Brenau University’s Miller Institute for Global Education increased the number of students participating in international and global learning experiences by nearly 200% during the 2023-24 academic year.
“It was an incredibly successful year at the Miller Institute, as we were able to support 50 Brenau students to pursue global learning experiences domestically and abroad,” Rosi Ponce Sanabria, the institute’s executive director, said. “This effort was made possible through strong collaboration with faculty members and deans, sponsoring short international programs led by faculty from all four colleges to six different countries. We are excited to continue facilitating these impactful academic experiences for our faculty and students in the coming years.”
In May, 10 students visited Rwanda for a service project, along with Margie Gill, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling, and Vice President of Student Development and Engagement Whitney McDowell-Robinson, Ph.D. The Brenau group joined students from Kennesaw State University and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill on the trip.
Gill said students thoroughly researched the Batwa people, one of the oldest surviving indigenous groups in Africa, to better understand and respect their way of life.
“This was a culturally immersive learning experience to prepare our students to live and thrive in an ever-changing society,” Gill said. “Brenau should be really proud of our students. They got in there and were hands-on.”
Also in May, several graduate and undergraduate students visited Loma Bonita, a rural village in Panama, to work with schoolchildren as part of an educational trip that also included a service component. This trip is coordinated in partnership with MEDUCA, Panama’s Ministry of Education.
For the first time, Brenau participated in the Model Arab League competition, which is similar to Model UN, held in South Carolina in April. Led by Heather Hollimon, Ph.D., professor of political science, six students from the Department of Humanities represented Morocco and earned two awards. They learned about the political and economic climate of the country, as well as general foreign policy and debate skills. The intent is to attend a larger conference next spring.
In other recent trips abroad:
- Jessi Shrout, Ph.D., department chair and assistant professor of biology, led 12 students on a return trip to Costa Rica this summer to study biodiversity at the Monteverde Cloud Biological Forest Preserve.
- Five students went to the Autonomous University of Yucatan in Mexico in February, accompanied by faculty; Brenau students have taken annual educational trips to the Yucatan for more than 17 years.
- Ken Frank, Ph.D., professor of political science and legal studies, led a group of students to Lithuania for a conflict resolution competition in November. This competition featured teams of students from all over the world, mainly from graduate programs, and allowed Brenau students to engage in meaningful discussions.
The Miller Institute was founded in 2022 through a gift from longtime Brenau supporters Pete Miller, secretary of Brenau’s Board of Trustees, and wife Cathy. The institute facilitates global education opportunities, including exchange programs, for Brenau students.
