A ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 2 officially launched the grand opening of the Center for Global Learning. The event also included presentations, an international cuisine lunch and the opportunity to discuss participating in faculty-led courses and study-abroad programs.
The Center for Global Learning organizes and manages study abroad and exchange programs, facilitates the development of faculty-led international courses, and collaborates with the Office of Admission to support, enrich, and expand international student enrollment at Saint Peter’s College. The Center also develops international partnerships and collaborates with external agencies and organizations on outreach programs.
Guests were welcomed by Marylou Yam, Ph.D., provost/vice president for academic affairs, who described the center as “a dream that has now become a reality for us on campus.”
When Mildred Mihlon, Ph.D., associate vice president for academic affairs and assessment, introduced the recently appointed Director for the Center Wendy Garay, she praised Garay’s many accomplishments since arriving at the College a few months ago. Garay has worked to facilitate multiple faculty-led travel courses, developed and implemented a new orientation format for exchange and international transfer students, launched an electronic newsletter and established a social media presence for the Center. “Today we not only celebrate the launch of the Center for Global Learning, but also welcome a wonderful addition to the Saint Peter’s College community in Wendy,” said Dr. Mihlon.
Garay’s comments reflected her hopes to continue to spread the word about all of the great opportunities that are available. From providing chances for students to travel abroad to faculty guiding faculty-led courses to helping students who return from a semester overseas utilize their experience to help with potential careers. Think traveling abroad is expensive? Garay says that the same financial aid packages that a student has here in New Jersey can often be applied to studying overseas.
Susana Fernandez, Ph.D., who teaches at Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University, was the keynote speaker for the event. She addressed the importance of studying abroad and how the experience is crucial for “developing, encouraging and increasing cross-cultural leadership.”
Her enthusiasm for the program was obvious as she continued her presentation on traveling overseas. She concluded, “Congratulations! This Center is a great testament to the commitment of Saint Peter’s College to help its students become a mindful contributor of the 21st century.”
Stephanie Danis ’11, an English major and philosophy minor, spent this past fall semester studying in Brussels, Belgium. She attended the event to show support for a program that had provided her with a tremendous opportunity. She raved about the new people she met in her program and the traveling she was able to do. “It really was an invaluable experience. My prospective on life has changed,” she said. “Traveling abroad has opened up my eyes and I have become more mature as a result of my experiences.” Danis credits the fact that even though she was across the world, Saint Peter’s was always there for her, no matter what she needed. The support system was invaluable and she encourages all students, whenever possible, to take advantage of the Center for Global Learning.
To learn more about the Center, visit www.spc.edu/global-learning. Also, follow the Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/spcgloballearning and on Twitter at @SPCGlobal.