Southwestern Magazine | Spring 2019

think that college is a time of self-discovery for our students, and there’s no better way to discover yourself than to take yourself out of your comfort zone and study abroad,” she says. Associate Professor of Communication Studies Valerie Renegar agrees. Renegar, who will lead the SU European Cultural Exploration program this summer, has taught abroad three times in the course of her career. “This is a transformative educational opportunity,” Renegar says. “You don’t look back and regret it.” The SU European Cultural Exploration Program is unique in that students will study in three locations: Lisbon, Portugal; Grenoble, France; and Budapest, Hungary. Renegar says it has generated a lot of student interest, partly because it is taught in English and partly because students can complete two courses during the summer, which helps justify the cost. Renegar notes that studying abroad has a reputation for being expensive, but that’s not always the case. Many programs cost about the same as a regular semester (plus airfare), and schol- arships are available. But if cost is an issue, it shouldn’t be, she believes. “If there’s ever any reason to take out a student loan, it’s for a study-abroad trip,” she says. Teaching abroad gives Renegar a sense of professional renewal. It makes her excited about teaching, and she enjoys seeing students develop as scholars. “I get to introduce them to a huge new experience and watch them immerse themselves in a new culture,” she says. “You can’t replicate that in a classroom.” “Students develop independence and leadership skills when they study abroad. They come home confident they can navigate tough situations they’ve never had to deal with before.” – — Cortney Graves ’12 25 SOUTHWESTERN MacKenzie Spence '21 captured this shot of the ubiquitous classic cars in Cuba, the result of decades of trade embargoes.