Misericordia University held an opening reception to launch the World Citizen's Club, a new student organization dedicated to promoting academic study abroad and global service opportunities among the campus community.
"Traveling abroad, whether for academic credit or as part of a service project, allows for new opportunities as well as personal growth," said newly named Club President April Lennon, a social work major from Dallas, who studied at the National University of Maynooth, Ireland, last summer. "The mission of the club is to encourage students to study abroad by providing information and by carrying out fundraisers and service projects that will let the student grow as a world citizen. Most importantly, the club will serve as an outlet for those returning to share their personal experiences with others who are passionate about travel as transitioning back can often be difficult after such a life-changing experience."
In addition to Lennon, club officers are Vice President Georgia Cleary, an occupational therapy major from Leola, who studied at the University of Limerick, Ireland; Secretary Beth Pfisterer, an occupational therapy major from Wellsboro, and Treasurer Michael Gottstein, a mathematics major from Drums, who both studied at Umbra Institute, Perugia, Italy.
Misericordia University President Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., who taught in Mexico earlier in his academic career, attended the opening reception along with Charles Brody, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs, and members of the faculty and staff. Among the new club members in attendance were students who studied abroad during the fall semester. They shared their recent experiences with the group.
Misericordia University has had a global reach for many years, as members of the campus community have been providing service to those most in need in Guyana, Jamaica, and elsewhere. In 2014, the University joined the Generation Study Abroad Initiative, an initiative of the Institute of International Education (IIE) to form a coalition of institutions committed to doubling the number of American students who study abroad by the end of the decade.
Since joining IIE, Misericordia has more than doubled the number of students who have studied abroad for academic credit. "The number now stands at 72 students who are participating in study aboard for academic credit this school year," said Marguerite R. Roy, J.D., visiting professor, Department of History and Government and program coordinator, who has extensive experience serving around the world as a United Nations peacekeeper. "In addition, eight physical therapy students took part in a stroke camp in Jamaica in September, and four other students have studied away in programs at American University (Washington, D.C.), bringing our study abroad and away numbers to 84 for the year."
Misericordia University most recently signed affiliation agreements to expand its study abroad and away programs for students beginning in the summer at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota; American University Paris, France; Centre International d/Etudes Francaises (International Center for French Studies) at the Catholic University of Angers, France; Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program, and Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University, both in Berlin, Germany; Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy; and the Council on International Educational Exchange, a study abroad service provider based in Portland, Maine.
The new programs complement existing short-term and semester-long opportunities in Italy: Umbra Institute, Perugia, and Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence; Ireland: University of Limerick, National University of Ireland at Maynooth, and Dublin City University; England: St. Mary's University, Twickenham London; Wales: University of Wales, Trinity St. David; Australia: Southern Cross University, Lismore; Africa: Tanzania and Uganda Immersion into Global Health; and North America: American University, Washington, D.C., and Montreal and Quebec City, Canada.
For more information about the Study Away/Abroad Programs available at Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or log on to www.misericordia.edu/studyabroad. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County's first four-year college and offers 32 academic programs on the graduate and undergraduate levels in full- and part-time formats. Misericordia University ranks in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities – North category of U.S. News and World Report's 2016 edition of Best Colleges, and was designated a 2016 Best Northeastern College by the Princeton Review.
Photo Caption:
Officers of Misericordia University's newly formed World Citizen's Club met with Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., university president, during the organization's opening reception. Participating in the reception, from left are Georgia Cleary, Leola, Pa., club vice president; Michael Gottstein, Drums, Pa., club treasurer; Dr. Botzman; April Lennon, Dallas, Pa., club president, and Beth Pfisterer, Wellsboro, Pa., club secretary.