Study Abroad with Leadership Studies

Student Testimonial

"Vatican City had a profound impact on me. By viewing the works of Michelangelo and seeing the tomb of Pope Saint John Paul II, I came to the realization of just how important it is to use the gifts and talents we have been given for the betterment of society." - Michaela Sasse, Junior, Biology Major, Leadership Studies Certificate Recipient, attended the Summer 2014 trip to Europe.

Nine students and one faculty member traveled to Europe in May 2014 for a 12 day study of leadership on a global and diverse scale. The group enrolled in LDRS 490, Topics in Leadership Studies, in the spring 2014 semester before leaving for the trip. The group started in London, England and made their way to Paris, France, the following destinations in Italy: Florence, Assisi, Rome, and the Sorrento Region, and the independent state of Vatican City.

A few trip Highlights include:

• Big Ben, British House of Parliament, Hyde Park, and St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England
• The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France
• Ponte Vecchio, Duomo di Firenze, and Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy
• The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
• The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain, in Rome, Italy
• St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
• Pompeii, Capri, and the Bay of Naples in the Sorrento Region of Italy

Participants:

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Irish Heritage: May 2012

Seventeen students and four faculty members traveled to Ireland in May 2012 for a 13 day study of culture, geography and leadership. The Departments of Leadership Studies and Geosciences worked to combine both leadership principles and theories with a geography research project for a fresh, new study abroad experience. This unique experience centered on the elements of culture as they relate to community and society throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. The culmination of this departmental collaboration occurred when student and faculty teams explored different regions of Dublin and linked geosciences concepts with leadership recommendations based on perceived community needs. This experience opened students’ and faculty members’ eyes to the realities of life in Dublin, not typically seen by tourists.

The trip began in Shannon, southern Ireland and the group worked their way north into Northern Ireland, ending their trip in Belfast. Throughout the twelve day trip, the group made stops in Killarney, Kilkenney, Cork, Kinsale, Cobh, Blarney, Dublin, and Belfast. Some of the highlights of the trip included visiting the Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle, Blarney Stone, Kilmainham Gaol, a 1916 Rebellion Tour, Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Giants’ Causeway, and the newly opened Titantic Exhibition in Belfast.

Participants:

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The Holocaust in Europe: Summer of 2010

The Leadership Studies Department flew off on its second study abroad adventure in the summer of 2010. New faces and new places left a lasting impression on all of the individuals on this trip. Quite a bit larger than the summer 2009 trip, this group totaled 15 members, two of which were Leadership Department faculty. After leaving the U.S., the group landed in the Czech Republic and never looked back. This eleven day excursion took its participants into three different countries (Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany) to take an in-depth look at the impact of the holocaust in each region.

Participants:

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Tour of Italy and Greece: Summer of 2009

The Leadership Studies Department embarked on its first ever study abroad trip in June of 2009. Seven students and one faculty member had the experience of a lifetime as they made their way through the Coliseum in Rome to the cliffs of Sorrento, Italy; then toured the ancient city of Pompeii, and finished at the Acropolis in ancient Athens, Greece. The tour lasted nine unforgettable days. Below are the participants and a few pictures from each stop in the tour.

Participants:

Pictures