Penn College classes add global travel to students’ education
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Supporting Pennsylvania College of Technology’s mission to equip future leaders with real-world experience, faculty members led students in exploring new parts of that world through six 2024 Global Experience classes.
In Europe, students explored the origin and future of objects of their study, and in Latin America, they used their budding skills to serve others.
“The Penn College study abroad model is mission fit,” said Daniel J. Clasby, assistant dean of academic operations. “Our instructors create programs that blend global learning with a student-centered, hands-on approach. Students leave the experience with wonderful memories, for sure, but they also acquire skills, new mindsets and a confidence that will follow them through life.”
Around 135 students participated in the classes:
- Art History in London, England: Students took guided lecture tours and visited historic sites and museums throughout the city.
- Cultural Immersion & Service Learning: Students engaged with families in the El Cibao region of the Dominican Republic, serving communities in need of clean water, sustainable food, dignified health care and vocational training.
- International Automotive Studies: After studying international automotive manufacturer facilities, students visited sites in France and Italy that focus on manufacturing, assembly and repair processes. Tours included Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini and Ferrari.
- European Sustainable Building, Historical Architecture & Art: Students discovered celebrated art, historic architecture and modern sustainable building practices in Eastern Europe and Northern Italy, including travel to changing European locations.
- Global Food & Hospitality: Cuisine, Culture & Perspectives: Students explored the cuisine and culture of cities and regions in Italy renowned for food, wine and agritourism. The experience included tastings, tours of wine, truffle, vinegar, cheese and Parma ham producers, and hands-on lessons at various cooking schools.
- Oral Healthcare Field Experience: Students provided oral care to nearly 300 children in four villages in the Dominican Republic’s Sosua region, incorporating skills in planning, providing and evaluating oral health services for an underserved community.
“Traveling abroad as a college student is an unparalleled opportunity for growth and learning,” said Naim N. Jabbour, associate professor of architecture, who taught European Sustainable Building, Historical Architecture & Art. “It allows them to step out of their comfort zones and immerse themselves in new cultures, languages and environments.
“For architecture students, these trips are especially valuable as they provide the chance to experience diverse architectural styles, historical landmarks and innovative designs firsthand,” Jabbour continued. “Visiting renowned buildings, engaging with local professionals and participating in specialized workshops enriches our understanding of global architectural practices.”
Each Global Experience course included a 16-week spring semester class that prepared students for their journeys, which took place during the summer and ranged from six to 16 days.
“It was amazing to see in person the artifacts that we had been studying during the semester,” said Hailey P. Stroble, a graphic design student from Thomasville who took part in Art History in London, England. “This made the museums much more interesting, because we knew the backstory of these art pieces and the history of the culture and time period it came from.”
In preparation for a trip by students in six majors to the Dominican Republic, Wayne Sheppard, one of three faculty members who taught the Cultural Immersion & Service Learning class, said the trio taught students about the socioeconomics, history and culture of the region they would visit. (The class's experience was recently featured on WBRE/WYOU's Hispanic Heritage Month special.)
Human services & restorative justice student Jenirosa A. White took the course and, during the group’s time in the Dominican, she was able to employ both the cultural education specific to the Global Experience class and the skills she has learned in human services coursework, practicing empathy and sympathy as she participated in service projects.
“I was able to learn about different cultures I had never thought about before,” the Mill Hall resident said.
Also employing their skills were Chris A. Fisher, of Middleburg, a construction management student who helped to build a home in the Dominican Republic, and Isabel M. Horst, of Wernersville, who helped to provide oral care in a different region of the same nation.
“Some of the skills included basic carpentry skills like framing and putting up siding, as well as the management process of having a group of people come together to build a home,” said Fisher, who also made the trip in 2023. “To have two families that have a shelter over their head and a safe place to sleep at night – it’s a great thing to know that I was part of that.”
“It has taught me a lot and shown me that people come from all different types of situations,” Horst said. “I think it’s given me a lot of empathy.”
A participant on a mission trip to Costa Rica in high school, Horst was excited to use her new dental hygiene associate degree, earned in May, to help in a new way.
“I was just excited to be able to see what I’ve learned and what I can do,” said Horst, who is working toward a Penn College bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
While Horst had traveled internationally before, Stroble had never left the country but said she felt comfortable doing so with her art history classmates and faculty.
“We have a lot of students who have never traveled outside the U.S.,” Sheppard said. “In general, the students jumped at the chance to try something new.”
“It definitely will be scary at first: new places, new people, new experiences. But I can safely say it is all so rewarding in the end,” said Lauren B. Klinger, of Kresgeville, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture and took the European Sustainable Building, Historical Architecture & Art course. “You gain travel experience, a feel for foreign currency, strong independence, communication skills and more.”
In short: The experiences open the door for future exploration.
“During my Global Experience trip, I had the privilege of immersing myself in diverse cultures, engaging with local communities and exploring breathtaking landscapes,” said Megan N. Ney, of Trevorton, one of Klinger’s European architecture classmates. “I found myself eager to learn more about different cultures, histories, and perspectives and have been motivated to continue exploring the world.”
“Beyond academics, these experiences broaden students’ worldviews, inspire creativity, and build lifelong memories and connections,” Jabbour, her instructor, said. “Traveling abroad truly transforms their educational journey, making it more dynamic and impactful. Studying abroad benefits all college students by broadening their cultural perspectives, enhancing their adaptability, and providing unique academic and personal growth opportunities that are invaluable in an increasingly globalized world.”
“We all get to interact with amazing people,” Sheppard said. “Everybody has different opportunities and different challenges. There’s a world of growth in realizing there are different ways of doing things.”
Teaching 2024 Global Experience classes, in addition to Jabbour and Sheppard, were Rob Cooley, associate professor of anthropology/environmental science; Gerald G. Kaplan, instructor of ceramics; Christine B. Kavanagh, recently retired assistant professor of nursing; Roy H. Klinger, instructor of collision repair; Rhonda J. Seebold, part-time instructor of dental hygiene; and Chef Mary G. Trometter, recently retired assistant professor of hospitality management/culinary arts.
Global Experience participation during the 2023-24 academic year at Penn College was financially supported by more than 80 donors. Students are supported through four endowed scholarship funds that award assistance to those taking the courses, and a Global Experiences General Fund that provides scholarship support to additional students.
For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
