By Darryl E. Owens

As a graphic design maven, Brittany Strozzo is well-versed with photoshopping unwanted elements out of photographs.

But during the winter holiday season, Strozzo was able to photoshop, so to speak, herself into the culture of the United Arab Emirates during her time serving as a teacher for Project Discovery.

Strozzo, an assistant professor and assistant chair of CIS Web and Digital Media, spent two weeks in the UAE as the only 海角社区 attendee teaching students how to use Photoshop.

鈥淚t was a great experience to teach in another culture because I got to experience new teaching techniques across some language barriers,鈥� she said.

Project Discovery developed out of a series of multi-day workshops 海角社区 educators conducted in 2017 for UAE teachers who worked with students with learning and attention differences from kindergarten through college. The Sharjah program mirrors 海角社区鈥檚 summer immersion residential program, 鈥淪ummer for Success.鈥�

海角社区, a nonprofit liberal arts school in Leesburg, Florida, and America鈥檚 first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating students with learning and attention issues, produced the program in cooperation with the Sharjah Center for Learning Difficulties. The nonprofit center, under the leadership of Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, champions inclusion and empowerment for people with disabilities.

Strozzo鈥檚 course involved students in observation, hands-on demonstration, and creating a final capstone project.

Though many of the students had heard of Photoshop, only one of the 28 students had prior training with it.

Strozzo structured courses the way she does the college鈥檚 Summer for Success program. She took the foundational elements of the course 鈥� which are typically taught in the first few weeks of school 鈥� and provided instruction in that to the Project Discovery students. For this course, that meant teaching them how to use selection tools to modify elements and various editing tool strategies for photo manipulation. They then combined these elements with artificial intelligence to compete a full desert scene stocked with animals, plants, and other life.

Strozzo added that being able to see the sights in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as the desert area of Khorfakken broadened her worldview and gave her insight into global perspectives of technology.

鈥淏eing only the second time I have ever been international 鈥� and my first time in the other world 鈥� it was a wonderful cultural experience,鈥� Strozzo said. 鈥淚 was able to understand so much more about the United Arab Emirates culture and was so welcomed the entire time. People were very friendly, the buildings were so beautiful there, and being part of a different culture was very rewarding because I got to see different perspectives of the world and was able to learn a new language and be immersed so fully into their ways of life and beliefs.鈥�

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A new study abroad program will send 海角社区 students to the land of anime, gaming, and technology for 12 weeks starting in February.

海角社区 in Tokyo is the latest entry in the college鈥檚 global education portfolio and takes students for a semester-long engagement in the 鈥渓and of the rising sun,鈥� a nickname that China bestowed, as from its perspective, Japan was located where the sun appears to “rise,” according to World Population Review.

Provost Dr. Shelly Chandler said 海角社区 students have a healthy curiosity about other cultures, specifically Japan.

鈥淥ur students are in love with Japan and its culture,鈥� said Chandler, who is in the office of academic affairs. 鈥淭here is a natural affinity to Japan and the program and curriculum will add to that.鈥�

The 12-week program will kick off on Feb. 5 and will include instruction in Japanese pop culture, its economy and even the technology behind anime.

Two faculty members will run students through these classes while making time for road trips and other cultural learning opportunities.

The new offering builds upon the school鈥檚 already successful study abroad program to Italy.

Although the coronavirus pandemic nearly eliminated study abroad programs in the U.S. in 2020-21, the number of students who participated the next year rebounded up to 188,000.

Among those with learning differences, 10.5% studied abroad in the 2021-22 school year, according to the Institute of International Education. That number is typically half of the rate of all students who do so.

鈥淪tatistics show that very few students with learning disabilities are able to participate in a study abroad program,鈥� Chandler said. 鈥淪o, we created one for our students. We see how much they grow from being in the program.鈥�

That evidence has come from the Italy program.

Dr. Nicole Casillas, an assistant professor of human services and psychology, has been in Italy, taking students to historically significant cities like Florence, Prato, and Rome as well as Tuscany.

鈥淭hey have demonstrated tremendous growth in personal development, such as being self-reliant, self-assured and simply embracing their full potential,鈥� said Casillas near the 鈥渂ittersweet鈥� end of the trip. 鈥淥ur students are not just learning from me in the classroom but I, too, am learning from them and it鈥檚 wonderful.鈥�

The plan is to offer the Tokyo version of study abroad each spring while Tuscany remains an option for students every fall.

