Southwestern Magazine | Spring 2019

Sarah Brackmann, senior director of integrative and community- engaged learning, supervises the Office of Intercultural Learning as well as the Office of Community-Engaged Learning, which encourages students to seek out opportunities outside of campus to engage and connect with the community. Both offices connect students to other learning spaces that promote student integration of knowledge, she notes. “Studying abroad provides students with a rich, engaging experience,” Brackmann says. “Academically, it provides a multidimensional, critical-thinking education. Personally, it allows students to understand who they are and forces them to think about their own biases, perspectives, and prejudices.” Both Korkuś and Brackmann point out that students need to be aware of one common side effect of studying abroad: a persistent urge to travel. “Studying abroad tends to be contagious and habit-forming,” Korkuś says. “I tell students they need to be prepared for the travel bug to be well lodged.” The joy of discovery Southwestern’s most popular study-abroad option is the SU London program, a 15-week, 16-credit program offered during the fall semester. Two different faculty members lead it each year, resulting in a unique focus every time. In 2018, courses were offered in Spanish and business; in 2019, they will revolve around art history and philosophy. Katy Ross, professor of Spanish, and her husband, Andy, assistant professor of business and director of business internships, led the 2018 program. Ross hadn’t been to London in 18 years, so she felt like she got to experience the city for the first time all over again with the 28 students who participated in the program. “The beauty of teaching is the ability to see things through your students’ eyes as they learn them,” Ross says. “It’s the joy of discovery. I get to live that again.” This summer, Ross will teach abroad in one of her favorite locales: Granada, Spain. In 2007, she established the SU Spain program, a six-week, eight-credit program held every other summer. She believes this program in particular has helped her grow as a professor. “If you teach students about Spain and you don’t go to Spain, you’re teaching them book knowledge,” Ross says. “By visiting frequently, I’m able to bring a very personal, very intimate knowledge of Spain into my classroom. It’s like a second home to me now.” Ross notes that studying abroad allows students to step outside their norms and experience life in a different way. “This is the ultimate college experience to have. I 24 SOUTHWESTERN Ariel Mansholt ’21 with a somewhat familiar landmark behind her.