In Depth: International Immersion
Many students contemplating their college experience look forward to studying abroad. At W&L, we provide our students the opportunity to take things even further. The Certificate of International Immersion recognizes students who demonstrate significant commitment to global interaction through significant time abroad spent in coursework, research, field work, internships or community service.
“The Certificate of International Immersion recognizes extraordinary accomplishments by students who have spent time abroad and who work to draw upon their experiences to contribute to the internationalization of our campus culture,” said Mark Rush, director of international education. “It provides an opportunity for the campus to recognize and appreciate these students who look not only to deepen their own educational experiences, but also to enrich our campus life.”
Since establishing the certificate in 2012, the University has recognized to 34 students based on their overall academic records and portfolios of international experiences. Meet some of the recipients from the Class of 2015 and discover where they went, how their travels informed their overall education, and how W&L supported their experiences.
- Kate LeMasters graduated with majors in global politics and economics and a minor in poverty and human capability studies. She spent a semester in Geneva, Switzerland, participated in three spring term abroad courses (African Politics in Ghana, Economics of Tropical Seascapes in Belize and Examining 17th Century Paintings in The Netherlands), conducted independent research in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and did a summer internship in Accra, Ghana.
- Myrna Barrera-Torres graduated with a major in business administration and a minor in Latin American and Caribbean studies. She spent semesters abroad in Rome, Italy and Vina del Mar, Chile. She also participated in a spring term abroad course, The Environment and Economic Development in Amazonas, Brazil, and had a summer internship in London, U.K.
- Scott Sugden graduated with majors in English and biology. He spent a semester studying in Madagascar, participated in a spring term abroad course studying coral reefs in Belize and spent time in England conducting research for his honors thesis.
- Kathryn “Kiki” Martire graduated with a major in English and a minor in women’s and gender studies. She spent a semester in Samoa and a summer in England at the Virginia Program at Oxford.
- Craig Shapiro graduated with a major in anthropology/sociology. He spent a semester in Samoa, conducted research in Vanuatu, did field work in Sofia, Bulgaria and Menorca, Spain, and traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel.
- Taylor Theodossiou graduated with a major in history and a minor in poverty and capability studies. She spent a semester in Rabat, Morocco (with a side trip to Amsterdam), participated in a spring term abroad course (The History of Paris), and completed two international internships — one in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and one in Limoges, France.
- Amira Hegazy graduated with majors in studio art and sociology. She traveled extensively to Egypt, spending a year at the American University in Cairo and conducting summer research the following year. She also participated in a spring term abroad course, Drawing Italy.