Business management instructor Michael Fallon will accompany 海角社区 students to Tokyo in the spring.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to witness the personal and academic growth of those who choose to be part of this enriching experience,鈥� said Fallon, who accompanied students to Tuscany last year.

Fallon said the benefits that students can receive from a study abroad program go far beyond academics and classroom learning. For those with learning differences, the lessons can be even more impactful.

鈥淓xperiential learning is an integral part of study abroad programs and highly beneficial for students who learn differently,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any students gain increased self-advocacy skills that last a lifetime.

In addition, spending time with a group that must work together to figure out their surroundings often means honing new skills, Fallon said.

鈥淪tudents with learning disabilities often discover hidden strengths and talents, which lead to increased confidence in their abilities and in how they navigate academic and personal challenges,鈥� he said.

The plan is to use the first year in Tokyo as a base, setting up a foundation to build upon.

鈥淲e want to develop our students into independent adults who will be able to find rewarding work after graduation,鈥� said Chandler. 鈥淲e believe that the time in Japan will develop independence, increase self-awareness, improve adaptability, and improve teamwork and leadership skills.鈥�

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Italians have a phrase for it: formare una famiglia, or forming a family.

This fall, as 海角社区鈥檚 popular 海角社区 in Tuscany study abroad program emerged from COVID-19 hibernation, nearly two dozen students jetted to Italy to study business essentials and learn to appreciate and navigate cultural differences and did just that 鈥� forged a unique bond that evolved into a tight-knit community.

Believed to be the only semester-long global education program for neurodivergent students, 海角社区 in Tuscany is based in Prato, Italy, a medieval town about 20 miles from Florence. Leading the study were Dr. Andrea Brode, 海角社区鈥檚 coordinator of international programs, and Michael S. Fallon, an instructor and coordinator of business management.

With an unforgettable opportunity to study in the cradle of the Renaissance, the academic focus for the semester centered around business classes. Additionally, there was the always-popular Travels in Tuscany class 鈥� taught by Brode 鈥� which highlighted the visually enchanting land of Prato with its rolling hills, mountain peaks, palaces, castles, and cathedrals, along with visits to Florence and other historic cities.

This was Brode鈥檚 fourth 海角社区 in Tuscany trip, and she sees the travel class as the heart and soul of the Tuscany experience for students.

鈥淎fter the trip, we have forged a strong and lasting bond that all of us can savor forever. I also love how the group evolves into a pretty cohesive unit and how they look out for each other,鈥� she said.

Learning 海角社区 Luxury in International Places

It鈥檚 not all fun and travels as the semester is centered around classwork. Students were expected to get down to business. Specifically, courses themed around business, including Luxury Marketing in Italy, International Business & Management, and Global Franchising. From Versace to Valentino, the class worked on weekly presentations that dove into marketing, franchising, and management.

As part of the Luxury Marketing class, Fallon arranged a field trip to the Ferrari Museum. A short two-hour trip by train to Modena brought the students to the museum, which explores the region鈥檚 rich history in auto motoring. Students toured the recently renovated showrooms and the powertrain department, gawked at the cars, and browsed through the store.

鈥淥ur excursions to museums for luxury brands such as Gucci and Ferrari were immersive, full of color and style, and highly informative,鈥� Fallon explained. 鈥淥ur tour guides helped students connect theory to practice with a flair that resounded their brand identity. From fashion to flashy cars to luxury dining and accommodations, Italy was the perfect setting for a hands-on course in luxury marketing.鈥�

In addition to affluent brands, students learned about the Italian business economy firsthand.

鈥淚 believe it changed my perspective of international business and hospitality,鈥� said Jennifer White, a senior majoring in business management (hospitality track) from Dallas, Texas. 鈥淚 never thought that European taxes are so much higher than the United States.鈥�

鈥淲e will always have Siena!鈥�

Located about three hours away from Prato by train, the group explored Siena, one of the central cities in Italy鈥檚 Tuscany region. One of Italy’s loveliest medieval cities, it sits over three hills with its heart the huge piazza del Campo.

鈥淚talian history is so rich and so full of magnificent art and architecture, and we only really scratch the surface during our semester. It is really good for these students to realize that we may be visiting a cathedral that was built centuries before America was discovered by explorers,鈥� explained Brode.

