What inspired you to work for your organization?
As a child, I lined up stuffed animals as “students,” tore pages from National Geographic, and taught imaginary lessons about the world beyond our small, rural, West Tennessee town. That curiosity never left me.
At Bethel, I found a place where education is about more than academics; it’s about forming the whole person: mind, heart, and spirit. Global Studies allows me to live that mission daily by helping students see themselves and their purpose within a larger, interconnected world.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day at Bethel is a blend of teaching and travel preparation.
Fall Break 2024, Bethel University students journeyed to Guatemala, exploring ancient Maya sites, vibrant markets, and volcanic landscapes while partnering with Konojel, a local nonprofit, in support of women and children.
I start my mornings in the classroom teaching sociology before shifting gears to Global Studies. Most of my day (and often my weekends) is filled with program logistics, communicating with our in-country partners, and encouraging students to submit passports, paperwork, and reflections. I also teach Global Studies courses online to prepare students—both high school dual-enrollment and college students—for their upcoming experiences abroad.
My work takes me across West Tennessee, visiting schools, hosting info sessions, and speaking to civic groups about global education. Whether I’m answering emails, leading Zoom meetings, or meeting with students face-to-face, every interaction builds relationships that help transform curiosity into courage and classrooms into the world.
Why do you do what you do?
For students from rural, Title I, and first-generation backgrounds, global education can be truly life-changing. Many of them have never traveled beyond their home state, yet they carry immense potential and curiosity about the world.
When they step into another culture, they serve, listen, and learn, and begin to see themselves differently. Barriers fall. Confidence grows. They realize their voices and ideas belong in global conversations.
These experiences don’t just change how students see the world—they change how they see their place in it. And that shift can alter the trajectory of their lives and communities for generations.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love the places Bethel Global Studies takes me, but even more than that, I love the people.
I’ve led nearly 800 travelers around the world, and it’s their stories—and the people we meet along the way—that make this the best job in the world. Watching a student board their first plane, see the ocean for the first time, or gain confidence speaking a new language is pure joy.
What makes it even more meaningful is knowing I get to help create these moments for students from rural, Title I, and first-generation backgrounds who might never have had this opportunity otherwise. I love that it's my job to make their travel dreams come true!
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My background in social work and sociology helps me approach global education through the lens of empathy, equity, and community engagement.
I design programs that go beyond sightseeing—each experience encourages students to connect with local people, understand social systems, and reflect on their own values. Having traveled to 56 countries, I draw on those experiences to prepare students for cultural humility, adaptability, and curiosity.
My goal is to help them see global learning not as tourism, but as a way of understanding humanity and their responsibility within it.
With generous support from the Rotary Club of Union City and the Kirkland Foundation, Obion County High School students traveled to Europe with Bethel University Global Studies, discovering new cultures, languages, and perspectives while proving that small-town students can make a big world their classroom.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
The biggest challenges we face are fear and finances. Most of our students have never left the country, or even flown before, so the idea of international travel can feel overwhelming. Others worry about how they’ll afford it.
We work hard to break down both barriers by building trust, walking with students through every step of the process, and offering scholarships and creative payment plans. Once they take that leap, the fear fades, and the experience becomes something they carry for life.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Right now, I’m deep in planning a diverse lineup of upcoming programs that reflect the heart of Bethel University Global Studies: connecting students to the world in meaningful, hands-on ways.
In the year ahead, we’ll journey to West Africa, Ireland and Scotland, Greece, Japan, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Each destination is chosen with intention: to help students experience history, faith, culture, and community from perspectives they could never gain from a textbook.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I’d go back and tell my younger self to slow down, soak it all in, and trust that I’d get to see it all eventually. Early on, I treated every trip like it might be my last chance to be there.
Now I know the world has a way of calling us back to the places and people we’re meant to know. I often reflect on this quote from The Alchemist, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
What makes your organization special?
What makes Bethel University Global Studies special is who we serve and how we serve them.
We were among the first universities, possibly the very first, to offer college credit for study abroad to high school students. Our programs primarily reach students from rural, Title I schools and first-generation college backgrounds in the South—populations statistically least likely to travel abroad. We design experiences that make the world accessible to those who might never have imagined it possible.
Historically, our programs have focused on Central and South America, where students explore language, culture, and community through service-learning and cross-cultural exchange. It’s transformative education rooted in access, purpose, and connection.
Fall Break 2025, high school students from Bethel University Dual Enrollment traveled to the Yucatan, where they explored Maya history, learned traditional cooking, swam in cenotes, and discovered how cultural exchange turns the world into their classroom.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
Students should choose Bethel University Global Studies because we make global education personal, purposeful, and possible. We don’t just send students abroad, we walk with them every step of the way.
