cultures and new people
grew with each trip to the airport
international arrivals gate. As my sophomore
year came to a close, I sensed that familiar
feeling of unrest and adventure calling. I
knew it was Spain that I wanted to see, but
was also aware that my language capability
was not at the level it needed to be at to
study in Madrid. After meeting with Kate
Hughes, my incredible academic advisor, I
decided to make Equatorial Guinea, Africa,
my first trip abroad and Spain my second!
Q: How do you think your time abroad
helped you change as a person?
A: As someone who doesn’t have difficulty
expressing them self, I wasn’t necessarily
expecting to become more “open” to the
world, but traveling, especially alone, forced
me to become even more comfortable in my
own skin. Among the many life lessons that I
learned and the numerous character traits I
further developed, I have to say that the most
beautiful and eye opening realization, in this
small chapter in my life, was the discovery of
the importance of taking in and holding on to
the best of each country, culture and
experience. With the help of my host-mom, I
came to understand what it means to be an
optimistic global citizen.
Q: How has your Spanish improved?
A: When I first arrived in Spain I was
incapable of speaking in any tense other than
the present, which I think says a lot
considering the fact that I can now carry on a
full conversation in Spanish. In my opinion, 9
months was the perfect amount of time to
spend abroad in Madrid, Spain. Although I
improved greatly in my first 4 months, I am
positive that it was the second leg of my trip
that helped me to reach a higher level of
fluency.
Q: Do you plan to go back?
A: I’m not sure when and I’m not sure how,
but I will make it back to Spain. I was fortunate
enough to form an incredibly strong bond with
my host-mom and know that I will forever
have a home in Madrid. ◊
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EAGLES Program Soars to Madrid and Milano
By: Marcia Henisz
EAGLES students celebrate graduation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Engineers as Global Leaders for Energy
Sustainability (EAGLES) program sent its
largest cohort ever abroad in 2013-14, with four
BS/MS students beginning the program in
Madrid in Spring, 2014. Student participants
complete four months of research at partner
school, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
(UPM) in Spain before heading to Politecnico di
Milano (Poli Mi) in Italy to complete a full year
of study and a thesis. Successful program
participants receive two Masters degrees: one
from Drexel and one from Poli Milano.
This unique exchange experience for
engineering students is part of a $455K EUAtlantis grant awarded to Drexel with
collaborator, the University of Connecticut and
EU partners Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
and Politecnico di Milano in August, 2010.
The grant provides funding for student and
faculty mobility. Over the last three years,
Drexel has hosted twelve EU students,
participating on the program and Drexel
faculty members have worked with seven
visiting professors from the EU partner
schools. Of the four Drexel graduates of the
EAGLES program, two are currently in PhD
programs and two are working full-time in
their fields. The project is a collaboration
between Study Abroad and the College of
Engineering. Faculty. Dr. Jonathan Spanier,
Professor of Materials Science &
Engineering is the Principal Investigator.
For more information on the program or
interest in faculty mobility, please contact
Marcia Henisz at mwh23@drexel.edu. ◊
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