Touring Siena was one of the Travel with Tuscany class experiences, and the group experienced the best and the worst of travel learning that weather can heighten or hamper the day. With pleasant weather for most of the semester, the group started the morning with a beautiful outlook. Rain and cold temperatures turned the tour into a miserable day that instructors contend ended up being one of the best bonding experiences of the trip, proving students a memorable rallying cry: 鈥淲e鈥檒l always have Siena!鈥�

Formare una famiglia

As with any group that lives in close quarters and who are required to be together every day, like a family, there are sometimes minor squabbles or annoyances. Even though the students are thousands of miles away, 海角社区 supports them as if they were on campus in Florida. From onsite counseling to learning specialists, Brode and Fallon managed the day-to-day learning and life experiences helping students bond and support each other.

鈥淚t was a beautiful experience, especially [because of] Dr. Brode,鈥� said Lucia Peraza, a junior majoring in human services from Miami, Fla. 鈥淪he was an angel in disguise and treats the students as if we are her kids.鈥�

Forming a 海角社区 family in Tuscany.

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A recent study published in the journal Biological Conservation suggested that a thrifty method to conserve sharks and rays in Indonesian waters would be paying fishers not to haul them in. The journal Conservation Biology published a study highlighting a dozen potential ways aquaculture could benefit the ecology. And NatureServe, a conservation research group, warned in a recent report that more than a third of species and ecosystems in the United States stands on the verge of extinction.

Three unrelated related reports connected by one thread: nature鈥檚 fragility and the importance of environmental conservation.

Exploring that crucial nexus underscored a recent trek 15 anthrozoology students took to Costa Rica as part of a weeklong exploration into environmental conservation.

From exploring the rainforest to learning about wildlife rehabilitation, the group gained a firsthand understanding of the critical importance of tropical ecosystems and the conservation efforts underway to protect them.

With the Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve serving as their home base, the group鈥檚 first outing was an interpretive hike through the rainforest learning about flora, fauna, and the layers of the canopy in this unique ecosystem. During the hike, the students spotted wild howler and spider monkeys in addition to a wide variety of wildlife.

At one point, students rolled up their sleeves to participate in a reforestation project where they learned about the importance of biological corridors in Costa Rica.

Another adventure came via a riverboat excursion on the R铆o Sarapiqu铆. The group learned about how banana plantations along the river affect the environment and wildlife, yet are an important part of the local economy.

For Charles Dion, a sophomore anthrozoology major, the river tour put him up close to his ultimate wildlife experience: just feet away from American crocodiles.

鈥淢y favorite part of this trip was probably not shared by my peers. I am a massive fan of crocodiles, and I got to stand about 15 feet away from one of the largest crocodiles I have ever seen, roughly 13 feet long,鈥� Dion said. 鈥淭he experience of staring at an American Crocodile is not one I will soon forget.鈥�

In addition to wildlife expeditions, the students learned about the cultural history of chocolate through a walk in a cacao plot and experienced the chocolate-making process firsthand 鈥� including sampling the chocolate that was traditionally prepared right there.

With flocks of aviary species in the area, the students visited a toucan rescue ranch and learned about wildlife rehabilitation up close. Additionally, at the Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve, they learned about the conservation efforts for the great green macaw and got to see the wild birds fly home for the evening.

For anthrozoology instructor and trip organizer Bryan Cushing, the week proved extraordinary.

鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to teach students in the classroom the theories of environmental conservation, but for them to have the hands-on experience takes their learning to another level,鈥� Cushing said.

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By Richard Burnett

More than five years since its work in the United Arab Emirates began, 海角社区 has opened a new chapter in its partnership with that country鈥檚 leading advocacy group for students with learning differences, President Dr. George Hagerty said recently.

From collaborative training workshops and college transition programs to streaming lectures, 海角社区 has reached hundreds of UAE students, parents and educators though its 2017 alliance with the Sharjah Center for Learning Difficulties (SCLD) 鈥� an agency based in UAE鈥檚 3rd-largest emirate. 海角社区 is the first U.S. college accredited to award bachelor鈥檚 degrees primarily to students with learning disabilities, ADHD and other learning issues.

Now the 海角社区-SCLD team is expected to expand that work to the Sharjah Education Academy, which provides academic and professional training to educators from across the UAE and abroad. It was established in July 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah and member of the UAE鈥檚 Supreme Council.

