CGSE 2023-26 Impact Report

For 60 years, Dickinson has believed that global education is about far more than crossing borders. It is about building relationships, embracing curiosity and learning with communities whose perspectives challenge and enrich our own. 

That commitment begins on our own campus. With an international student population representing roughly 10% of the Dickinson community, students engage with diverse cultures, languages and lived experiences every day. These connections create a foundation for global learning that extends far beyond the classroom and prepares students to participate thoughtfully in an interconnected world. 

Our students don't simply study abroad. They become part of the local community. They learn alongside local partners, engage with complex global challenges, and discover that some of life's most meaningful lessons happen well beyond the walls of a classroom. Along the way, they develop the knowledge, empathy, and resilience to engage with purpose. 

That philosophy has guided Dickinson since the first students arrived in Bologna in 1965. Today, it lives across six continents through enduring partnerships with universities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, host families, alumni, and community leaders who make transformative learning possible. 

The world has changed dramatically over the past six decades, bringing new challenges and new opportunities. In a time marked by global uncertainty, environmental change and growing polarization, the need for graduates who can listen across differences, think critically, and collaborate across cultures has never been greater. Dickinson continues to evolve to meet that moment—creating innovative learning experiences, supporting a vibrant international campus community and preparing students not only for meaningful careers, but for lives of engaged citizenship. 

This is the hope-filled work of the Center for Global Study & Engagement. It is work rooted in place, strengthened by partnership, and inspired by the belief that education can help build a more just, sustainable and interconnected world. 

This report tells our story. 

Enjoy digging in,

Samantha C. Brandauer '95

Associate Provost and Executive Director, Center for Global Study & Engagement 

Some milestones measure the passage of time. Others celebrate the relationships that have grown stronger with each passing year. As Dickinson marks significant anniversaries across our worldwide programs and partnerships, we celebrate a legacy built on curiosity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to global learning.

In the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years we celebrated 40 years in Bremen, Germany; Toulouse, France; and Málaga, Spain, and 60 years in Bologna, Italy. These milestones honor the faculty, staff, students, alumni, host families, and community and university partners who have shaped our journey—and remind us that our greatest achievements have always been built together. 

We also recognized 20 years of partnership with The Forum on Education Abroad, a relationship that reflects Dickinson's commitment not only to participating in international education, but to helping shape its future. Since 2004, Dickinson and The Forum have worked side by side to advance standards of good practice, professional development, ethical engagement, and innovation across the field.

As Dickinson Provost Renée Cramer reflected, the partnership has become "a laboratory where ideas can be tested," grounded in a shared belief that international education should be transformative, student-centered, and continually evolving. Together, these milestones remind us that Dickinson's greatest strength has never been simply the longevity of our programs, but the enduring relationships and spirit of collaboration that continue to expand opportunities for students while advancing the field of global education for all. 

“One of the things that is most impressive, and certainly most valuable to The Forum is having direct access to an institution that has always been at the leading edge of education abroad. So, we have an insider’s view into emerging trends, new challenges, the changing needs, wants, and interests of student and faculty, thanks to our relationship with Dickinson.”  

—Melissa Torres, President and CEO of the Forum on Education Abroad 

At the heart of Dickinson's global community are the people who make transformative learning possible. Across six continents, faculty, worldwide staff, alumni and partners work together to create meaningful educational experiences that challenge perspectives, foster belonging, and prepare students to engage thoughtfully with an interconnected world.

By developing new programs, expanding opportunities for experiential and place-based learning, and strengthening partnerships that have endured for decades, they ensure Dickinson's global education continues to evolve while remaining true to its core values. These relationships not only shape our students—they inspire new ideas, strengthen partnerships, and advance global education both on campus and beyond. 

 
"For someone who prides themselves on being a global scholar and teacher, I’m humbled by how much I learned about Dickinson’s global programs over the past two years. I am proud of the place-based and engaging experience I provided to students, the long-term shifts I was able to shepherd for England program staffing, the health and safety resources I was able to curate, and the curricular connections I was able to enhance between home departments and the University of East Anglia (UEA). In my return to campus, I look forward to continuing to expand my teaching in a global context and serve as a resource for faculty, students, and staff when it comes to representing the importance of a global education at Dickinson." 
—Kristin Strock, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies; Faculty Director, Dickinson in England, 2024-26   

Leading with Reciprocity

In summer 2024, Dickinson partnered with SIT to host a professional development seminar in Cameroon for faculty and study-abroad professionals. Using Cameroon as a case study, Cameroonian educators, scholars and change-makers spoke about sustainability, decoloniality and epistemic justice and about how we may grapple with those concepts in local contexts. Four Dickinson employees were among those who participated in this inspiring event. 

