Global Center

Dear Partners, 

It’s that time of year again and we look forward to seeing you on campus soon! As we prepare for this new academic year, we asked our Institutional Engagement team to share what makes them passionate about study abroad. From immersing themselves in vibrant cultures to creating inclusive study abroad opportunities, the team is excited to enhance students’ global experiences and collaborate closely with you, our valued partners. Dive into this blog post to learn which Arcadia program they would choose, and more…

Wendy Lombardo – Senior Associate Director of Institutional Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (based in NY)

Wendy Lombardo is thrilled about Arcadia Abroad’s new options in Norway, especially courses on sustainability and social policy. “I am super excited about our new Norway options and would love to explore a part of the world I have never been to,” she shares. Additionally, Wendy is also intrigued with Arcadia’s Internship Programs available in cities like London, Dublin, Sydney, and Edinburgh. “Having hands-on experience in these vibrant cities sounds like a perfect way to gain cultural insights while advancing your career.” Although she didn’t study abroad in college, her experience visiting Mali after graduation inspired her to work in international education. “It was my first time ever outside of North America, and it shifted my entire perspective of the world.”

With 20 years at Arcadia Abroad, Wendy has been continually inspired by the transformative journeys of students. “What truly sets Arcadia apart is our dedication to combining strong academics with immersive cultural experiences, all while providing personalized support tailored to each student’s needs.” She looks forward to deepening partnerships and highlighting both our new program options and Arcadia’s long standing partners. “To students, be bold in exploring your interests and career goals as you choose a program. To our partners: let’s foster open communication and collaboration to create impactful, enriching, and fun experiences that will help today’s college students evolve into the leaders of tomorrow.”

Grace Lee – Assistant Director of Institutional Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (based in TX)

Grace Lee is enthusiastic about exploring the compact and accessible country of New Zealand at Victoria University of Wellington. “Having the opportunity to see, live, travel, and study there seems like a unique opportunity,” she says. Her experiences learning Arabic in college and immersing herself in the culture of Cairo, Egypt, have fueled her passion for cultural exchanges. “Since so much of the media in the Middle East utilizes the Egyptian dialect, I wanted to learn it directly from the source!”

As a POC and first-generation student, Grace understands the challenges of studying abroad. “Sometimes we don’t even have the language to communicate the concept of study abroad to our families. I love being able to connect with students and letting them know that study abroad is accessible to them! Arcadia's support, inclusive environment, and thoughtful excursions are next-level and really help students ease into being abroad.” Grace is dedicated to getting more underrepresented students on their programs, especially those who are military-affiliated or adult learners.

Alyssa Johnson – Assistant Director of Institutional Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (based in NC)

Alyssa Johnson’s choice for a study abroad program is a semester at the University of Melbourne. “They offer so many interesting classes for study abroad students, the city is culturally vibrant and a foodie’s paradise, and there would be no shortage of natural beauty to explore,” she says. Alyssa’s past experiences include a short summer faculty-led program in Costa Rica and a semester exchange in Germany. “We traveled to different locations around Costa Rica and engaged with the culture through visits with local community organizations, a homestay weekend, and interactive excursions. In Germany, I took upper-level courses toward my degree and balanced school, new friends, and exploring through travel to have one of the most life-changing semesters I could have imagined.”

Her advice for students is to “find something that stretches you! Do your research to choose a program that will let you be immersed in a new culture and meet new people.” Alyssa is excited about the expanding opportunities for STEM summer research and sharing the updated project list for next year. “My advice would be to let us help you in collaborative ways! We have so many resources to make every student’s study abroad journey a success.”

Jenny Dickey – Assistant Director of Institutional Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (based in MO)

Jenny Dickey’s current Arcadia program choice would be studying Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast or immersing herself in the vibrant neighborhood of East London at Queen Mary. She admits it is hard to choose so “If you see me on campus this fall, be sure to ask again!” Jenny’s study abroad experience took her to Regensburg, Germany. “I wasn’t planning to study abroad, so you could say Regensburg chose me. The stars aligned, and I found myself abroad during my last semester of undergrad. Regensburg is still one of my favorite places on earth.”

Jenny finds joy in helping students turn their goals and dreams into real-life adventures and accomplishments. “Study abroad can be genuinely life-changing, and I am continuously inspired by students who step out of their comfort zones and into new cultures and challenges.” Her advice for choosing a study abroad program is to “think holistically. Look beyond location and aim for programs that best align with your goals—whether that’s interning abroad, furthering your language skills, or simply pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, there’s a program that’s a perfect fit for you.” Jenny is always excited to talk about Arcadia’s research programs and the combination of research, cultural immersion, and professional development.

Lily Andrules – Assistant Director of Institutional Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (based in IL)

Lily Andrules is personally and professionally invested in DEIJ and its intersectionality across disciplines. Lily chose Decolonizing the Mind in Southern Africa as her program choice. “Africa is a continent I have never been to and it's top of my list! Granada is another place I haven’t yet traveled to, and I am fascinated by the religious history of southern Spain and, of course, the Alhambra.” Lily studied abroad in London, where the program offered courses in her major and a guaranteed internship. “As someone who had no background or experience on how to source internships, getting a guaranteed placement in my field was a huge plus for me and opened doors to other internships when I returned.”

Lily believes that newer generations of American college students are increasingly engaged on an international scope each year. “Between TikTok, the Olympics, and international TV shows, there are more ways than ever for all Americans to learn about a culture outside of their own. Our job is to allow them to experience, study, and live it firsthand themselves!”

Leslie Granese – Director of Institutional Engagement (based in MA)

Leslie Granese is intrigued by the idea of spending 100 days exploring communities along the Mississippi River through the River Semester. “I’d love to experience life on the river and how it shapes and connects the communities on its banks,” she explains. Reflecting on her own journey, Leslie shared, “In high school, I spent a summer in Nice, France, living in a homestay and improving my French.” It was scary and amazing. “I was a transfer student in college and didn’t think I had time to study abroad. I regret not studying abroad. Looking back, I would have loved the chance to do a semester in the Himalayas.”

Looking forward, Leslie is excited to work closely with Arcadia’s partners, helping them find programs tailored to their students’ needs and addressing their institutional challenges.