Magic in Málaga: A Reunion to Remember
In April, alumni of the Dickinson-in-Spain study abroad program traveled to Malaga, Spain, to reconnect and share memories with fellow alums, students, program leaders, professors, homestay families and friends of the college.
Marking a landmark year in style
Visitors to sunny Málaga, Spain, have long praised the city’s coastal charm and rich artistic and historical heritage. But to the Dickinsonians who’ve studied abroad there, Málaga is far more than a memorable vacation destination. It’s a gateway to a deeper understanding of themselves and of the world.
Forty years after the establishment of the Dickinson-in-Spain program, alumni gathered in Málaga to celebrate the anniversary with fellow Dickinsonians, past program leaders and faculty, current students, overseas student assistants and homestay hosts and other local citizens. The event was a joyful acknowledgement of the power of global education and the lifelong ties it creates.
“When I found out about this benchmark celebration, I was keen to attend,” says Stacy Lopez Palma ’99, who's kept in touch with her Málaga homestay family since the late 1990s and now lives in Madrid. “Malaga holds a special place in my heart.”
View Photos From the Celebration
Founded in 1985 in cooperation with the Universidad de Málaga (UMA), the Dickinson-in-Spain program is a fully immersive experience. Students take classes at the Spanish university, stay with local families and, often, get involved with the local community through internships or volunteering.
Grace Jarvis, an emerita instructor of Spanish who led the program for many years, delivered brief remarks at an April 24 cocktail reception, along with Provost and Dean Renée Cramer and Salvador Montesa, a former Malaga professor and director. Earlier this year, Jarvis also sparked a scholarship fund for students with financial need who wish to study abroad in Málaga. She will match gifts toward the establishment of the Grace Maury Jarvis Malaga Scholarship through June 30.
Julie Schoenberg Jacobs ’90 supports the scholarship and flew in from New York, eager to reunite with her "Spanish mama," who hosted her decades ago, and her eldest son, who's studying abroad in Madrid. Jacobs also appreciated the chance to connect with Jarvis other former instructors, fellow alumni and students currently studying abroad.
Couldn't make it to Spain? You can let your Málaga pride shine through Dickinson Outfitters' Málaga-themed swag or a scholarship gift. The celebrations also continue on campus this spring and summer. Málaga alumni are invited to attend a special gathering during Alumni Weekend, June 12-14. All are also welcome to drink in Spanish art during a mini exhibition in The Trout Gallery’s Curriculum Gallery. Drawing from the Trout’s permanent collection, the exhibition includes works by Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí and by Pablo Picasso—Málaga’s most famous son, along with Antonio Banderas, a Dickinson honorary-degree awardee.
As part of Dickinson's celebration of global-education milestones this year, the college has launched a $10 million Study Abroad Fundraising Campaign as well as an annual giving campaign, 600 for 60, which seeks 600 gifts toward global education this fiscal year to mark 60 years of global education at Dickinson. You can learn more about each and make a gift online.
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Published May 13, 2026