More than 100 Samford University students took their education overseas during January.
But while students like Angie Hataway thought the experience would “be big and scary,” she quickly found herself bonding with the people she met.
“It was definitely different from what I thought it was going to be,” Hataway said.
A junior majoring in human development, Hataway works at First Baptist Church, Helena, as the children’s minister.
While in London, Hataway took a class in “Gender and Multicultural Perspectives.” She was one of about 110 graduates and under-graduates enrolled in classes at Samford’s London Study Centre.
She described England as “culturally aware.”
Felicia Mason, a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in business administration, said the “Seminar of British Economic Development” gave her first-hand business experience. The class toured several private and public business, including the Bank of England and a Range Rover plant.
Building bridges
Joseph O. Dean Jr., dean of McWhorter School of Pharmacy, taught the “Pharmacy and Healthcare and Great Britain” class.
Dean said he has spent the last nine years building longstanding relationships in England. The friendships have helped to build agreements with hospitals and develop clinical clerkships. Faculty from both countries also work on projects together.
Lowell Vann, who has taught 17 straight years during January, spent two “intense” weeks teaching “Appreciation with a British Accent,” which allowed the students to tour museums and attend plays.
“It’s a tremendous thing for (the students) to see,” Vann said. “I think they see the world from a different perspective.”
The director of the London program, Marlene Rikard, said she goes every January. Samford offers two two-week sessions involving 13 classes.
Being in London “forces you to look at things with different eyes and see different roles,” she said.
According to an annual study, the Institute of International Education, Samford ranks 18th nationally among masters degree institutions in the number of students studying abroad.
Besides England, about 30 other student chose to live in Costa Rica for 21 days, and six spent the month in Germany.
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