New Programs

Across Dickinson's worldwide programs, community-engaged learning, internships, and undergraduate research are intentionally integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to connect academic inquiry with authentic professional experiences. Supported by faculty, worldwide staff, alumni, and community partners, these opportunities help students build the confidence, intercultural competence, and adaptability to thrive in an increasingly rapidly changing career landscape.  

Global experiences do more than prepare students for their first job—they prepare them for a lifetime of leadership. By learning to navigate ambiguity, collaborate across cultures, communicate across differences, and approach complex challenges with curiosity and humility, Dickinson students develop the knowledge, confidence, and perspective to make meaningful contributions wherever their paths lead. These are the qualities that graduate schools, employers, and communities value—and they are the lasting outcomes of a Dickinson global education. 
 

In a time of much uncertainty and change, Dickinson remained committed to ensuring that every international and exchange student and scholar felt welcomed, supported, and a true sense of belonging. Working closely with partners across campus, the Center for Global Study & Engagement continued to strengthen advising, expand support services, and create innovative programs that help our international community thrive.

These efforts contributed to a 100% retention rate of international students into the 2025–26 academic year—a testament to the care, collaboration, and community that define the Dickinson experience.

Our commitment extends beyond campus as well. By hosting the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and International Educators (PACIE) Board of Directors meetings in 2024, 2025, and 2026, Dickinson reaffirmed its leadership in advocating for international students and scholars and international education more broadly while helping to build a stronger, more welcoming higher education community across Pennsylvania. 

"I arrived in Rome yesterday to begin my summer internship at the headquarters of the United Nations World Food Programme. Working with the UN has been a dream of mine since sixth grade, and this truly feels like a "dream come true" moment in my life. 

As I reflect on this journey, I know I would not have reached this point without the intellectual foundation I gained at Dickinson, along with the unwavering support from the CGSE, especially during some of the most uncertain times. I still remember the guidance and care I received from you and your team during the pandemic, and how strongly CGSE advocated for international students throughout that period. 

Dickinson will always be a vibrant and diverse space for cultivating global leaders—thanks in large part to the work of the CGSE. While I can’t speak for all international students, I want to extend my deepest gratitude on behalf of all international students at Dickinson to you and your colleagues for your continued advocacy, support, and dedication." 

—Joshua Jeong '25

Thought leadership across CGSE reflects the breadth of our work and the depth of expertise within our Carlisle and worldwide teams. Our faculty and staff contribute through professional leadership, scholarship, presentations, and public engagement on issues ranging from student learning and accessibility to sustainability, ethical partnership, and community engagement.

By sharing what we learn at Dickinson and bringing new ideas back to our programs, we strengthen both our own work and the broader field of international education.

Check out some of what we have all been doing. 

Many of the programs and global learning that happens through the CGSE is made possible by the support of our devoted and visionary donors. The following funds explicitly support CGSE programming:  

• CHURCHILL FUND: supports global Mosaic programs  
• DURDEN ANNUAL LITERARY SERIES FUND: supports a literary series for students in the Dickinson in Germany program  
• DURDEN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FUND: supports independent student-research abroad  
• GELDRICH-LEFFMAN FUND: supports foreign-language study and the humanities  
• GOUVERNET FUND: supports programming at the intersection of global and sustainability education  
• NAUIOKAS FUND: supports programming in Cameroon  
• NILSSON SCHOLARSHIP: supports personal expenses for a high-need, high-achieving student on the Dickinson in Italy Program, allowing them to take advantage of independent travel and cultural opportunities  
• ROETHENMUND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FUND: supports science majors traveling to the Molecular Frontiers Conference in Europe 
• ROSE SCHOLARSHIP: fully funded 4-year scholarships for five Ukrainian students. 
• PISCEK FUND: supports global learning opportunities in Poland  
• SAUNDERS FUND FOR THE TOULOUSE CENTER: supports the resident director position for the Dickinson in France program  
• STREGER-PRICE FUND: supports programming focusing on Israela

In 2026, Dickinson lost two very dear colleagues who will have a long-lasting imprint on international education – Dr. Chimène Nukunah, academic director of the Dickinson in Cameroon program in partnership with SIT, and Dr. Erin Diaz, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese and faculty director of Dickinson in Spain (2025-26). They were both joyful, dedicated professionals whose sparkle and intellect will be greatly missed by students, friends, and colleagues around the world.