10 am presentations

by Belinda Walzer and Jessica Martell

In fall 2022, Dr. Jessica Martell and Dr. Belinda Walzer led 8 students on a study abroad program to Northern Ireland titled “Borders, Walls, and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland.” This presentation will detail the ways in which our study abroad experience resisted participating in “dark” or “disaster tourism” that perpetuates a problematic structures of rights too often prevalent in experiential learning abroad in conflict and post-conflict regions. We demonstrate instead the ways in which our program facilitated a self-reflective experience for the students that encouraged them to approach their study abroad experience ethically in this (post)conflict region. We argue that there are three main ways that our study abroad program resisted dark tourism: First is offering a deep, localized, and contextual understanding of the region’s conflict and its history through a structural lens. Second is facilitating the self-reflexivity of students’ positionality through meditations and reflections. The third way is using a critical lens toward the narratives being offered in any given tour, museum, monument, or public space. 

by Kalin Bradley, Leonardo Negrete-Perez, Grace Knapp, Anya Pennisi, Mia Bocko

The purpose of this session is to highlight the experiences of returned Appalachian study abroad students through a presentation and then a panel discussion. The student presenters studied abroad in Thailand, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK. They will discuss the following:

- Study abroad location

- Highlights of the study abroad experience

- How each panelist dealt with cultural differences

- What the value of the experience was for each panelist

- Obstacles the panelists overcame to go abroad

by Chien-Hung (Charlie) Chen

In the age of rapid technological advancement, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has opened up exciting possibilities for innovative pedagogical approaches. This discussion aims to showcase the transformative potential of AI-empowered experiential learning opportunities, specifically in the context of understanding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) challenges and opportunities during study abroad programs in Spain and Japan. By leveraging the power of AI in experiential learning, we can transcend traditional teaching methods and create transformative study abroad experiences that cultivate students' empathy, adaptability, and understanding of the interconnected global challenges we face today. Join us at the Global Symposium to explore the potential of AI-empowered experiential learning and its impact on sustainable development education. 

by Peter Thompson and Jillian Foster

The evolution of terrorist organizations in Africa has become more transnational in recent years. Their reach and influence, which have destabilizing effects on governments and the people in the continent, are becoming less restricted by national borders.  Violent attacks and arbitrary reprisals by state security agencies create significant distrust, which encourages safe-havens. This presentation aims to shed new light on some of the limitations and sociopolitical consequences of the West’s war on terror in border communities in Africa by discussing the results of a study conducted among residents of the climate-affected Lake Chad basin (a terrorist haven), which asks the questions: What factors influence trust in multinational responses to terrorism? What is the role of propaganda in successfully encouraging or degrading that trust? 

by Kendra Souza and Benjamin Souza

The purpose of this presentation is to promote awareness among the student population about the Appalachian State University Loft, in New York City. The Loft is a fantastic global resource for students, particularly those who may have financial or other constraints that might make it difficult for them to study internationally. While staying at the loft, students will have easy access to international cuisine, language, theater, art, and many other expressions of culture. This presentation will introduce and explore the types of global experiences that readily await students who wish to take advantage of this rich resource. 

by Megan Kasper and Maddie Vargas

This presentation will provide an overview of the Global Leadership Exchange partnership and the implementation of a GLE immersion experience hosted at App State. The Global Leadership Exchange is a partnership program between App State and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa. Staff members at each institution facilitate the exploration of socially responsible leadership within the context of interconnected social issues affecting one’s communities and campuses in Boone and Johannesburg. Through the coordination of an immersion experience, students and staff met with community and campus leaders, engaged with nonprofits, and were engaged in interactive leadership learning environments with peers.