The Study Abroad program hosted the Study Abroad Launch event in the EndZone on Sept. 28.

The launch was an information session for all of the upcoming study abroad trips and potential locations for future trips. Presentations were given by various representatives of each trip.

“We aim to expose students to the other cultures so they can witness first-hand the beauty of another culture and the beauty of what is different,” junior and Student Coordinator for the Office of Study Abroad Sarah Newman said. “In these locations students typically study the things that are specific to the country they are immersing themselves in like art, architecture, history and language.”

This year Iona is offering 10 study abroad trips: Athens, Greece; Dublin; Amsterdam; Paris; London; Oxford, England; Oswiecim, Poland; Rome and Barcelona, Spain. A trip to the Netherlands is still in the process of being approved.

Presentations started with Dr. Elena Procario-Foley, associate professor for Religious Studies. Procario-Foley presented on her upcoming Spring Break trip to Poland for her course, “Memory and Reconciliation: The Churches and the Holocaust.” Students will be studying for a week at Auschwitz, while maintaining residence in Oswiecim, Poland. This course can be used as a 200-level core, elective or a major credit.

The next presentation was by Professor Donnarumma of the Fine and Performing Arts department. His trip to Athens, Greece this coming January has received quit the buzz. The nine-day excursion around Greece will give students the ability to study and experience the basics of Greek theatre. This course will be offered as a Special Topics course, according to the presentation.

Students will also have the opportunity to study at Oxford University during May and June. The students will study arts, sciences and business with an Oxford tutor.

“We aim to give students a global perceptive by experiencing another culture first-hand,” Newman said. “We also encourage students to get out of their comfort zone and really experience what that particular country has to offer and make connections with the people who live in that particular country.”

Students will also have the opportunity to take one of two upper level English courses, New Worlds or The Victorian Age, which will include a trip to London, England over Spring Break. Dr. Ivy Stabell and Dr. Anna Clark are scheduled to teach the courses.

The semester-long Passport Europe trip lets students study in three major European cities: Dublin, Paris and Barcelona.

Rachel Landock, a senior who participated in the Passport Europe experience, said it was incredible and the best time of her life.

All the speakers discussed the details of the trip, including boarding, cost, courses and space availability.

After the presentations we complete, Director of Academic Civic & Global Engagement Dr. Tommy Van Cleave did a raffle and handed out prizes to winners, presenting one winner with a large travel pillow.

The Study Abroad office is located in Driscoll Hall. You can contact the office at [email protected].