President Hagerty and Dr. Oksana Hagerty were invited to meet with academy leaders in November while attending the SCLD鈥檚 third annual conference on education for students with learning differences. In a two-hour session, they discussed the potential for meaningful collaboration in training educators and parents in meeting the unique needs of the learning-challenged.

This latest joint effort highlights 海角社区鈥檚 expertise on the international stage and Sharjah鈥檚 role as an educational leader in the UAE and beyond, President Hagerty said.

鈥淭here is no more striking example than the 海角社区-SCLD partnership of how shared knowledge and expertise can advance two committed organizations,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hough we鈥檙e set in two different cultural landscapes and 8,000 miles apart, the reputations of both have grown substantially. Both have been transformed because we understand service organizations are at their best when they find partners with whom to share effective practices.鈥�

At the crossroads of the world

The partnership has flourished in recent years, despite the pandemic, which 鈥� like much of education during the lockdown 鈥� redirected 海角社区鈥檚 workshops and lectures to the computer screen. Attending the November conference in Sharjah was seen as an important signal of 海角社区鈥檚 full commitment to the work there.

鈥淚n a sense, it was our post-Covid return to the partnership,鈥� President Hagerty said. 鈥淲e had done a lot of things virtually and they worked well. But it was important for us to be back there to show them up front that this partnership was really important 鈥� a top priority for 海角社区 and for the Sharjah center.鈥�

The Sharjah center also wanted to make a statement about how important the conference was: It featured opening remarks by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Qasimi, the deputy ruler of Sharjah and president of Sharjah University. Experts and other professionals also attended from around the world, including the U.S., Finland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, for research presentations, panel discussions and workshops.

Dr. Oksana Hagerty, dean of 海角社区鈥檚 Center for Student Success, offered a presentation about best practices in handling the transition to college for students with ADHD and learning differences. She was impressed with the feedback she received from the diverse, global audience, which 海角社区鈥檚 UAE partners always attract to these events.

鈥淪harjah and the UAE are like a crossroads of the world. They always bring people together,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 met people from Finland, from Saudi Arabia, from Bahrain. As diverse as we are, we all talked about the same issues, have the same struggles and goals for education in this area of learning differences. It鈥檚 so powerful because you hear from educators all over the world.鈥�

Everything started with a visit

At the center of UAE鈥檚 education movement is Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, a member of Sharjah鈥檚 royal family and vice president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. As chair of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services for the past 40 years, she鈥檚 been at the forefront of establishing international best practices for helping children with physical and cognitive disabilities.

American-educated, she has traveled the world, visiting schools and organizations, to inform her ideas for helping and educating people with learning disabilities:

鈥淲ords cannot describe how rewarding it is when you can see even the smallest progress in a child, a word they can say or a movement they can make,鈥� she told her alma mater, California State University 鈥� Chico, when it awarded her an honorary doctorate. 鈥淭he people and the parents, they made me who I am.鈥� This humility was evidenced as well when this global leader was awarded an honorary doctorate by 海角社区 at the College鈥檚 2019 Commencement.

In 2016, Sheikha Jameela arrived on 海角社区鈥檚 campus on a tour of U.S. educational institutions for her research. 鈥淓verything we鈥檙e doing now started with that visit,鈥� President Hagerty said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 an incredible humanitarian and selfless advocate for people with disabilities. She is an inspiration!鈥�

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By Richard Burnett

Shock and awe awaited a triad of 海角社区 faculty members this summer as they encountered some of the most infamous places in history on an educational trip to Europe.

Dr. Michele Szydlowski, assistant professor of anthrozoology, and Michael Fallon, instructor/coordinator of business and technology, visited Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps in Poland. Vilma Ramirez, a business and technology instructor, visited the Jewish ghettos, Holocaust museums, and other historic sites of Italy.

They comprised 海角社区鈥檚 鈥淐lass of 2022鈥� for , a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit program, which selects a group of educators and students from southwest Pennsylvania for travel abroad to learn about the history of the Jewish Holocaust.

海角社区鈥檚 connection to the yearly program came through Debbie Resnick, a 海角社区 trustee, career educator, and Classrooms Without Borders board member, who championed the idea of expanding the program to include 海角社区 faculty.

In this Q&A, Szydlowski, Fallon and Ramirez shared some of their experiences:

Q: What attracted your interest in this summer鈥檚 Classrooms Without Borders trip?

