By Sara Hinds
North Dakota, Norway and New Orleans. There’s only a handful of people who could tell you the connection between the three locations. And no, it’s not that they all start with ‘N.’
A group of Doane sociology students and faculty visited each of these three locations in the 2023-24 school year to elevate their research into the prison system.
Faculty-led trips like these are just one example of study abroad opportunities students have at Doane. The Norway trip was unique in that it was entirely funded by the Ardis Butler James Grant. Students took a corresponding corrections course taught by Nathan Erickson, then-associate professor of sociology at Doane.
Other departments, like Spanish, English and theatre, plan faculty-led trips. These usually take place over summer or fall breaks, and last less than two weeks. Short summer experiences are becoming more popular, says Andy Johnson Wysocki, assistant professor and director of the honors program. They’re more accessible for students who are busy during the school year with sports, student teaching, etc.
Aside from faculty-led trips, students can embark on solo trips. These are usually part of an international program where students take classes abroad.
Not only is studying abroad a strong recruitment and retention tool, Wysocki sees the positive impact it has on her students. In fact, studying abroad (not on a faculty-led trip) is a requirement for her honors students, as well as all Spanish majors. For the former, cross-cultural engagement is a core value of the program. For the latter, what better way to improve a language than immersion into that culture?
For other students, studying abroad is a transformative experience. One you can’t replicate in a classroom with lectures and books. It’s experiential learning to the nth degree.
“It just really enhances what Doane does best,” Erickson said.
Stamping the passport, padding the resume
Tim Burge, director of international programs at Doane, helps students dot i’s, cross t’s and take care of every letter in between before they travel abroad. This involves all the required paperwork to enter another country, enroll in another institution and transfer credit hours.
“When it comes to marketing their study abroad experience, like on a resume or in an interview or something like that, by the time you are done, you've basically taken a master class in organization,” Burge said.
Add “develop critical thinking skills and a sense of empowerment” to the list, Johnson said.
While students are navigating (literally!) unfamiliar places and situations, they’re actually strengthening their adaptability and problem-solving skills.
Making global connections
Over the summer, Wysocki and her husband traveled to Scandinavia where they grabbed dinner with a German colleague she studied abroad with in 2008 and his family.
“You get to meet people from all over the world and really get to know people who are different than you and have different cultures than you,” Johnson said. “And I just think that multicultural focus is always good for both humanity and for being able to work with people who are different than you.”
Gaining perspective
When you think — and travel — outside the box, you realize just how small that box is. Learning about what surrounds them positively impacts students as they learn to challenge the world they grew up in.
“I would compare it to a fish understanding what water is,” Burge said of studying abroad. “You understand more of what you know. You get a sense for place. You get a sense for where you are and appreciating what makes Nebraska or the United States unique as a place in the world. You certainly learn a lot about other places. But I think some of that self discovery is probably one of the biggest transformative things.”
Providing support to students
Doane provides a $1,000 study abroad scholarship to students with 60 credits hours who are in good academic standing.
“That's also something that I think really sets us apart as an institution,” Burge said of the scholarship. “I am not aware of anybody else that's doing that.”
Students can use the money for faculty-led trips or solo trips and put it toward academic expenses, tuition fees, airfare, meal plans, etc. The honors program secured additional money from the Board of Trustees for study abroad scholarships specifically for honors students. Eight honors students studied abroad in the 2023-24 school year and summer — 21 honors students intend to study abroad in the 2024-25 school year.
“It's hard to measure that [self confidence], but I can see the difference when students come back and have that experience, because it's a big challenge to go abroad and do that.”
Students share their study abroad stories
Anabelle Daugherty ’24
Destination: Greece
“I feel much more independent and capable all around. I had to figure out a lot of things on my own while in Greece, so I really developed my independence and adaptability. I also find myself appreciating the mundane and small moments more. In Greece everything I saw or experienced had significance to me. Since being back I have tried to find the beauty in the small and everyday things that I would often overlook.”
Hailey Trahern, class of 2025
Destination: London, England
"Because of my time in the [honors] program I was able to do a study abroad in London. Now, because of that experience, I have realized how much I loved London (and Europe in general) and am planning on applying to grad school in London to further my education and love of learning in a place that I adore."
John Dawes, class of 2025
Destination: Kyoto, Japan
“It would have been easy to be upset at the food being different or Japanese being a hard language to speak and understand at times. But, instead, I let myself be open to learning and, in doing so, found myself in a much better place. I cared to connect with people and culture and left Japan a little smarter, a little kinder, and a little more receptive.”
Meghan Gallagher, class of 2026
Destination: Dublin, Ireland
"[Studying abroad] broadened my perspective by engaging me in a new culture and challenging me to adapt to different ways of thinking. I learned to navigate unfamiliar environments confidently and gained a deeper appreciation for diversity and global connection."
Megan Chambers, class of 2026
Destination: Paris, France
"Studying abroad would not have been possible for me without the scholarship awarded to me by Doane and Doane Honors. They helped me tremendously and the weight of the financial burden being lifted off my shoulders made this experience more enjoyable, but also more achievable."