Our programs are intentionally small, relationship-driven, and accessible to students who are often overlooked in traditional study abroad models. We serve rural, Title I, and first-generation learners, offering scholarships, academic credit, and hands-on mentorship to ensure everyone can participate.
Every journey blends cultural immersion, community service, and reflection, transforming travel into a powerful tool for growth and connection. At Bethel, the world isn’t just a destination; it’s our classroom.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
My dream is to one day offer full scholarships for every student who wants to study abroad. Removing financial barriers would open doors for those who’ve never imagined global travel— transforming lives and creating ripple effects as students return home inspired to serve, lead, and uplift their communities.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
Bethel University Global Studies is easy to market because our story sells itself. We offer meaningful, affordable, and accessible programs that truly change lives. Students earn college credit while traveling the world—often for the first time—and our focus on service-learning sets us apart.
Parents appreciate the safety, structure, and mentorship we provide, while students are drawn to the adventure, purpose, and personal growth. Every program is designed to be transformative, not transactional, and when people hear that, they want to be part of it.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Bethel University’s mission is to offer an accessible education that helps students reach their full potential—intellectually, spiritually, and socially—within a community built on respect and inclusion.
Global Studies brings that mission to life by extending the classroom to the world. Our goal is to cultivate love and respect for people, places, and the planet, because we believe that more passports mean more peace.
When students truly get to know others, compassion and understanding grow, and that’s something the world needs now more than ever.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope students return home with a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. I want them to see that people everywhere share the same hopes and humanity, even if their daily lives look different.
My greatest hope is that travel makes them more curious, compassionate, and courageous—that they carry those lessons into their studies, their careers, and their communities. If they leave with a sense of wonder and a belief that they can make a difference, then we’ve done our job.
How do you help support participants?
We support students every step of the way. From the moment they express interest, we walk with them through applications, passports, paperwork, and preparation, making global education feel accessible, not intimidating.
Our team hosts orientation sessions, online classes, and one-on-one meetings to ensure they’re academically, culturally, and emotionally ready to travel. We also connect students with scholarships, fundraising ideas, and peer mentors.
Once abroad, we stay close—offering guidance, encouragement, and care so they can focus on learning and growing. Our goal is to make sure every student feels seen, supported, and capable of thriving wherever they go.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad helps people see beyond the boundaries of their own experience. It replaces assumptions with understanding and fear with connection. When we experience new cultures firsthand—by listening, learning, and sharing life with others—we realize how much we have in common.
Travel builds empathy, challenges stereotypes, and reminds us that we’re part of something much larger than ourselves. In a world that often feels divided, global experiences foster the compassion and perspective needed to build peace and understanding across cultures.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Stacie Freeman leading Spring Break 2025, where Bethel University students and faculty explored Paris and beyond - visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Versailles, Normandy, and more - immersing themselves in French art, history, and culture.
Learning a new language is one of the most powerful ways to understand another culture. It’s more than vocabulary; it’s perspective. Language opens doors to authentic relationships, deepens empathy, and helps us see the world through someone else’s eyes. Even learning a few key phrases shows respect and builds a connection.
For students, it also builds confidence, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication skills that serve them personally and professionally, opening pathways to new careers, friendships, and opportunities around the world.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
My advice is simple: go. Don’t wait until you feel completely ready; you never will. Say yes to the opportunity, even if it feels a little scary.
Travel has a way of expanding your world and your heart in ways you can’t imagine. Be open, stay curious, and remember that the best moments often come when things don’t go as planned. Every person you meet and every challenge you face will teach you something valuable about yourself and the world. You’ll return home changed, in the best possible way.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel isn’t about how far you go, it’s about how deeply you connect. It’s taking time to listen, to learn, and to leave each place a little better than you found it. It’s travel that transforms, not just entertains, where every encounter, every conversation, and every act of service shapes how we see ourselves and others.
Meaningful travel builds empathy, humility, and gratitude. It reminds us that the world is full of stories worth hearing and that we’re all part of something beautifully interconnected.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
To me, ethical global engagement means approaching every culture, community, and person with humility and respect. It’s about listening before acting, partnering rather than “helping,” and recognizing that we’re guests in someone else’s story.
True global engagement should benefit both travelers and host communities—it’s reciprocal, not extractive. It means being mindful of the impact we leave behind, choosing sustainability over convenience, and valuing relationships over resumes.
Ultimately, ethical engagement asks us to see the world not as something to consume, but as something we’re responsible for caring for.