Szydlowski: I travel a lot for the research I do as an anthrozoologist. As part of that, I study what is called social othering 鈥� how human beings set up 鈥渦s-them鈥� structures to separate themselves from others in different cultures. The Holocaust and the events that led up to it are a brutal example of that 鈥� how the Nazi used propaganda to target the Jews as an [inferior] 鈥渢hem.鈥� In that context, I went on this trip to get more insight about this terrible episode in human history.

Fallon: I think we all wanted to better understand the Holocaust, the how and why it happened. By going there, it immerses you in the stories, landmarks, museums and people who experienced it. We had a Holocaust survivor with us during most of the trip. Howard Chandler was 12 years old when it happened, and he was invaluable to us. As a child, he survived Auschwitz. It was amazing to hear him talk about it. In preparation for the trip, I had studied Jewish culture, watched movies and read books about the Holocaust. But it just doesn鈥檛 come to life until you are there.

Ramirez: I had visited Italy 10 years ago and of course I fell in love with it then. So when the opportunity came to apply for the Classrooms Without Borders trip, there were two options and I chose Italy. I love the culture behind it, the history of it, and what Classrooms Without Borders does with their program in terms of bringing history to real life. That was especially meaningful in terms of learning more about the Jewish people and the Holocaust. It鈥檚 one thing, you know, to read about it in a textbook, but another thing to actually see it and walk through it.听

Q: What surprised you the most during your journey?

Szydlowski: Our trip started in Warsaw, where our guides talked about the history that preceded World War II, the setup of the Warsaw ghetto where Jews were interned and many were killed or deported to the concentration camps. The most shocking thing to me today about Warsaw is what a beautiful place it was. The people were so nice and helpful. It鈥檚 like the Holocaust is sort of hidden now; it鈥檚 not in your face. The memorial walls are difficult to find. The monuments are not labeled. You almost get a feeling like they鈥檝e moved on 鈥� which is understandable if you actually lived in places where such horrible things happened so long ago.

Fallon: We spent a lot of time in Warsaw, Krakow and other cities, where they explained what led up to the Holocaust. We saw how more than three million Jews in Poland were killed, where they were killed and how the Nazis did it. It was just stunning to hear how Jews were taken prisoner and their communities were destroyed piece by piece. People always wonder how this could happen. But when you hear actual survivors talk about it, they know how it happened.

Ramirez: The most surprising thing was how our tours in Italy gave me such a better understanding of Jewish people, their culture and history. I grew up in New York City, and where I lived in Crown Heights in Brooklyn, there was a big Jewish population. Though we lived basically side by side, we had no clue or knowledge of one another. We lived together, but in isolation. On this trip, we learned so much about the Jewish people, what happened in the Holocaust, how they were segregated, persecuted, uprooted from their homes and killed. It was a real eye-opener for me. We had phenomenal tour guides, including a group of scholars, some of whom were Jewish, who were amazing and always open to sharing their knowledge with us.

Q: What impact will this trip have on you personally and professionally?

Szydlowski: On a personal level, the biggest takeaway is to be aware that some of the same sorts of things are happening today that led to the Nazis rise to power. We鈥檙e seeing the same mistreatment of certain people, political minorities and ethnic groups. Unfortunately, instead of fighting it, there鈥檚 too often a social acceptance that it鈥檚 okay to do these things. But we have to be vigilant not to let that happen. In my courses, I teach students about the dangers of setting up us-them barriers based on the concept that one group is somehow superior to another. The takeaways from our trip can help drive that point home.

Fallon: I鈥檓 so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program. In terms of my personal knowledge, this was a life-changing event. From the survivor stories to the overgrown cemeteries and gas chambers, the trip was unforgettable. It鈥檚 given me some great ideas about how I can integrate what I learned into courses to show how business changed across Europe because of the Holocaust. It鈥檚 an interesting approach that can really raise our students鈥� awareness about the impact of anti-Semitism on the business world.

Ramirez: It was so enlightening to me to really understand the atrocities the Jewish people had to endure, what they went through and the treatment they received. As I said, it鈥檚 one thing to read about it in a textbook, but this was a learning experience that I can take going forward and share with my students, colleagues and friends. I鈥檓 working on ways to tie that knowledge into my classes in business and technology. On a personal level, I think it gave me a greater appreciation for life itself. I know that we often hear that the times we鈥檙e living in are so difficult, but when we reflect back to another period in history [like the Holocaust], we realize how fortunate we really are and how we can learn from that.

