Study Abroad with CIEE International Study Programs

On November 6, a full-day, pre-conference workshop chaired by Inge Herman, Study Abroad Advisor at the University of Pennsylvania, entitled “Opening Doors: Program Development Beyond the Traditional” was presented to 36 participants interested in a deeper exploration of the conference theme. Click here to read a synopsis of this pre-conference workshop.

A half-day workshop was chaired by Joan Gore, Director of Institutional Relations, Denmark's International Study Program, entitled "Overcoming Barriers to Study Abroad for Science Students: Strategies and Success." For a synopsis of this workshop, click here.

The conference formally started with a plenary speech entitled “The United Face of America: Painting a New National Portrait“ by Dr. Walter Massey, President of Morehouse College and former director of the National Science Foundation. Dr. Massey addressed the audience and explained that international study is, undoubtedly, one of the most beneficial activities in which students can participate during their academic careers. Seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures add depth and context to students’ views of the world and of themselves. This is particularly true for minority students, who historically have been underrepresented in study abroad programs. Dr. Massey stated that as valuable as international study is to students individually, there is great value from study abroad programs for the nation, as well. By encouraging and providing opportunities for U.S. students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to travel to other countries, we, in essence, begin to paint a new national portrait – one that reflects to the world the true face of America in all its richness and diversity.

Conference sessions focused primarily on the conference theme of Underrepresented Faces and Nontraditional Places with topics such as African Diaspora Studies, Asian American Participation in Study Abroad, Science and Study Abroad, Marketing Study Abroad to Underrepresented Faces, Safety Issues, Navigating between Religion and Sexual Orientations, Learning Disabilities and Study Abroad, Diplomacy of Inclusion, Preparing Exchange Organizations to Include People with Disabilities, Overseas Experiential Education, Faculty Opportunities Abroad, Welcoming LBGT Students to the Study Abroad Office, Impact of Media on Study Abroad in Africa, Financial Aid Resources, as well as a myriad of sessions focusing on specific regions and countries including South Africa, Trinidad, Chile, Taiwan, Spain and Latin America. Read some of the papers presented at the conference including:

For the fifth year in a row, the conference featured an opportunity for attendees to meet one-on-one with CIEE staff and CIEE Resident Directors from around the world. The “Meet CIEE” informal breakfast was extremely well-attended, offering an excellent opportunity that allowed for individualized answers to questions about CIEE Study Centers, as well as a chance to sample a world of treats.

The Thursday evening off-site reception at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre provided further opportunity for participants to mingle and network. Conference attendees were able to tour this beautifully outlandish, opulent, grandiose monument to the heady excesses of the pre-crash 1920's; a mosque-like structure complete with minarets, onion domes, and an interior decor which was even more lavish than its facade. Attendees were treated to a live performance by the 70-member Spelman Glee Club, who sang a selection of spirituals and jazz numbers.

The Annual Luncheon and Award Ceremony presented Charles Merrill with the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of International Education. The Award was established by the CIEE to acknowledge professional commitment to international education and educational exchange over an extended period of time. In 1958, Merrill created the Merrill Scholarships for Study Abroad in order to enable African-American students to have an overseas study experience. Over the last four decades, several hundred undergraduate students from Morehouse and Spelman Colleges have benefited from the opportunity to study overseas with the aid of Merrill Scholarships. Merrill Scholars have become lawyers, college professors, corporate CEOs, vice presidents of Fortune 500 companies, and a group have served the U.S. in the diplomatic corps, including the plenary luncheon speaker Ambassador Ruth Davis. Click here to read a copy of Ambassador Ruth A. Davis’ plenary speech.

CIEE also recognized the ExxonMobil Foundation for Outstanding Commitment to the CIEE International Faculty Development Seminars. Over the past six years, the ExxonMobil Foundation has enabled over 40 faculty and administrators from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to participate in CIEE International Faculty Development Seminars, broadening participation in international education and strengthening capacities for internationalization at minority-serving institutions.

Every year, the CIEE conference includes two breakfast meetings, as part of our collaboration with NAFSA’s Section on U.S. Students Abroad (SECUSSA). The Whole World Committee and Committee on Underrepresentation meetings provided an opportunity for networking and brainstorming about issues of the conference theme. In addition, CIEE collaborated with SAFETI Task Force and the Forum on Education Abroad who held meeting in conjunction with the CIEE conference.

Co-sponsored by Lonely Planet Guide Books, the CIEE Happy Hour: Destination Hungary, on Friday evening kicked-off the theme for the 56th Annual Conference to be held in Budapest, Hungary. The conference theme will be “Speaking Up: Language Learning at Home and Abroad”. Door prizes about and from Hungary were distributed, while wine from Hungary was served.

The Closing Plenary, a breakfast sponsored by the CIEE Academic Consortium, featured a speech and questions and answers by Octavia Nasr of CNN. At this breakfast two awards were given out: an award for the CIEE Resident Director of the Year was presented to Scott Lyngass, Resident Director in Paris, France, and an award for the CIEE Student of the Year was presented to Christi Turner, an alumna of the CIEE Study Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Atlanta conference concluded mid-day on Saturday, and was followed by an optional excursion of historic African-American Atlanta, including a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park.