Expanding the global academic culture

Dr. Carol Stax Brown, Lynn University's new director of international programs and services, has worked in higher education since 2001, focusing on global initiatives and strategic internationalization. Upon arriving at Lynn, she recognized immediately how much the global mindset is in Lynn's DNA. Her focus is to expand on this to ensure all students, domestic and international, have the opportunity for a transformational experience. "I'm proud to be part of Lynn where every graduate is well prepared for the global workforce and for global citizenship."

Stax Brown shares insights into the day-to-day joys of working in a global academic setting, department goals for the 2024–25 academic year, exciting new programs on the horizon, internship opportunities abroad and a glimpse into the department's vision for the future.

It is always interesting. I love interacting with students and colleagues from other cultures, and I have had the opportunity to travel to 47 countries. Building relationships with people worldwide gives you a greater understanding and heightened empathy concerning world events and human nature. Additionally, others in this field are naturally open-minded and curious, so I am fortunate to have the type of colleagues everyone wants to work with.

There are many exciting ideas that our department is working on for the future of the university. Mainly, we want to diversify our menu of options for students. We want to ensure that every Lynn student has a viable option for a meaningful experience abroad. We have been working with the deans and those responsible for various student groups to make this a reality.

We are also looking at ways to identify which U.S. students do not hold passports and what we can do to support them in getting one. We want 100 percent of Lynn graduates to be global ready—and having a passport is the first step. For international students, we plan on a similar strategy of offering signature workshops and training to help them navigate and maximize their study, internship and employment options while complying with their F-1 visa regulations. In addition, we plan to offer at least one "trip" for international students each semester and support the international student organization with their efforts.

Summer short-term faculty-led programs will continue. This summer will include Germany, Japan, Spain and Thailand. A new lineup of courses, such as business courses in Colombia and Mexico, will be offered during the blocks. Block programming will make going abroad possible for more students throughout the year.

We plan to include dialogues abroad in conjunction with major courses, as the dialogues lend themselves well to being taught internationally. We will also be offering Citizenship Project abroad options for incoming first-year students! A new program, "Break Away," is a volunteer opportunity over spring break that will be open to all students. Finally, Ambassador Corps, which included eight weeks of volunteering abroad, is returning for Summer 2024 through the Social Impact Lab.

Most of the providers Lynn partners with for study abroad also offer internships. There are so many options based on primary and location, so students should take the time to meet with our study abroad advisor to explore what is possible. We've also become a member institution of the Global Chamber, which will open doors for internships and careers abroad for our domestic and international students alike.

Lynn has a rich history of being a global institution and once required a study abroad for graduation. Cost is often a barrier for students. We are finding ways to maximize the existing scholarships and work with University Advancement to share with donors the incredible impact studying abroad has on a student's personal and professional trajectory. Nothing is more transformational in the college experience than studying abroad; global learning is in Lynn's DNA. Lastly, as much as we can, we want our department to align with the priorities of Academic Affairs, which includes internships and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are starting to tag programs with the relevant SDGs to be recognized and included in Lynn's SDG reporting.