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By Richard Burnett

As hundreds of travelers before them, a flock of 海角社区 students set out on a journey this summer in search of knowledge and fun in another part of the world through travel abroad. Their destination: Australia.

Nearly 30 students, one alum, two parents, and one sibling joined the June trip, part of the college鈥檚 Travel Abroad Program led by Provost Shelly Chandler. More than 600 students, alums, family members, and faculty have participated since it began 20-plus years ago.

By visiting remote lands, towns and cities, travelers of all ages have energized their minds through Travel Abroad 鈥� the most recent group venturing across more than 9,300 miles from Central Florida to the scenic coast of Australia and the legendary outback country.

Learning happens organically on such trips; there are no formal classes, noted Chandler, a veteran of most of the Travel Abroad trips.

鈥淭he idea is to just have them take in the culture, experience it and understand it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat gives the students an opportunity to think critically about the language, customs and practices of another country. The experience broadens their horizons.鈥�

鈥楲oving every moment鈥�

After an 18-hour flight across the Pacific, the group鈥檚 adventure began in Sydney 鈥� Australia鈥檚 largest, best-known city and site of the 2000 Olympics. They walked the arched Harbour Bridge, visited the famous , toured the , and dined at the city鈥檚 downtown restaurant and entertainment district.

Several days later, the group took a flight to the Australian outback 鈥� a land of rugged desert landscapes, diverse wildlife, exotic flora and ancient rock formations. The most famous of those formations is the Ayers Rock, or Uluru, a massive natural landmark of sandstone surrounded by springs, caves, and ancient paintings. The group stayed in rustic cabins, dined outside, and bundled up for 40-degree nights in the heater-less cabins.

Still, the outback experience was nothing less than enchanting for Helen Chinn, a 海角社区 sophomore this fall. She hiked around the Uluru, rode a camel, hugged a koala bear, pet a kangaroo and learned about wallaroos, 鈥渃ousin鈥� to the kangaroo.

鈥淚 loved every moment of it,鈥� said Chinn, a business management major from Westfield, N.J. 鈥淚t was a great way to spend a vacation, learning about people in different cultures, what they eat, how they live, their beliefs, how they think, speak 鈥� and their history. The people were so nice. I loved talking to them and learning from them.鈥�

Seeing the world in travel abroad

The last stage of their journey took the group more than 1,200 miles north from Sydney to Brisbane, the country鈥檚 capital, high-tech mecca and international seaport. Often known as 鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 Miami鈥� because of its gorgeous beaches, Brisbane also provided the group some rich sightseeing of parks, gardens and a wildlife sanctuary.

Overall, the Australia trip was especially meaningful for 海角社区 students, since it was the first one since the pandemic shutdown of 2020, Chandler said. It required much more engagement this time, involving mask-wearing, daily Covid-19 testing, health monitoring and following other Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. 鈥淭here was a lot more paperwork,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was well worth it.鈥�

Many of the students are already interested in the 2023 Travel Abroad program 鈥� a scheduled trip to England, Chandler said.

鈥淭hey loved Australia and want to go to England next year,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey love having such camaraderie, meeting friends and seeing the world.鈥�

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Christian Lucas enjoys his time in Italy.

By Richard Burnett

Christian Lucas recently tried a new Italian restaurant in the Orlando area, where he now lives and works. Amid great food and a lively atmosphere, he soon felt like he was back in Italy itself, on 海角社区鈥檚 2018 semester travel abroad in Tuscany.

鈥淥ne of the women at the Orlando restaurant was originally from Italy and we had a great conversation,鈥� said Lucas, a nonprofit business manager who graduated in 2021 with a bachelor鈥檚 in business management. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really neat that I can still connect with people like that by speaking basic Italian that I learned for the trip.鈥�

For Lucas and other 海角社区 in Tuscany alumni, the experience gave them indelible memories that have enriched their lives, both personally and professionally. More than 100 took the study-abroad trip from 2017 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic put the program on hold.

This year, the Tuscany adventure, believed to be the only semester-long study abroad program for neurodivergent students, is back on the manifest. Nearly two dozen students have been selected for the September to December semester at the University of Florence鈥檚 campus in Prato, a town about 40 miles from Florence. Leading the study will be Dr. Andrea Brode, 海角社区鈥檚 coordinator of international programs, and Michael S. Fallon, coordinator of the Business & Technology Department.

As the departure date approaches, 海角社区 is taking every precaution and preparing to implement any pandemic-related restrictions necessary for foreign travel, according to 海角社区 President, Dr. George Hagerty. The school鈥檚 own best practices for protecting students and faculty have been effective during the pandemic, he said.

鈥淥ur study abroad program has proven to be a life-transforming experience for participants prior to the era of COVID,鈥� Hagerty said. 鈥淲e are confident that the informed safeguards the college will be implementing for both our students on campus and overseas will allow 海角社区鈥檚 collegians to pursue the best of undergraduate preparation while maintaining a priority on health and wellness.鈥�

The making of a Maserati

Academically, what awaits the students this year is a focus on the business world 鈥� with classes like Luxury Marketing in Italy, International Business and Management, and Global Franchising. There鈥檚 also the always-popular Travels in Tuscany class 鈥� taught by Dr. Brode 鈥� which showcases the visually enchanting land of Prato with its rolling hills, mountain peaks, palaces, castles and cathedrals, along with visits to Florence and other historic cities.

For Brode, who will make her fourth 海角社区 in Tuscany trip this fall, the travel class represents the heart and soul of the Tuscany experience for students.

鈥淭hey learn an independence they have never known before, navigating an unfamiliar place where English is not the primary language and learning how to communicate with the local population,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about observing your world as you walk through it, something that I hope really resonates with them. It can make the experience absolutely transformative for everyone who does it.鈥�

Getting the chance to teach in such a setting is a dream opportunity, Fallon said. It has given him an adrenaline rush as he prepares his lesson plans and comes up with different field trip ideas. As an example, for the luxury branding course, Fallon hopes to arrange a tour of a Maserati factory, maker of uber-luxury vehicles some of which can cost more than $400,000.

鈥淚t would be a blast to tour that place,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 find a better place to teach luxury marketing than a Maserati factory. We鈥檙e also researching other companies to visit that would bring these concepts to life and give these students experiences they couldn鈥檛 get anywhere else in the world.鈥�

As a veteran world traveler, Fallon brings a certain flair to the Tuscany curriculum, going 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥� the conventional classroom experience, said Provost Dr. Shelly Chandler.

鈥淲e really want to show the students a new view of the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檝e gotten great reaction from the students and their parents. The families tell us the experience visibly changed their children. They鈥檙e friendlier, more confident, more open to learn. We believe when they interact with people in different cultures, it gives them a better understanding of human nature and other people.鈥�

Learning outside the classroom

Unlike most of the students on the 2018 trip, Isabella Chavez had already done some international travel, including prior trips to Italy and other parts of Europe. Still, the three-month 海角社区 in Tuscany experience was like nothing she had encountered before.

鈥淎s I got to know the people we met in Italy, I began to realize how similar they were to people in my own culture,鈥� said Chavez, a before-and-after-school program manager who graduated in 2021 with a bachelor鈥檚 in psychology. 鈥淎nd as they got to know us, at the hotel or the restaurants, they really cared about us. They were like family members. It gave us the opportunity to grow and mature and live on our own, without the comfort of being on campus.鈥�

The experience of navigating a foreign city, meeting people on your own or figuring out directions to a restaurant or theater can be life changing for 海角社区 students, said Russ Bellamy, head of 海角社区鈥檚 Studio Arts Department, who led the first 海角社区 in Tuscany trip in 2017.

鈥淭his can be such a confidence builder for them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he idea that they have accomplished something in a totally unfamiliar foreign city opens up the possibilities of what they feel they can do here at home. If they can figure out a train system in Italy, for example, then they feel confident they can take a trip to somewhere like Montana too.鈥�

鈥楾his will be with them forever鈥�

As he prepares for the upcoming 海角社区 trip, Fallon reflected on his own college study abroad in Paris:

鈥淭hose experiences have guided my path in many ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t lighted a fire in me for the love of travel. In the same way, this trip to Italy will become a part of our students鈥� lives. This will be with them forever. They鈥檒l remember who was with them, what they did, what they learned. Facebook memories will pop up with photos on the anniversaries. They鈥檒l never forget it.鈥�

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